Got allergies? it could be your microbes.

As microbiota continue to be studied in labs across the globe, in large part due to The Human Microbiome Project (HMP) which was a United States National Institutes of Health initiative with the goal of identifying and characterizing the microorganisms which are found in association with both healthy and diseased humans (the human microbiome), you may have heard the term “hygiene hypothesis.” Originally proposed in the late 1980s to explain the decreased prevalence of chronic hay fever in larger families, the modern hygiene hypothesis has evolved to suggest that our insistence on cleanliness and lack of exposure to environmental microbes in the developed world deprives our bodies of immune stimulation, disrupting normal immune development and thus increasing the risk for allergic disease.
Several epidemiological studies have provided support for the hygiene hypothesis.

• People who own indoor pets have been shown to have lower incidence of allergic disease.
  
• Children who grow up on farms or those that consume raw, unpasteurized milk are also less likely to have allergies.

On the other hand, early-life environmental influences that are known to disrupt the microbiota increase the risk for allergic disease.

• Antibiotic use, cesarean birth, and formula feeding are all associated with increased susceptibility to asthma and allergies later in life.

Taken together, these studies suggest that exposure to a diverse array of microbes early in life effectively “trains” our immune system, teaching it which substances in the environment are harmful (pathogenic microbes) and which are harmless (friendly microbes, dietary proteins, and many environmental allergens).

So if you or a loved one suffers from allergies, below are 7 steps you can take to improve allergy symptoms. 

1. Take probiotics or eat fermented foods
   Fermented foods and probiotics can help bring the microbiota and your immune system back into balance.
2. Eat plenty of fermentable fiber
   Complex fibers like plantains, cassava, or sweet potatoes are fermented by gut bacteria, resulting in the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) like butyrate, acetate, and propionate that regulate the immune system.
3. Get tested for sensitivities and avoid inflammatory foods
   Continuing to eat foods you are sensitive to can cause low-grade inflammation and impair gut healing. Look into getting a MRT test to identify sensitivities. Also, consider keeping some activated charcoal on hand for those times that you accidentally eat something you are sensitive to. Many people find that it can provide quick and safe relief for food allergies.
4. Try a low-histamine diet
   A low-histamine diet can often reduce the severity of allergy symptoms. Foods high in histamine include fermented foods, aged cheese, citrus fruits, fish, shellfish, avocados, spinach, cocoa, and leftover meat, to name a few. Consider taking quercetin (a natural antihistamine) or diamine oxidase (the enzyme responsible for breakdown of histamine) in supplement form, and use antihistamine herbs like thyme and holy basil in cooking.
5. Get tested/treated for SIBO or intestinal pathogens
   SIBO and parasites are both common, but often overlooked, causes of allergies. SIBO is also a common cause of histamine intolerance.
6. Try local raw honey for seasonal allergies
   Raw honey contains both beneficial bacteria and trace amounts of pollen picked up by the bees from local plants. Consuming raw honey produced in your area can help to “educate” your immune system to tolerate these local pollens.
7. Get Adjusted
   Chiropractic care releases the pressure on the nervous system allowing the immune system to work more effectively. Recent studies of psychoneuroimmunology have shown that the functioning of the nervous system is relevant to the function of the immune system. Regular chiropractic adjustments allow the body to function properly. They also help the body’s immune system to function properly. A healthy body is capable of neutralizing toxic substances in your system.
   

So does this mean that you can throw away your EpiPen or inhaler? Not exactly. Severe allergic reactions are not something to mess with, and most people with anaphylaxis will always have some degree of sensitivity. However, applying these 7 steps can help you to reduce the severity of allergy symptoms and improve your overall quality of life.

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