ALLERGIES and SENSITIVITIES

 

Allergies were unheard of until 200 years ago.  Only half a century after the first description of hay fever in England (1819) it was considered an epidemic, clearly in association with urbanization.

Currently more than 50 million people in the USA suffer from some type of allergic manifestation, mostly related to sinuses, lungs or skin.

 

Common allergy triggers

• The most common allergens are: gluten, pasteurized cow’s milk, sugar, wheat, food additives (colourants, preservatives, flavours) and eggs
• Junk food, e.g. processed foods, fizzy cool drinks -> sugar and acid -> yeast -> cravings, ‘trans-fats’ (e.g. vegetable oils), etc.

• Medication:

1. Antibiotics (the most prominent drug trigger?)
2. PPI acid suppressors -> 10 x more allergies in people taking PPI’s
3. Anti-inflammation drugs, cortisone, codeine

• Toxins: chemicals, pollutants, incl. toxic metals (mercury and lead)
• Dust, mould, perfumes and deodorants, disinfectants, aspartame, non-stick cook ware, synthetic carpets, mattrasses, etc.
• Worm infestations: stimulates Th 2 response (see below)
• Yeasts -> sugar / acid cravings
• Cesarean section and premature birth / not being breast fed
• Genetically modified (GMO) foods, either ingested directly, or via products of animals fed with GM foods, as well as rBGH (recombinant bovine growth hormone), used in cows to produce more milk, also called “crack for cows”, both developed by Monsanto.

 

Manifestations

• Bloating / belching / abdominal pains / nausea / vomiting (esp. after meals)
• Constipation / diarrhea / inflammatory bowel disease / IBS / ulcers
• Stuffy nose / watery eyes after meals / post-nasal drip / sinusitis
• Headaches / migraine
• Skin rashes / itchy skin / eczema / psoriasis
• Cough / wheezing / asthma
• Joint and muscle pains / Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Palpitations / dizziness / vasculitis
• Depression / anxiety / memory loss / ADD
• Fatigue / insomnia / dark circles under eyes
• Frequent urination / bladder infections / bed wetting

 

Some mechanisms

Most important is increased intestinal permeability (‘leaky gut’), which underpins all allergic and autoimmune conditions: antigens (allergic triggers, especially too large particles, such as partially processed proteins), slip around barrier cells into the circulation.

Factors associated with leaky gut

• Food allergies (vicious cycle!): sugar / alcohol / nutritional deficiencies (e.g. omega 3) / fasting
• Inflammation
• Gluten
• GI infections / dysbiosis
• Premature and cesarean section birth
• Genetic predisposition
• Drugs: NSAID’s (anti-inflammation drugs), cortisone, antibiotics, cancer radiation and chemo therapy (killing rapidly proliferating cells)
• Excessive stress
• Heavy metal toxicity
• Inhaled allergens, also cause problems in the GI tract.

Intestinal permeability is part of a perpetuating cycle: -> induction of allergic reactions (through mast cell activation) -> release of inflammation mediators -> worsening of the leaky gut -> worsening of the allergic responses, etc.

Acid is a double edged sword:  Too much in the intestines, esp. colon, does damage and causes overgrowth of yeast and the ‘bad’ bacteria, and it triggers the allergic response.  Too little in the stomach hampers breakdown of proteins and other nutrients, as well as impairs absorption of Vit B6, folate, iron and calcium.  Too little acid in the stomach may be a sign of zinc deficiency, as zinc is needed for its production.  This more common in people over the age of 60 and may also be triggered by stress / anxiety. In my experience the most common cause by far is the haphazard use of PPI’s (proton pump inhibitor drugs to lower stomach acid).

Symptoms of too little acid in the stomach include: bloating, belching, flatulence just after meals, indigestion / fullness after eating, undigested food in the stool, constipation, diarrhea, iron deficiency, rectal itching and cracked fingernails.

 

Sugar is also a double edged sword: We cannot live without it, but even a little too much can cause serious problems in the body.  Apart from all those related to too much insulin -> insulin resistance, it feeds everything that is bad in the intestines, esp. yeast, and is a most powerful stimulus for inflammation.

 

The gut is an immune organ

At least 80 % of the immune system is located in the lining of the GIT (gastro-intestinal tract), providing local protection via IgA antibodies (innate immune response) and systemic protection via IgE and IgG (adaptive immune response).

IgA has been compared to a layer of antiseptic paint covering the bowel lining, which is the first line of defense against infections and antigens, neutralizing them, so that they can be excreted in the stool, don’t enter the circulation and don’t cause the inflammation response.  Leaky gut is associated with low levels of IgA.

 

The immune system has two pathways: Th1 and Th2 (Th = T-helper cells, some of the regulators of the immune system).

Th1 involves cell-mediated (innate) immunity and protects against invading pathogens, which end up inside cells, like viruses and certain small bacteria.   Th2 involves antibody-mediated, or humoral (adaptive) immunity and is involved in the response to extracellular pathogens, as well as antigenic (allergenic) stimuli.  The end result is inflammation, which is meant to protect but can also do damage, especially when it becomes chronic.

Th1 and Th2 should be in balance, but are often like a seesaw: where the one is over-active, the other is under-active.

Allergic reactions indicate a Th2 dominance.  Once such a dominance, either Th1 or Th2, is present it tends to follow progressive polarization in that direction.

There are many causes of Th2 dominance, e.g. cortico-steroids, estrogen, nutritional and other life-style factors, parasites and being over-hygienic in early life (less exposure to triggers -> decreased Th1 response), the so-called hygiene hypothesis.

Put in a very simplified way:

On first contact with the allergen ‘culprit’ the Th2 immune response produces IgE antibodies, which attach themselves to so-called mast cells, mostly in the nose / sinuses, lower air passages and on the skin, and to basophils in the blood circulation.

On second and subsequent contact the same allergen is now bound by these IgE antibodies, to form complexes, which make the mast cells and basophils release already formed histamine, cytokines, and other mediators of the allergic response, resulting in inflammation and mucus production.

Additionally, allergies are associated with low tissue anti-oxidants, and allergic mediator cells can produce ROS (Reactive Oxidating Species), which are harmful free radicals.

 

The Gut-Brain axis

Apart form the greatest concentration of immune tissue, the gut also houses the greatest concentration of nerves outside the CNS (central nervous system: brain and spinal cord) and is called the ENS (enteric nervous system).  In fact, there are more neurotransmitters in the gut than in the brain!  ENS and CNS are intimately connected and in continuous ‘bi-lateral communication’ via nerve, immune and hormone pathways = the gut-brain axis.

An ‘unhappy’ gut can lead to an ‘unhappy’ brain and vice versa!

 

 

Dealing with allergic conditions

In general:

The gut is the gateway to our physical and mental health and the trillions of bowel bacteria are the gatekeepers.

Inappropriate use of antibiotics is possibly the most common disruptor of gut health, killing far more beneficial bacteria than harmful ones and causing dysbiosis (imbalance of the microbiome), which can take months, even years to restore.

Reduce the allergenic load, restore intestinal health, balance Th1 – Th2 pathways and modulate the allergic response, i.e. immune function.

 

Restoring intestinal health, the so-called ‘4 R model’, based on the teaching by the Institute for Functional Medicine: Remove – Replace – Reinoculate – Repair

 

Remove

• Known and likely triggers, where possible.
• High GI (>50%) foods, mostly being the non-fibre and refined carbohydrates
• Other foods which cause inflammation, e.g. vegetable oils, trans fats (such as margarine), too much alcohol, processed meat, etc.
• Gluten: linked to leaky gut, allergies and especially autoimmune conditions
• Pasteurized milk, wheat, processed food and food additives
• GMO, e.g. mielies
• Microwaves, food in plastic wrappers, non-stick cooking ware
• Additionally:
• Diet diary – look at all ingredients of food products (read the labels!) – eliminate suspected foods for 3 – 4 weeks -> reintroduce one at the time with 2-4 day intervals. A simple elimination protocol would involve just the most allergenic foods: cow’s milk, wheat, gluten, eggs, corn and tree nuts – and anything suspicious.  This is more reliable (and much less expensive!) than sensitivity testing!
• Air and water purifiers
• Use natural fabrics, cleaning / personal care products, pest control products
• Be careful with vaccination (which also reduces Th1 response) – currently very controversial!

 

Replace

• Alkalizing the intestines, especially the colon, to inhibit yeast and help with regular bowel action
• Digestive enzymes, i.e. protease, lactase, lipase, amylase
• Hydrochloric acid (BetaineHCl with pepsine) with reduced stomach acid (see above), needed for breakdown of proteins and also for absorption of Vit B6, folate, calcium and iron, prevention of intestinal infections. Adding extra acid with meals is one of the most effective ways to combat allergies!

 

Reinoculate / Repopulate

This refers to the use of spore probiotics and regular probiotics.

1. Sporebiotics have become one of the most important ways to promote health foundation: exceptionally effective with harmonizing one’s own optimal microbiome, to enhance immune tolerance and to heal leaky gut.
2. Regular probiotics, fermented foods, which contain live bacteria, like fermented onions, sour kraut, kombucha, kefir, etc.

Good gut bacteria are essential:

• Development, function and protection of the immune system (production of antibodies and anti-cancer compounds)
• Prevention of overgrowth of baddies (competition for nutrients and space, production of bacteria killing substances)
• Digestion (production of digestive enzymes) / absorption of nutrients / fermentation
• Detox, absorption of toxins
• Production of vitamins (e.g. Vit’s K and some B’s) and energy (fatty acids) for cells that line the intestines.
• Production of 95% of our serotonin: happy gut -> happy brain, and vice versa!
• Gut flora are strongly linked to obesity, incl. microbes in the “obese gut” are much more efficient in stealing nutrients from food
• Breast feeding enhances the good bacteria (Bifidobacteria) in the gut
• Caesarian Section babies have a poor start in life form the GI bugs perspective
• Probiotics are not a passport to eating lots of processed foods!

Prebiotics feed the ‘good’ bacteria and include inulin, a non-digestible fibre, and e.g. chicory root, dandelion root, raw onions, garlic, leek, asparagus.  In fact, all food is potentially prebiotic.

 

Repair

This refers to regeneration and healing of the intestinal lining.

Glutamine and EFA’s (essential fatty acids / omega 3’s / EPA and DHA) are very important here.  Others include zinc and Vitamin B5.

Sporebiotics and medical food formula’s re gut repair are the most effective and quickest way to restore barrier function.

 

Detoxification

There are many ways, e.g. medical food formulas, raw food diets, fasting, sauna’s, sweating, coffee enema’s, flushes and simply increased purified water intake.

 

Other measures re modulating immune function and the allergic response:

• Vitamin D3 – NB! – preferably optimize blood levels
• Vitamins E and C / flavonoids
• De-worm
• Some helpful remedies: turmeric, boswellia, ginger,
• Desensitization programmes
• Very important: dealing with stress and negative emotions