Allergies are considered one of the fastest-growing chronic diseases in Australia. If you suffer from them, you know firsthand the impact they can have, and with allergy symptoms ranging from mild annoyance up to life-threatening anaphylaxis, it is an important topic to talk about.
This blog will cover allergy symptoms and the Gut-Brain Axis - and why improving the health and communication of these systems is actually key to reducing or resolving your allergies and reactivity.
How reactive are you?
Reactivity varies among individuals, it can even vary at different times for the same individual depending upon their state of health and allergenic burden, i.e. the dose or level of exposure to factors they are sensitive to.
The more reactive you are, the less likely you will be able to tolerate things like certain foods, smells, pollen, dust, and other irritants.
How to reduce allergic reactivity
The key to reducing reactivity symptoms is by improving your threshold of tolerance. There is a strong connection between the health of the gut and immune reactivity, as foods you eat can alter microbes in the gut which regulate immune function, as well as cause inflammation of the digestive tract lining. This can cause gastrointestinal symptoms, and also trigger reactions in other areas of the body; for example, in your respiratory system, nervous system, or skin. This is why you may find eating certain foods results in headaches, sinus congestion, a rash, or maybe an energy slump or mood change. To reduce allergic reactivity your gut lining must be repaired, while simultaneously allowing your immune system to rest by avoiding the substances that are causing it to react. Your immune system can then be ‘reset’ by addressing some of the underlying factors that cause it to be overreactive.
The Gut–Skin Axis
There is oodles of scientific literature and research correlating gut disorders and skin conditions. [study]
The gut-skin axis is a bi-directional communication channel between the gut and your skin. In this, the immune system plays the referee.
There are many studies that explore this relationship. For example, we know that low stomach acid can contribute to SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), which can contribute to leaky gut and inflammation, and that can trigger or worsen skin conditions. [study] Celiac disease also has cutaneous manifestations, such as dermatitis herpetiformis, which occurs in 1/4 of celiac sufferers. 14% of patients with ulcerative colitis and 24% of patients with Crohn’s disease have skin manifestations. [study]
To improve allergy symptoms for good, you need to work on the gut
Allergy and reactivity: contributing factors
When working on an allergy and reactivity-reducing program, I address the following;
Diet
What you eat has a huge impact on your gut health and allergy symptoms. While everyone is different, the same foods consistently show up as allergenic food groups. For a more indiviualised approach, you can order food intolerance testing so you only eliminate foods that are a problem just to you. CLICK HERE to order your own Food Intolerance Test.
Common clinically seen allergenic food groups
Gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts, legumes and peanuts, Solanaceae, plant foods (e.g. tomatoes, eggplant, potatoes, goji berries, tobacco, capsicum, and chili), alcohol, caffeine, food additives, citrus, beef, pork, yeast, corn, soy, shellfish, chocolate, salicylates, and fish.
FODMAP foods: fructose, fructans, galactans, lactose, polyols.
Histamine foods: histamine-rich foods, and foods that promote histamine release.
70% to 80% of your immune system is found within your digestive tract, you cannot gain long-term immune tolerance without addressing any digestive system factors. By removing the foods most likely to be contributing to gut inflammation (even in the absence of gastrointestinal symptoms), a balance can be reached between the immune and digestive systems, which can be the difference between building tolerance and simply gaining some symptomatic relief.
Digestion and allergies
Poor or weak digestion causes inflammation in the gut lining and lessens your body's ability to assimilate the nutrition for your food, leading to nutrient deficiencies.
Often the reason is low enzyme production. People more prone to this include people with the A blood type, anyone taking Nexium (PPI medication) for longer than 2 weeks, and overuse of antacids. The other way you can develop low digestive enzyme production is a nutrient deficiency - particularly zinc and B6. Many people struggle here due to a range of genetic factors, such as MTHFR mutations.
Digestive enzymes can be very helpful here. It is best to consult with a naturopath to have the most suitable one prescribed according to your health needs, as they all have different combinations of enzymes to break down protein, fat, carbs, etc.
The microbiome and allergy
The gut microbiome consists of a wide variety of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other single-celled organisms that live in the gut - from your mouth all the way down to the anus. Each section of your gut will have a different microbiome due to the different terrains. For example, your mouth has a very different acid level than your stomach, so different organisms reside there. When people talk about the gut microbiome, they are often talking about the large bowel by default, but each section of your gut is important for good digestion - even your mouth which secretes saliva and enzymes to break down carbs and fats.
Substance P is a neuropeptide produced in the gut, brain, and skin that plays a big role in skin conditions. An altered gut microbiome promotes the release of substance P in both the gut and the skin, and probiotics can attenuate this response. [study]
If you have gut symptoms, a gut reset may be in order. This is approached in 3 steps.
Seal the gut lining. First, you need to heal and tighten the leaky gut, otherwise, you will suffer from detox side effects which can range from headache to joint and muscle pain. Not something you want, and best avoided as it taxes your entire body.
Weed the gut. Traditional herbs are used to kill and remove pathogenic organisms that are over-running the system and causing symptoms.
Feed the gut. Next probiotic therapy is used to re-inoculate the gut with good bacteria specific to your needs. Different strains are used depending on your health. I prescribe scientifically tested strains for a range of conditions such as; autoimmune disease, anxiety, depression, constipation, IBS, cardiovascular disease, and more.
This approach may be repeated for several cycles to ensure organisms are removed through all their life stages.
For chronic and serious gut diseases, it is best to run a CDSA test first for targeted therapy. Book an appointment with me to discuss the appropriate test.
To get on top of your allergies once and for all, a truly holistic approach is needed. The benefit of doing so is that your overall health, vitality, and mood improve - benefits you don't reap from masking symptoms with medications.
Check out my naturopathic program - Love Ya Guts!
This program is designed to ensure your results with one-on-one naturopathic consultations, education, weekly Group Zoom calls, and a private Facebook group. Click the button to learn more and sign up to my gut transformation program!
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