Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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This is what Danny Roddy says about it :

Increased Allergies?

Having spent a fair-amount of time in the low-carb universe, I can say, without a doubt, that the amount of allergies paleo dieters encounter after engaging in this way of eating is astronomical.

This is an anecdotal observation on my part, but I think it's useful when combined with Peat's research indicating that blood sugar levels contributed to a rat's ability to tolerate stress.

What are your thoughts about this? Low-carb paleo definitely doesn't help with my allergies. They make my sinus swollen. Lots of things improved, but I attribute that to lack of grains and nuts and bad oils (PUFAs) in my diet.

edited Jan 19 2012 at 18:17

asked Jan 19 2012 at 11:33

Korion
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	What makes you think low carb is stressful? paleohacks.com/questions/25449/… – JayJay Jan 19 2012 at 20:42
	I didn't say low carb is stressful... I said it doesn't help with my allergies. – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 13:46

Dragonfly · Answer 1 · 2012-01-19 19:01:18Z UTC

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You may want to look up Histamine Intolerance.

I thought I was having more allergy issues, but it turned out I was overeating eggs and some other histamine-generating foods. Extra Vitamin C (a natural antihistamine) & I am groovy!

I eat 70-100 gm of carbs/day.

answered Jan 19 2012 at 19:01

Dragonfly
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I don't think I have it : on ZC my allergies did not go away, they became way worse. When I ate eggs, lots of veggies and very low protein, I actually had no allergy problems. Of course, that was during the summer, so other factors may have been more important (less stress + more sun). – Korion Jan 19 2012 at 19:17

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Korion...if eating eggs and lots of veggies worked for yo before why dont you just do that and supplement some D? – JayJay Jan 19 2012 at 20:38

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Haha you kinda got me, though I was taking a strong antihistamine at the same time. I stopped it recently as it has side effects (it basically shuts off all histamine, so you feel tired all the time). But, even when taking that antihistamine while on ZC my sinus complained. – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 15:23

So that means that ZC isn't for me. Adding some vegetables to go into VLC doesn't work either. So, I thought, lets eat like during summer. I now eat the same way (lots of veggies), but it won't work. Of course, grass pollen season has just started, so maybe that's the problem. Maybe my diet is just not powerful enough (yet?) to remove allergies. Maybe I need to wait longer. – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 15:26

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The reason the diet of eggs and veggies and meat worked was probably due to the fact that I was at the beach and later on in France, enjoying sun all day long. As soon as I got back home things started to go down. The histamine thing is probably valid, but a Peatarian diet seems to keep that in check. – Korion Apr 25 2012 at 10:11

JayJay · Answer 2 · 2012-01-19 20:33:23Z UTC

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"Having spent a fair-amount of time in the low-carb universe, I can say, without a doubt, that the amount of allergies paleo dieters encounter after engaging in this way of eating is astronomical."

These sort of quotes don't really have much validity. I've not noticed the "astronomical" reports of allergies he is talking about....maybe I just don't spend as much time online as him. Either way, yes allergies are a symptom. Various things can be at play from gut health, histamines, vitamin D levels, recent trauma....and on and on. So I wouldn't jump on the sugar is the cure band wagon just yet.

answered Jan 19 2012 at 20:33

JayJay
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Probably been a while since anyone asked how you have changed your diet, but I still like the good ole autoimmune protocol for things like allergy. – JayJay Jan 19 2012 at 20:35

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Truly. Pefore changing my diet, I was in a constant state of allergic inflammation. Only through improving my overall health was I able to pinpoint what specific foods I was allergic to. So yes, when you ask me what I'm allergic to, I have a list of about 10 things. However a few years ago, my answer would be (not kidding) everything. – Kelly Jan 19 2012 at 20:52

Oh, and this is on a fairly low-carb diet. I don't know what you mean by zero-carb, but I generally stay below 40 grams a day. Some days a little more, some days even less. – Kelly Jan 19 2012 at 20:53

Good point, JayJay. I actually never heard of allergies getting worse on paleo... Though I am keeping the raw carrot, the gelatin and the fruit :) – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 13:45

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Yeah, Korian I love carrot...and I'm on record as enjoying fruit more so that tators. I just don't take it to the Rayesquian proportions. My total carbs average to around a little less than 100g/day I would guess. – JayJay Jan 20 2012 at 14:25

Bread-Eating Beelzebub · Answer 3 · 2012-01-20 18:04:47Z UTC

I'm not VLC or anything, but according to my allergist I did go from testing positive to almost all the allergens they test for in the skin prick test to none. Considering that a lot of low-carbers I know basically eat just muscle meat and cheese (and some of them eat garbage like processed "low carb" products), it wouldn't surprise me if it's not low-carb, but something else at play.

Josh M · Answer 4 · 2012-01-20 14:45:47Z UTC

That quote is unfounded and a load of crap. Granted everyone responds differently as all our situations are different. As for me all allergies gone. My son: asthma gone, allergies gone, he is off all meds he has taken for 14 years. I have 7 family member who have eradicated their allergies/asthma as well. We all eat LC (I am VLC). We all sleep well, don't stress over Life, practice Martial Arts and Life just gets better every day.

Lutfisk · Answer 5 · 2012-01-20 18:11:54Z UTC

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I don't have any allergies anymore.

answered Jan 20 2012 at 18:11

Lutfisk
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Bill1102inf · Answer 6 · 2012-01-20 16:36:01Z UTC

It does not matter if I am eating wheat/oats/pancakes and pizza or beef/chicken/fish and leafy veggies, when a certain type of pollen comes out and is present my eyes burn, sinuses get crazy, and nose runs. For me, its immediately remedied by taking a Claritin, usually. Luckily, I only need to do this about 20 times out of 365/year.

Many (most?) Dr's will tell people that allergies have nothing to do with getting a virus or bacterial infection. That is pure nonsense. When your body is in full autoimmune response to what it perceives as a threat to say pollen, its guard is down somewhat to other things. On top of that, touching your eyes can spread infection. Having clogged runny sinuses can lead to sinus infections, postnasal drip can lead to throat infections and I have even found that I am more likely to get bronchitis during allergy season as well especially when combined with very cold weather.

mindmt · Answer 7 · 2012-01-20 18:18:54Z UTC

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My n=1 is different. I have been a Summer hay fever sufferer for 45 years.

After introducing intermittent fasting as a regular practice Spring 2010, I was delighted to be able to eliminate allergy medication for the first time Summer 2010. Summer 2011 was again med free. I am NOT cured (yet?) but symptoms 10X milder.

I believe more attention to cleaning up my diet might just be the extra mile, but also that IF is an essential component of paleo...

answered Jan 20 2012 at 18:18

mindmt
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	Did IF make it more difficult at first? I'm VERY interested in this. – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 18:47
	Funny enough, when I ate once daily 2 years ago, I had zero allergies . I so hope you're right. – Korion Jan 20 2012 at 18:47
	Because I followed IF pre-season, then continued (to this day) a worsening (before it got better) wasn't relevant. To my knowledge, this tends not to happen, though. I recommend people to go "keto" for a few days to prepare for IF if they're not used to it, that helps with discomfort. – mindmt Jan 22 2012 at 12:36

Paleo and allergies?

7 Answers