17 Oct My accidental PhD in histamine reactions
💌 Notes from Natalie
Hi friend! This week I officially earned a PhD in histamine and mast cells 👩🏻⚕️ Well, not a real one, but I might as well have after the last two weeks of research, rabbit holes, and ridiculous skin reactions.
True confession time. The reason I think I’m so good at fat loss, nutrition, and being a total health detective is because when something happens to me, a friend, a client, or even someone I barely know, I can’t NOT obsess about it. I have to understand it fully. I study it like I’m getting graded. I go full CSI: Midlife Edition 🕵️♀️
Sometimes I wish I had this same obsession with money, but no, it’s all saved for health and nutrition.
Here’s the backstory.
I had a gnarly infection and was prescribed Flagyl. The plan was 21 pills. I took two. Just two 💥 And boom, massive reaction. Since then, my body has decided histamine foods are the enemy. I don’t believe this is permanent (I am not accepting that storyline), but I’ve learned so much in the process, and I have to share because some of you might relate.
Here’s what I’ve learned so far in my crash course on histamine:
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Bone broth (especially reheated) = high histamine
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Avocado (I know, I cried too) = high histamine
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Fermented foods = high histamine
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Shellfish = high histamine
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Reheated leftovers = surprise, high histamine
Basically, all the foods I love are temporarily off the table. But I’m taking a break from them for now and plan to reintroduce them once my system chills out.
Now, when I do get hives, here’s what actually stops them:
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Infrared sauna: sweating stops them fast. (If I use red light only, it can make them flare at first, so I stick to infrared.)
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Hydrogen breathing: calms everything down within minutes.
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Vitamin C and Quercetin: total lifesavers.
What could have caused this? From what I’ve learned, histamine or hive reactions can come from one of four things:
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Parasite die-off (yep, Bali trip tracks for that one)
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Mast cell activation (also tracks with recent surgery and infection)
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Gut imbalance or bacterial overgrowth (thank you, Flagyl)
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Actual histamine intolerance (which I’m absolutely not claiming, no thank you)
I’m confident this is temporary.
I’m on a mission to reset my gut and nervous system, and as always, I’ll share what I learn as I go. Because if midlife teaches you anything, it’s that we’re all basically our own science experiments 👩🏻🔬
What you may have missed this week:
Hydrogen Breathing Masterclass: If you missed it, I’m not sure how. You got about twelve reminder emails from me 😂 It was amazing. Hydrogen therapy has crazy benefits for energy, inflammation, and recovery. You can drink it (via tablets or bottles), but breathing it is next-level. It’s calming and super powerful.
Podcast Episode with Dr. Mariza Snyder: We dove into perimenopause vs. menopause, symptoms, what your doctor might not be telling you, and how to navigate both with humor and sanity. She’s got a great new book out too! Whether you’re struggling with sleep, mood swings, stubborn weight gain, or just feeling “off,” this episode gives you actionable strategies to feel like yourself again. Click the image below to watch or listen on Apple here and Spotify here.
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😍 Coming Soon
You’re going to love what’s coming:
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Eye health in midlife
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Vaginal health (yes, we’re going there)
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Histamine and mast cell activation (of course)
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Pain, inflammation, and what actually helps
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Sex and intimacy in midlife (buckle up for this one)
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Finances for midlife women who didn’t plan perfectly
If there’s a topic you really want me to cover, hit reply and let me know. I read your responses, even when I’m covered in hives and researching like a madwoman.
Love,
💖 Natalie Jill
