In this episode, Dr. Kharrazian goes over the primary mechanisms of histamine intolerance and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS). But first, make sure you even have these conditions as these diagnoses are being tossed around a little too casually these days. While the low-histamine diet may reduce symptoms, it does not necessarily address the underlying causes and it deprives you of cultured foods, which support microbiome diversity. Additionally, MCAS is a very serious condition, so make sure your self-diagnosis is valid or you may be addressing the wrong target.

Dr. Kharrazian covers all these topics in a 20-minute talk and then answers questions from viewers. If you suspect you have histamine intolerance or MCAS, this video gives a great foundation from which to move forward.

• Skin urticaria
• Nasal congestion
• Anaphylaxis
• Wheezing
• Chronic gastrointestinal issues
• Chronic migraine issues

• Determine if you actually have histamine intolerance by taking an antihistamine and looking for relief from symptoms.
• Multiple food sensitivities doesn't necessarily mean you have a mast cell/histamine response.
• Food sensitivities are delayed IgG response or an IgM responses.
• Histamine responses involve immediate IgE responses.
• An allergic reaction IgE reaction to foods and environmental chemicals activate mast cells, which release chemical mediators, including histamine.

• Healthy response: Exposure to the antigen triggers mast cells.
• Occasional symptomatic response: Occasional reactions to triggers such as pollen or pet dander.
• Chronic histamine response: Chronic histamine issues with constant symptoms
• Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS): Massive and chronic mast cell response. The body is producing excess mast cells with exaggerated activity, causing significant and severe symptoms

• Genetically low DAO enzyme
• Methylation issues
• Exposure to an allergen that develops IgE reactions, e.g mold, parasitic, Lyme infection
• Underlying triggers
• What is amplifying the immune responses
• Immune tolerance
• Other chronic health issues (leaky gut, leaky lung, low vitamin D, etc.)

Mast cell activation stream is the most aggressive form of histamine reaction, has criteria for diagnosis, and may require pharmacological treatment.

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Chronic bloating and abdominal distention are common gut health complaints. In this podcast, Dr. Kharrazian covers the primary causes of bloating and how to start implementing solutions. Multiple things can cause bloating, with the underlying mechanisms depending on the individual. You must work north-to-south in the GI tract to identify where your issues lie. Brain-based mechanisms, chewing, stomach health, pancreatic and gallbladder function, microbiome health, motility, and SIBO are discussed in this podcast, followed by a Q&A with listeners. (This is a replay of a Facebook live from June 2020, you can also watch it on YouTube.)

To learn more about how to identify and address common gut health issues, check out the online course Gut Health: Solving the Puzzle.

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Hypothyroidism, or low thyroid function, impacts your skin, hair, nails, joints, body inflammation, systemic inflammation—all of which affect your physical appearance. The most common cause of hypothyroidism is an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto’s, a disorder that causes the immune system to attack and destroy the thyroid gland. It is an incurable condition but can typically be driven into remission through evidence-backed nutrition and lifestyle strategies.

Hashimoto's creates a heightened state of inflammation. It can also lead to secondary autoimmune diseases that cause hair loss, joint pain, and skin conditions, further affecting appearance.

For many people, thyroid hormone medication alone will not relieve symptoms—the underlying autoimmune condition must be managed as well in order to feel and function better, and address the factors affecting your appearance.

Download Dr. Kharrazian's free guide, Hashimoto's, Hypothyroidism, and the Brain.

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What happens to your health when your thyroid hormones are low? In this episode, Dr. Kharrazian talks about the various conditions that can cause low thyroid hormones, including Hashimoto’s disease, improper hormone conversion, and incorrect hormone replacement. He then goes through the impact of thyroid hormone deficiency on different systems in the body and how that can affect symptoms and health. Of particular concern is the impact of neglect or misdiagnosis of hypothyroidism on the brain and the cardiovascular system. Through this podcast episode, we hope to give you a better understanding of how your thyroid works and what to expect when facing hypothyroidism. 

Download Dr. Kharrazian's free guide, Hashimoto's and the Brain.

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Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/solving-the-puzzle-with-dr-datis-kharrazian.

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Gluten is a much more complex topic than most people realize. First of all, most gluten sensitivity testing is extremely limited as it only tests alpha gliadin. The truth is, people can react to many different portions of wheat, including the lectins in wheat agglutinin, and various other gliadans besides alpha gliadin. Unless you screen for an immune reactivity to all of these compounds using ELISA testing, you may end up with a false negative result.

Secondly, people can have varying reactions that can include cross reactivity between gluten and other foods or body tissue, autoimmune reactivity involving transglutaminase enzymes, and more depending on their type of gluten sensitivity. Wheat is not the same compound it was 50 years ago due to hybridization and heavy glyphosate use, which research suggests accounts for the increase in gluten sensitivity in the population.

Also, it's important to note that 2/3 of reactions to gluten are expressed in the brain and nervous system, not in the GI tract. Learn more in this podcast and from the Q&A session following the talk.

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PANDAS and PANS are autoimmune brain disorders that affect children in the aftermath of a strep infection or other infections. Symptoms include sensory, emotional, or movement disorders. These conditions are often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and inappropriately treated. In this talk, I explain what causes PANDAS and PANS, lab testing, management strategies, and expected challenges in working with children. I then answer listener questions.

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Do you suffer from fatigue, brain fog, depression, cognitive issues, mood or psychiatric issues, or memory loss?

A gluten sensitivity manifests neurologically in 2/3 of people — most people do not have gut symptoms in response to gluten. Researchers call gluten sensitivity a neurological disease.

Yet gluten sensitivity is significantly under diagnosed due to incomplete testing. If you have brain fog, cognitive, mood, psychiatric, or fatigue issues, you need to listen to this podcast.

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Many people think their autoimmune management depends on diet. While diet plays a key role, it does not go the full distance for everyone. The autoimmune journey involves finding your underlying mechanisms and triggers. They are different for everyone...and they are not always obvious. First, you have to know what the possible triggers are. Research has identified quite a few. Then you have to know how to find them, and what to do about them.

In this podcast, I go over the top 10 most common triggers of autoimmunity and then answer questions from listeners.

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It takes the average autoimmune patient 10 years and visiting 20 doctors before receiving an autoimmune diagnosis. There is very little medical training on autoimmunity and the disease must be quite advanced before doctors can intervene. In the meantime, patients suffer not knowing what to do.

As a result, you must take charge of your own health and education when it comes to autoimmunity. Ample research exists on strategies to manage autoimmunity and drive it into remission.

I see my patients run into 10 common challenges when managing their autoimmunity. One thing you won't find on this list is a supplement deficiency. Instead, key dietary and lifestyle habits, and attitudes about your own health play the most important roles in managing autoimmunity for many people.

In this podcast I outline the top 10 reasons why people with autoimmunity don’t get better, and then I answer questions from listeners.

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