Why We Can Develop Anxiety Due to Allergies and Sensitivities Acquired Later on in Life
Allergies come with a huge genetic component. A number of SNPs can make a person predisposed to asthma, skin conditions, and allergy-induced mental illness. That is why seasonal allergies run in families.
Over-saturation can also bring on allergies. This is why people who work with heavy metals and antibiotics can all of the sudden develop violent reactions to those.
Stress and lowered immune system can be triggers for allergies and consequently, allergy-enabled anxiety too.
MTHFR genetic mutations are often discussed as of late, although much of the information is speculative. What we do know is that toxin overload can burden the body to the point of making it incapable of neutralizing irritants and allergens. In some cases, diamine oxidase (DAO) deficiencies result or are the primary causes of this. The body cannot break down histamine effectively because DAO or histaminase (a natural enzyme that enables histamine breakdown) is lacking. Depending on where that histamine accumulation is, a number of common or less common reactions follow. Bloating and digestive irregularities, for example, may stem from histamine dysregulation in the gut. This leads to malabsorption of vital nutrients and minerals, which can lead to anxiety, sometimes severe. These include:
- Vitamin D
- magnesium,
- zinc,
- Omega-3,
- B vitamins,
- chromium, and more.
The make the matter worse, this histamine dysregulation may cause acid reflux (GERD) and lead to antacid use. The stomach must have a pH of 2 to assimilate chemicals properly and kill harmful pathogens. Pepsin is a protease, an enzyme that breaks chemical bonds in protein to enable proper absorption. It works at pH of 2 because the carboxylic acid group on the amino acid in the enzyme’s active site must be bound to a hydrogen atom.
Antacids impair this required pH balance. No absorption, no chemical balance either. The result? Anxiety (or other mental health issues).
Moreover, brain histamine influences homeostatic functions. Histamine in the brain also leads to addictive behavior and degenerative diseases, according to new research.
Takeaway
Work with a knowledgeable professional to get to the root causes of your anxiety and do not neglect the importance of getting tested for food sensitivities.
Next: Why You Cannot Meditate Your Way Out of Anxiety
References:
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4415518/
- https://www.webmd.com/allergies/what-to-know-about-diamine-oxidase-histamine-intolerance
- https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnsys.2014.00064/full#:~:text=Brain%20histamine%20promotes%20wakefulness%20and,Parkinson's%20diseases%20and%20multiple%20sclerosis
- https://sciencing.com/what-is-the-optimum-ph-for-human-stomach-enzyme-activity-12072183.html
