Green tea, chai lattes, fermented foods and avocados may be superfoods for some but for others, they may be a biochemical nightmare. Debilitating symptoms such as headaches, skin disorders, aching joints and gastric stress can lead sufferers to try the latest healthy eating trends in the quest for the alleviation of symptoms. If you have been going to town on fermented foods, bliss balls and berry smoothies thinking that these foods may help alleviate your symptoms you may be surprised to hear that for some they could actually be worsening symptoms. Histamine and amine intolerance occurs due to an accumulation of histamine or an impaired capacity for the breakdown of histamine within the body. Histamine is a chemical substance known as a biogenic amine which is produced by the body and some foods. Histamine is involved in the immune system response, the digestive system, and the central nervous system. It can work as a neurotransmitter communicating important signals from the body to the brain. Histamine is also a component of stomach acid and helps break down food in the stomach. When histamine is ingested from foods it can usually be detoxified by substances called amine oxidases, however, if a person has low amine oxidase activity they are at risk of histamine toxicity. The main enzyme responsible for the breakdown of ingested histamine is called Diamine oxidase (DAO). DAO is found mainly in the kidneys, thymus, and the placenta in pregnant women (which is why allergies often improve during pregnancy). When DAO is functioning efficiently ingested histamine is broken down within the digestive tract and removed before it can enter the body. When histamine levels inside the body become excessive, DAO and another enzyme called histamine N-methyl transferase (HNMT) break down the excess. If DAO activity is impaired, histamine can accumulate to excess and may cause a number of adverse symptoms that mimic a hypersensitive or allergy type reaction. Histamine can build up due to the ingestion of histamine-rich food or by food, drink or medications that either release histamine or inhibit the DAO enzyme. Decreased DAO enzyme production and high histamine tends to be more common in people with the following - Methylation dysfunction Gut disorders such as celiac disease, leaky gut syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, dysbiosis and SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth). DAO activity can also be inhibited by certain medications. Increased histamine may aggravate symptoms such as gastric stress, nausea, headaches, mood disorders, depression, sinus problems, skin rashes, eczema, rosacea, psoriasis, joint inflammation, breathing difficulties, rapid heartbeat, rashes, itching, burning eyes, and flushing of the skin. Usually, symptoms can be minimised by a low histamine diet or by taking antihistamines. SAMe and methionine help to reduce histamine by methylating it. People with high histamine and vegetarians or vegans may not be getting sufficient methyl compounds in their diets and may need professional methionine or SAMe supplements. Nutrient deficiencies such as vitamin C, copper, B12, folate, B6, B2, B1, zinc and methionine and nutrient excesses such as histidine and too much protein can aggravate histamine intolerance. It is extremely important to follow the advice of a professional healthcare practitioner prior to taking any supplementation. Some people can react adversely to certain supplements and professional guidance is imperative. General guidelines: 1. Keep a food diary and monitor symptoms. This will give you a good idea of which foods you are most sensitive to. 2. Avoid canned food, particularly fish and meats 3. Avoid precooked and pre-prepared ready meals, the older the food the more histamine it can produce. 4. Avoid fermented foods such as aged cheeses, cultured vegetables, alcohol, yeast products (yeast serves as a catalyst for histamine production) 5. Avoid food additives such as preservatives and azo dyes as these can mediate the release of histamine. 6. Where possible buy and eat fresh products. Diamine Oxidase (DAO) blockers to reduce: Alcohol Black tea Coffee Energy drinks Green tea Matcha Chai Mate tea Histamine liberators to reduce:  Citrus fruits – kiwi, lemon, lime, pineapple Papaya Tomatoes Cocoa and chocolate Nuts Beans and legumes Wheat germ Food Additives – benzoate, sulphites, nitrites, glutamate, food dyes Supplements and OTC meds that increase DAO levels include:  Vitamin C Vitamin B6 Pancreatic enzymes Benadryl Supplements and meds that inhibit DAO:  Alcohol Curcumin (turmeric) Cimetidine – an antihistamine Monitor your symptoms with the following: Fresh milk and milk products Coconut milk, rice milk Ricotta, cream cheese, butter Most cooking oils Most herbs Most non-citrus fruit (except pineapples, strawberries, bananas) Herbal teas (except chai, green, matcha) Low histamine and amine level foods: Fresh fruits Fresh vegetables Fresh meat (frozen is ok) Chicken (providing it is freshly cooked) Egg yolks (egg white – is a histamine liberator only when in its raw state) Fresh fish Grains – some people that are sensitive to histamine may also find that they are sensitive to gluten. Anti-histamine and anti-inflammatory foods to increase: Watercress Onions Garlic Basil Thyme Nettle Peppermint Ginger Apples  Probiotics:  Decreases histamine – B infantis, B lognum and L plantarum Increases histamine – L casei, L reuteri and L bulgaricus Supplements and ingredients that stabilize mast cells and reduce inflammation:  Quercitin Turmeric Curcumin (also decreases DAO) Reishi mushrooms Yohimbine Adrenaline Eleuthero Rutin Theanine Astragalus Important: Always seek professional recommendation prior to taking any supplements or making any dietary changes

It is reported that those living in the blue zones live longer and have the lowest incidence of disease in the world. Studies believe that a common factor of people in these areas is diet, particularly a style of eating commonly referred to as the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet is high in plant based foods and healthy fats.  Eating a diet high in plant based foods rich in antioxidant compounds called Polyphenols may significantly contribute to our general health and longevity. Polyphenols are a type of phytochemical (plant chemical)  that occurs naturally in plants. There are over 500 unique polyphenols.     Eating a diet high in all forms of polyphenols may be beneficial to our health in many ways. Nearly all fruits and vegetables contain polyphenols and choosing polyphenol rich foods may help protect our cells from disease and damage.  Possible benefits of a Polyphenol Rich diet include: Reduced risk of inflammatory related disease such as heart disease, diabetes, some cancers and hormonal imbalance. Polyphenols may help to protect the cells in the body from free radical damage that occurs from a poor lifestyle, stress, medications and glycation.   Polyphenols may help with a healthy gut microbiome by promoting the growth of healthy gut flora. There is some evidence to show that a high polyphenol intake can positively modulate the intestinal microbiome enabling more of the eubiotic bacteria that produce short chain fatty acids (which are important in maintaining a healthy gut). Gut microbiota and dietary polyphenols have a symbiotic relationship: the microbiota enzymatically transforms polyphenols to improve bioavailability, while polyphenols modulate microbial composition by enhancing the growth of beneficial bacteria and inhibiting the growth of pathogens, thus exhibiting the prebiotic-like effect. In turn this may help with the health of the gut and may benefit those with gut related disorders and diseases.  Polyphenols may help to protect the cells from damage by helping to protect telomeres. Telomeres are the caps at the end of the chromosomes that protect the DNA. Telomeres are particularly susceptible to oxidation and so eating a diet rich in polyphenols may assist with slowing the rate of telomere degradation.   Polyphenols may benefit brain function, cardiovascular health and circulation by providing blood vessel support and lowered risk of oxidations of fats in the cellular membranes.   Polyphenols may boost insulin sensitivity, as well as slow down the rate the body digests and absorbs sugar.  Higher flavonoid intake may be associated with a lower BMI and waist circumference.  Polyphenols may impact genes and gene expression. A person's specific genes can also affect how their body responds to certain types of polyphenols.   Polyphenols may assist with healthy glowing skin. Particularly important for those wanting to delay the signs of premature aging, or those wanting to prevent pigmentation, acne, rosacea and inflammatory type skin conditions.   Plant-based foods such as vegetables and fruits tend to be high in polyphenols.  The number of polyphenols in a food can vary depending on where the food is grown, how it is farmed and transported and how it is cooked or prepared. High heat and prolonged cooking may damage or destroy the polyphenol content of food.   Some major sources of polyphenols include: Tea including black tea, green and white tea  Coffee  Cocoa  Red, blue and black fruits such as berries, red grapes and cherries   Apples, citrus fruits   Seabuckthorn  Grape seed  Purple and red vegetables such as beetroot, eggplant  Cherry tomatoes  Spinach  Broccoli  Kale   Wholegrains – oats, barley, rye  Soy, flaxseeds and legumes  Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, celery seeds, basil, marjoram and  oregano  Nuts and seeds  Olives and extra virgin olive oil   Vita-sol Infinity powder   Eating a plant based diet high in fruits, vegetables, legumes, nuts and seeds and full of fresh produce and minimally processed food is proving to be the healthiest way to eat. Of course a fabulous way to boost your polyphenol intake to maximise the health benefits is to ensure you take 2 teaspoons of Vita-sol Infinity powder every single day. 

The Ketogenic Diet (keto diet for short) was first used as a diet to effectively manage epilepsy, and other medical conditions, it has now become a very trendy way to lose weight and its popularity continues to grow.  The Keto Diet involves intentionally putting your body into ketosis by drastically reducing carbohydrate intake whilst increasing fat intake. Ketosis is a metabolic state that occurs when the body does not have sufficient amounts of glucose to produce energy, and so instead, the body converts fats into ketone bodies (this is where the ‘fat burning’ comes in) that are used up as energy for major organs such as the brain, heart, liver and kidneys. The ketogenic diet promotes a constant state of ketosis to use fat storage as energy, to achieve this it is recommended that you consumer only 20-50 grams of carbohydrates per day (for example 1 medium banana + 1 apple equates to approx. 50 grams of carbs), adequate amounts of protein and high amounts of fat (65-75% of total energy intake). Think of including foods such as salmon, tuna, barramundi, flaxseeds, tahini, walnuts, chai seeds, pine nuts, brazil nuts, avocado, plant and seed oils and eggs, and reducing foods such as processed cakes/biscuits/muffins/pastries, deep fried and take-away foods.   Some of the benefits of a Keto Diet that are related to a reduction in blood glucose levels include:   Increased insulin sensitivity  Reduced lipogenesis (fat production) as excess glucose from carbs is stored as fat   Beneficial to the small blood vessels of the eyes and kidneys as glucose damage these   Excess fructose (found mostly in fruits) can increase risk of developing a fatty liver   Many people react to carbohydrates such as fructose and lactose (dairy), so removing these may help reduce allergic/intolerant symptoms   However, despite these health benefits and weight loss success stories, the Keto Diet can also lead to numerous undesired side effects as glucose is the bodies preferred energy source and carbohydrates, including fibre, are important for maintaining regular bowel movements, reducing LDL (‘bad’) cholesterol and feeding our healthy gut bacteria. Additionally, you need to have an optimally functioning liver with excellent bile production in order to digest and absorb these large quantities of fats.  Therefore, without a healthy liver, sufficient bile production and consuming very low amounts of carbs and fibre, the Keto Diet may cause unwanted side effects such as:   The ‘keto flu’ – as your body adjusts from using carbohydrates as the main fuel to using fats and ketones as energy, you may experience a ‘keto flu’ which can cause symptoms such as headaches, weakness, nausea, low energy, reducing concentration and brain fog.    Acetone smelling breath – this is due to the ketone bodies   Hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) which can cause dizziness, sugar cravings and mood changes   Sleeping problems and fatigue    Digestive issues – due to not digesting the fats efficiently   Constipation – due to not having enough fibre  Diarrhoea – due to too much fat   Reduced muscle mass if not consuming adequate   May be too socially restrictive and isolating    May cause weight gain if not doing it correctly as fat is very energy dense   Too much saturated fat can cause an increase in cholesterol levels which increases cardiovascular disease risk   Can lead to nutrient deficiencies such as magnesium, potassium, vitamin C and folate   May throw off your pH balance by making your body more acidic  TIP: Vita-sol Purity Wholefood Powder will assist in the healthy production of bile. While it may be tempting for a quick weight loss solution, any strict diet regimes should not be undertaken without the guidance of a medical practitioner.    

Flavonoids are a diverse group of phytonutrients (plant chemicals) found in almost all fruits and vegetables. Along with carotenoids and anthrocyanins they are responsible for the bright colours in fruits and vegetables. Flavonoids are the largest group of phytonutrients, with more than 6,000 types. Some of the best-known flavonoids are quercetin.   Flavonoids are a form of polyphenols known for their powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity in the body.   There are several significant groups of flavonoids, including anthocyanidins, flavanols, flavones, flavonols, flavonones and ligands. Flavones: Flavones are associated with overall antioxidant benefits and delaying the metabolizing of drugs. Good sources of flavones are celery, parsley, various herbs and hot peppers.  Anthocyanidins: Anthocyanidins are associated with heart health, longevity, antioxidant effects and even may assist with preventing obesity and diabetes. Good sources of anthocyanidins include red, purple, blue and black berries, pomegranates, plums, beetroot, and purple grapes.  Did you know: Vita-sol Infinity Powder is high in anthocyanidins in the form of beetroot juice and powder! Flavonones: Flavones are associated with overall antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity within the body, good sources include citrus, parsley and rosemary.   Isoflavones: Isoflavones are a form of phytoestrogen, meaning that they mimic or have a mild oestrogen like activity in the body. Isoflavones may be beneficial in lowering the risk of oestrogen related cancers, such as breast, endometrial and prostate cancers, and relieving menopausal symptoms. Good food sources include soy products and legumes.   Lignans: are a type of polyphenols that are found in high amounts in extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed, and whole grains such as rye, barley and oats. Lignans have both plant oestrogen and antioxidant qualities and may help lower inflammation within the body.   Vita-sol has been specially formulated to include as many phytonutrients as possible, to provide a boost of nutrients with every serve. Include 2 tsp daily with your morning smoothie, cereal or mixed with water.