I’ve been battling unseen health issues for YEARS. I’ve written about them a few times on this blog. 

1. Hypoglycemia – I had issues with my blood sugar for years. My A1C in 2021 was below the normal range. In the last few years, I’ve brought it back to a normal range.
2. Possible eating disorder—or what I call disordered eating. In recent months, I’ve discovered the reasons behind it.
3. Gluten intolerance 
4. Eczema is only present on my left elbow, but I can feel itchy in several other areas.
5. Hip issues on my left side—I refer to my left side as the side with all the problems. I do have some issues on my right side, but most are on my left side.

I had genetic testing done in late December. And then I got the results in January. This past week, I met with a dietitian to go over the results. 

1. I have a histamine issue. Not necessarily a mast cell disorder, but my body does not break down histamines in food. This makes sense to me because some of my least favorite foods contain higher amounts of histamine. This includes tomatoes, avocados, and bananas. However, some of my favorite foods also have higher amounts of histamines, such as pickles and pineapple. So what does this mean? I have to avoid them and then reintroduce them to my diet. When I do, I need to note if they bother me. There are three ways I’ve noticed histamines affecting me: itchy skin on my left elbow and the lower part of my legs (annoying but manageable), immediate stomach issues (cramping), and sometimes they cause brain fog or cold-like symptoms. The immediate stomach issues can persist throughout the day.
2. Caffeine is another issue for me. I don’t need to eliminate it but should reduce the amount I’m consuming each day. I metabolize it more slowly than others.
3. I methylate differently. Methylation is the body’s janitorial system. It is related to the B vitamins and choline. I’ve added a link explaining what choline is and its benefits to the body. 
4. Oxidative stress is another significant concern for me. Think of it as rust on a car. There are free radicals in our bodies that need antioxidants. We get those from our food. There are two different types of antioxidants: those that slowly link up with free radicals and those that spread quickly like a fire hose. We want more of the latter.

I’m not an expert on any of these conditions. I have answers that weren’t available before. How does this impact my diet? 

1. Limit my caffeine intake.
2. I need to eat the rainbow. And lots of cruciferous foods such as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and kale.
3. Alliums – Garlic and onions – Increase the amount of them you eat.
4. Increase Omega–3 – Fatty fish twice a week, Extra Virgin Olive Oil
5. Decrease Omega 6 – Seed oils are a no-go.
6. Decrease the amount of foods high in histamine.
7. Follow a lower-carb/moderate-fat/high-protein and fiber diet.
8. Eat eggs at least twice a week to get your choline. Also, take a supplement.
9. Get as much Vitamin D as possible. This Ohio weather has made it difficult.
10. Follow a mostly gluten-free diet.

Join me on this journey as I navigate this new way of eating. Some of which I’ve done in a patchwork manner in the past. Now it needs to be brought together into a cohesive diet.

Stay kind!

Have a magical day,
Traci