It took me a long time to learn that some strains of bacteria are actually histamine PRODUCING, and therefore some probiotics on the market could actually be adding to my full body inflammation instead of helping. I am someone who struggles with G.I issues and digestive difficulties, so taking a probiotic is an absolute must. However, I started to notice that I wasn't tolerating certain brands of probiotics well at all, but I wasn't sure why. This is when I began to do some research and I learned a lot of interesting things about how probiotics and histamine go hand in hand.
There are strains of good bacteria which are histamine producing, and the top culprits are: Lactobacillus casei, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus reuteri, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. Many of these are most commonly in yogurts, and yes you guessed it.. probiotic blends.
There are also strains of good bacteria which are histamine reducing (called histamine degraders), and those include: Bifidobacterium infantis, Bifidobacterium longum, Bifidobacterium bifido, Bifidobacterium breve, Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, and Lactobacillus plantarum.
So, what do Histamine degraders do? These strains of bacteria actually reduce histamine levels in the body. For one they do not actively create histamine like other bacteria do, and they also eat up histamine (degrade it).
After extensively researching about this topic I learned about a probiotic blend called ProBiota Bifido. This blend only contains 4 stains of bacteria, and all 4 are histamine reducing strains.
I began taking this blend over a year ago, and it has been the only probiotic which I have consistently tolerated, loved, and never had one issue with (which is saying a LOT because I tend to be highly sensitive to probiotics). In fact it actually helps to calm symptoms in the gut, and even outside of the gut (such as inflammation) due to its histamine lowering ability. It is absolutely incredible stuff. I have long struggled with digestive issues and other GI issues, and this strain keeps me well balanced.
If you struggle with any similar issues with Histamine or Mast Cells I encourage you to give this blend a try. I could sing it's praises 100 times over. It has made SUCH a difference in my life, in my symptoms, and in my tolerance of every day life. I do not know where I would be without this stuff.
It doesn't need to be refrigerated (per the bottles instructions), but I do keep mine in the fridge just to be safe. A bottle of 60 caps lasts me 2-3 months (depending on how often I take it), and it's about $45. That might seem pricey to some who take probiotics which are cheaper, but TRUST me on this one. If you share these issues which I talked about above it will be worth every single penny. And if you are just someone who has had issues with almost every probiotic you have tried, give this one a shot before you give up.
You can buy this online right HERE, and I would love to hear any feedback from anyone who has tried it. You can read the reviews on Amazon, they are all echoing my same sentiments. Probiota Bifido is histamine reducing magic in a bottle! I also want to note that for those who have colon pain, IBS, or some IBD's (Crohn's or Ulcerative Colitis) then you can use this blend in a probiotic enema for some relief. It bypasses the stomach acid that way and gets the probiotics rights where it needs to go. This is a method a lot of people I spoke to have used and say they had great results with, so it's just some food for thought!
xoxo,
Christina