Allergy Relief and More with This Miracle Vitamin

Vitamin C, also known as L- ascorbic acid, is a water-soluble vitamin (dissolves in water) We, as humans are unable to synthesize vitamin C and must get it in foods or as a supplement.

Allergy relief and more

 Vitamin C helps fight infections and heal wounds and is involved in the formation of collagen and blood vessels. It is also used to help reduce the symptoms of seasonal allergies by reducing the amount of histamine in the body.

Different than taking over-the-counter antihistamines

Antihistamines block histamine receptors, and many of the antihistamines on the market have drowsiness as a side effect for that very reason.

 Vitamin C reduces the amount of histamine by suppressing histamine activity and works best for allergic rhinitis (watery eyes, sneezing, nasal congestion) and asthma. It is not recommended for allergic reactions to food because this type of allergy can come on quickly and be life-threatening. (1)

Histamines affect almost every organ system

Almost all body systems are affected by histamines- respiratory symptoms, cardiac, skin, circulatory, psychological, and gut/digestive systems can be affected by histamine intolerance.

Histamine is produced in the body by: (2)

• Seasonal allergy reaction
• Environmental allergic reaction- mold, dust, pet dander, air pollution
• Stress response
• Exercise
• Exercise-induced asthma.
• Genetic predisposition
• Motion while on a boat or vehicle (2 grams of vitamin C was taken 1 hour before exposure to a simulation of waves in a boat resulted in a decrease of motion sickness) (3)
• There is some evidence that estrogen dominance is linked to histamine intolerance because of their effect on mast cell behavior (mast cells are a type of white blood cell involved in allergic responses). (4)
• Mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) is a condition where mast cells become overly responsive to allergens, triggering a release of excessive amounts of histamine. It is a condition where a patient experiences repeated episodes of anaphylaxis and is diagnosed by the elevation of mast cell activators. This condition is life-threatening and should be treated by a healthcare professional. (5)

A deeper dive

Vitamin C, histamine intolerance, and DAO enzyme

What is DAO enzyme, and how is it made?

DAO is an important digestive enzyme in the body that helps break down excess histamine. It is produced in your kidneys, the intestinal lining of your digestive tract, and thymus. Most DAO is produced in the gut.  

 To summarize:

DAO enzyme is activated by vitamin C, which in turn breaks down excess histamine in the body.

Eat These

Foods high in vitamin C

• Citrus fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruits)
• Berries (strawberries, raspberries)
• Tropical fruits (papaya, kiwi, mango)
• Bell peppers, Broccoli, Brussels sprouts
• Parsley, thyme, cilantro
  

Foods that have lower histamine levels (8)

• Gluten-free grains-amaranth, arrowroot, buckwheat, millet, rice, quinoa
• Fresh meat
• Salmon- fresh or flash-frozen
• Olive oil, coconut oil
• Almonds
• Potatoes
• Flax and chia
• ghee

Foods high in DAO enzymes can help increase DAO activity (6,7)

• Kidney beans, lentils, peas, chickpeas
• Omega-rich fish- wild-caught sardines, salmon, trout
• Grass-fed and finished meats, especially liver (Check out our Origin Brand Bison Liver- grass-fed and finished)
• Olive oil, coconut oil
• Fresh green pea sprouts

Avoid These

Foods to avoid on a low-histamine diet include: (8)

Histamine-rich foods include

• Fermented foods like kombucha and sauerkraut
• Alcoholic beverages, especially wine and beer
• Aged meats and cheeses
• Canned meats/fish
• Avocados
• Spinach
• Eggplant

Foods that may trigger histamine release include

• Alcohol
• Banana
• Tomatoes
• Beans
• Nuts- walnuts, cashews
• Legumes- peanuts

Some foods that block the production of DAO enzyme production include

• Alcohol
• Black and green tea

To summarize:

• Consume vitamin C-rich foods or use a supplement,
• In addition, consume low histamine foods and foods high in DAO enzyme that promote enzyme activity.

Dose of Vitamin C for allergies

• 2 grams (2,000 milligrams) of vitamin C has been used with success to alleviate allergy symptoms. This is much higher than the RDA (recommended daily amount) of 75 milligrams for women and 90 milligrams for men.

Side effects

Vitamin C has a very low toxicity profile, however, in excess it can produce some undesirable side effects:

• Nausea, vomiting
• Heartburn
• Abdominal cramps
• Diarrhea

Vitamin C is excreted via the urinary tract system. Be sure to drink plenty of water while taking it.

Contraindications

• Individuals undergoing chemotherapy or radiation should consult with their oncologist before taking vitamin C or other antioxidant supplements, especially in high doses. (11)
• A higher risk of kidney stones was found in men, but not women. Be sure to drink plenty of water when taking vitamin C. (12)

When to take

Vitamin C is best taken on an empty stomach 30 to 45 minutes before meals. (13)

Not just any form of Vitamin C, our Liposomal blend contains a cutting-edge blend to increase your body's bioavailability of water-soluble nutrients allowing cells to utilize this nutrient more efficiently and prioritize antioxidant action.

References

1. Jochum C. Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Beyond. Nutrients. 2024 Apr 19;16(8):1219. doi: 10.3390/nu16081219. PMID: 38674909; PMCID: PMC11054089.
2. Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla M, Vidal-Carou MDC. Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2020 Aug 14;10(8):1181. doi: 10.3390/biom10081181. PMID: 32824107; PMCID: PMC7463562.
3. https://www.medicinenet.com/does_vitamin_c_help_with_allergies_make_them_worse/article.htm
4. Jarisch, R & Weyer, D & Ehlert, E & Koch, C & Pinkowski, E & Jung, P & Kähler, Wataru & Girgensohn, R & Kowalski, Jens & Weisser, Burkhard & Koch, Andreas. (2014). Impact of oral Vitamin C on histamine levels and seasickness. Journal of vestibular research : equilibrium & orientation. 24. 281-8. 10.3233/VES-140509.
5. Zierau O, Zenclussen AC, Jensen F. Role of female sex hormones, estradiol and progesterone, in mast cell behavior. Front Immunol. 2012 Jun 19;3:169. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2012.00169. PMID: 22723800; PMCID: PMC3377947.
6. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (n.d.). Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/related-conditions/mcas
7. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (n.d.). Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS). Retrieved July 15, 2024, from https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/related-conditions/mcas
8. Duelo, A. (2024, May 6). DAO enzyme according to its origin: animal or vegetable? AD Dietistas. https://www.adrianaduelo.com/en/dao-enzyme-according-to-its-origin-animal-or-vegetable/
9. Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2022). Low histamine diet. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/-/media/johns-hopkins-childrens-center/documents/specialties/adolescent-medicine/cfs-low-histamine-diet.pdf
10. Tobajas Y, Alemany-Fornés M, Samarra I, Romero-Giménez J, Tintoré M, Del Pino A, Canela N, Del Bas JM, Ortega-Olivé N, de Lecea C, Escoté X. Diamine Oxidase Interactions with Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Migraine Medicines in the Treatment of Migraine. J Clin Med. 2023 Dec 4;12(23):7502. doi: 10.3390/jcm12237502. PMID: 38068554; PMCID: PMC10707353.
11. Kubala, J. (2022, April 11). Vitamin C for allergies: Effectiveness, uses, and precautions. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/vitamin-c-for-allergies
12. Jiang K, Tang K, Liu H, Xu H, Ye Z, Chen Z. Ascorbic Acid Supplements and Kidney Stones Incidence Among Men and Women: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Urol J. 2019 May 5;16(2):115-120. doi: 10.22037/uj.v0i0.4275. PMID: 30178451.
13. Office of Dietary Supplements. (2021, March 26). Vitamin C: Fact sheet for health professionals. National Institutes of Health. https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-HealthProfessional/

 Written by Brooke Lounsbury