Gut health and histamine intolerance

This article is about our gut health – and the connection to the development of histamine intolerance, because the gut is one of the most important organs for maintaining our body's health.

First, a few facts: It has a length of 6 to 8 meters and a surface area of approximately 400 square meters. The gut contains 100 million nerve cells and is colonized by 500 to 1,500 different types of bacteria; overall, we are talking about up to 100 trillion bacteria in the intestinal mucosa. We can localize 80 percent of the immune cells in the gut. Therefore, the healthier our gut is, the stronger our immune system also is.

Furthermore, we will look at what a healthy gut accomplishes, what the gut flora is for, and what it means when it is disturbed.

What does our gut do and what does the gut flora do?

First of all: Our gut is also responsible for the digestion of food – but that is not all. As mentioned above, the gut strongly influences the immune system and thus plays a major role in the body’s own defenses.

It is also responsible for the production of certain vitamins (B12, biotin, K) and essential nutrients, the production of the neurotransmitter serotonin, and for the regulation of important metabolic processes.

What does a "disturbed" gut flora mean?

In the case of disturbed gut flora, the functional balance has been upset, leading to dysbiosis in the gut. Our gut bacteria are no longer living in a balanced state, as is normally the case.

Our gut flora can be disturbed for a variety of reasons.
These include, for example:

• unhealthy, high-sugar diet
• unhealthy lifestyle (alcohol, cigarettes, etc.)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• food intolerances such as: histamine intolerance, lactose intolerance, or gluten intolerance
• allergies
• antibiotics
• anti-inflammatory medications (e.g., ibuprofen)
• chronic intestinal diseases (such as Crohn's disease)
• stress

Especially with antibiotic therapy, the gut flora is almost entirely destroyed and requires many months to return to a normal balance. In this case, you should definitely support your gut during recovery.

In line with the topic of gut flora, we have developed our Bio BioticFit. It combines eight selected bacterial strains with natural vitamin C from acerola and pumpkin seed protein. Vitamin C contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Bio BioticFit is easy to integrate into everyday life and was developed specifically for people with histamine intolerance and other sensitivities.

Disturbed gut flora can cause our immune system to fall out of balance. This process promotes the development of diseases. These are frequently the following conditions:

• Hashimoto's thyroiditis
• atopic dermatitis
• allergic diseases
• rheumatoid arthritis

However, even minor infections or ailments have an easier time spreading through our body. Because our body’s own defenses are weakened, harmful substances can easily "enter." These include, for example:

• chronic muscle and joint pain
• chronic fatigue
• nervousness
• bloating
• migraines

The connection between an imbalance in the gut and histamine intolerance

An imbalance in the gut is called dysbiosis. The bacteria in your gut are living in a state of imbalance, which means that unfortunately, the "bad"* bacteria predominate.

This can have potential consequences:

• increased histamine production in the gut**
• disturbed histamine degradation (DAO)***
• digestive problems
• leaky gut
• increased inflammatory potential
• reduced nutrient absorption
• nutrient deficiencies
• development of food intolerances and allergies

In line with the topic of mucous membranes, our MucosaFit contains, among other things, biotin, which contributes to the maintenance of normal mucous membranes. The formula is supplemented by selected ingredients and nutrients such as L-glutamine, zinc, fennel, and various vitamins. MucosaFit is vegan and is suitable for a low-histamine and low-fructose diet, and is gluten-free and lactose-free.

You can have your gut flora checked by a gastroenterologist, for example, or directly through an appropriate laboratory to find out if you have dysbiosis.

* "bad" is in quotation marks because we need bad bacteria in addition to the good ones. However, it is important that there is a balance between them.

** / *** Due to dysbiosis, the production of the histamine-degrading enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) can also be disrupted, or histamine production in the gut can be increased due to, for example, putrefactive flora or an excess of histamine-producing bacterial strains.

Can disturbed gut flora be restored?

You can definitely do good for your gut! Your gut flora does not have to be disturbed for you to support it. In your normal everyday life, for example, you can pay attention to your general diet.

A balanced diet with fiber and plenty of fruit and vegetables is recommended. You should avoid sugar and unhealthy fats as much as possible. Meat and dairy products should also be enjoyed only in moderation. And don't forget to drink! Drinking is very important not only for histamine intolerance, but also generally for your gut.

Sources

• Gut health and the immune system
• Magendarmliga Schweiz (2014): Irritable Bowel Syndrome.