Each year more and more individuals develop some type of food allergy.  This phenomenon has swept the nation and is slowly beginning to be accepted as “normal.”  Although food allergies can manifest as many different symptoms, breaking out into hives seems to be extremely common.

When this occurs, individuals typically rush to the doctor’s office with the thought that something is seriously wrong.  The doctor will usually prescribe some type of antihistamine medication to reduce swelling and calm the reaction.

Unfortunately, this does not address the root problem and similar reactions are bound to occur and even intensify if the problem is not properly addressed.  Those who have symptoms such as hives after eating almost always have some type of gut dysbiosis.

This simply means that the gut is no longer in balance and the amount of bad bacteria outnumbers the amount of good bacteria.  When the gut is in a state of dysbiosis, it typically suffers from both bacterial and fungal overgrowth’s such as candida.  If really bad, the individual may even suffer from a small intestinal bacteria overgrowth (SIBO). 

SIBO is when bacteria from the large intestines make their way up to the small intestines which is supposed to be sterile and free from bacteria.  When an individual is suffering from SIBO, symptoms are typically much more intense.

Candida, Food Allergies, and Hives

As mentioned before, those who experience “phantom” food allergies that they did not have prior in life are almost always suffering from a fungal overgrowth such as candida.  Candida has the unique ability to modify the microbiome in a negative way and can overburden the immune system.

It’s important to understand that the majority of our immune system is dependent on the health and integrity of our gut (1).  When the gut becomes over-run with fungal pathogens such as candida, the immune system becomes severely compromised.  When an individual breaks out into hives after consuming a particular food, this is a sign of the immune system being over-reactive.

It’s important to understand that the immune system becomes extremely overstimulated when trying to deal with a fungal overgrowth such a candida.  This is because candida release over 70 different toxic substances in the body and can cause cell damage in the body.  As a result, any food product that may irritate the gut lining, or is particular hard to digest, is recognized as a threat by the over reactive immune system.

The only way to stop this over-reaction of the immune system is to regain control over the microbiome.  Once the gut microbiome is in balance, the immune system will naturally find equilibrium.  However, this can’t occur until candida is effectively removed from the body.

Why Is Candida In My Body?

Many are confused as to why they have a fungus such as candida in their body in the first place.  To be clear, the human body is supposed to have small amounts of candida in the gut.  However, it’s always supposed to remain in its non-pathogenic yeast form.  When candida remains in its non-pathogenic yeast form, they body remains healthy and in balance.

With that said, when the conditions allow, candida is able to morph into a pathogenic fungus which can wreak havoc on the digestive and immune system.  The two main reasons candida is able to morph into its fungal form is because of poor diet and overuse of antibiotics.

Also, diets high in sugar and carbohydrates provides the perfect fuel for candida to thrive and multiply in the gut.  This is because candida has a sugar/alcohol metabolism and ferments sugars and carbohydrates in the gut.  The byproducts of this fermentation process can put immense amounts of stress on the body’s lymphatic system and immune system.

Once well established, candida can be extremely difficult to remove from the body.  It’s for this reason that we recommend those with a candida overgrowth to follow our candida diet protocol.

Candida and Histamine Intolerance

Here is where things really get interesting; those with candida overgrowth in the body will almost always have some type of histamine intolerance.  In fact, histamine reactions can become so intense that they have been known to cause death by anaphylactic shock.

Getting a rash or hives after eating is a clear sign of a histamine reaction in the body.  Unfortunately, many are unaware that this over reaction to histamine can be a direct result of candida overgrowth.  Again, this all goes back to the over-reactive immune system seeing everything as a threat.

There is on-going research showing a link between histamine intolerance in the body and candida overgrowth.  Researchers have found that candida can stimulate mast cells which causes a release of histamine in the body (2).  This causes the body to become overwhelmed with histamine and cannot detoxify it fast enough from the body.  When this occurs, symptoms such as rashes, hyperactivity, anxiety, brain fog, and fatigue can result.

It’s for this reason that many with a candida overgrowth will react poorly to foods high in histamine.  Foods such as avocados, bone broths, aged meats, aged cheeses, fermented foods, and fish are all high in histamine.

With that said, histamine is a naturally compound produced by the body and is needed for several different biological functions in the body.  It only becomes an issue when the body becomes overwhelmed by excess amounts of histamine.

Herbs that can Balance the Immune System

As well as following our candida diet protocol fully, there are also several different herbs that can be added into the diet to help modulate the immune system.  These herbs have been used for centuries and have a long track record of balancing the immune system and being both safe and effective.

1. Reishi Mushroom

Reishi Mushroom is an absolute must for anyone dealing with an overstimulated immune system due to candida.  Despite being a fungus, reishi has powerful anti-fungal properties and has been shown to inhibit the growth of candida (3).  This mushroom is famous for modulating the immune system and bringing balance to the body.

We love reishi due to its ability to modulate the immune system and bring equilibrium to the body.  It’s also great for lowering stress levels in the body and is great for promoting feelings of relaxation and well- being.

2. Chaga Mushroom

Chaga mushroom is another immune modulating medicinal mushroom that has been used for centuries by ancient Serbian’s of Russia.  The Serbian credited chaga for keeping them healthy and helping them adapt to the harsh climates of Russia.

This medicinal mushroom is full of beta-glucans which can help feed the immune system and allow it to operate more efficiently (4).  Chaga also contains natural anti-fungal properties and can be perfect for inhibiting the growth of candida in the body.

Getting the Liver Right

As mentioned before, candida can release over 70 different toxins into the body.  One of these toxins in particular, gliotoxin, has been shown to destroy liver cells (5).  The liver plays an extremely important role in detoxification and is responsible for removing harmful substances from the blood.  Its main job is to properly filter the blood from the digestive tract before it releases it to the rest of the body.  This gives the immune system a break from fighting against toxic substances that may enter the blood stream.

The best way to stop these toxic substances from entering into the liver and initiate regeneration is to stop feeding candida.   Once you begin to shut down the metabolism of candida, it longer can reproduce and is eventually forced back into its non-pathogenic yeast form.  Again, sugar and carbohydrate rich foods are the main fuel source of candida.

Luckily, research has shown that the liver can fully regenerate from as little as 25% of its original size.  This is one of the many wonders that the body is capable of when fed the correct diet.

Start Cooking Healthy Meals Today

Changing diet can be extremely difficult for some in the beginning.  Also, our candida diet protocol can be intense and seem somewhat limited to those who are accustomed to eating whatever they want.

It’s for this reason that we created the Crush Candida Recipe Cook Book.  Our recipe cook book contains over 20 amazing and delicious recipes that were designed to help inhibit the growth of candida.  The recipes in this cook book are extremely easy to make and contain all the nutrients you need for optimal health. 

So, if you want delicious and tasty recipes, be sure to check out our Crush Candida Recipe Cook Book!