Wow, I feel great... But what a journey!

I was very reluctant to post this, but having spoken to my coach and a good friend, I hope what I have learned can help someone else…

What I have discovered has been a transformation for my well-being. Many of us have learned this past year during a global pandemic, that if you don’t have your best health then everything else becomes insignificant and can fall by the wayside.

Those that have known me personally for the past decade or more, know that I have been increasingly suffering from allergic reactions, seasonal Hay-fever being the most obvious. What has not been so obvious is that I have been on a cycle of low energy at times. I have explored varying professional guidance and advice, in the pursuit of understanding and the hope of getting to the bottom of this feeling. Going back 20 years, I was running, white-collar boxing and generally in good health, but could not explain periods of fatigue at times.

Fast-forward 20 years, after poor advice, misdiagnoses and treating symptoms and not finding the root cause finally led me to an organisation called “The Optimum Health Clinic” (many thanks to a good friend and colleague pointing me in this direction).

Well, it turns out that my allergic reactions and fatigue are related, especially when they don’t always coincide with each other and it’s all down to HISTAMINE levels!

I believe most people know when you get an allergic reaction (say Hay-Fever), you take an antihistamine to alleviate the symptoms. However, I was not aware that some foods and drinks also contain histamine, some more than others. Working with a nutritionist has not only improved my diet and resulted in losing over 2 stone during lockdown (>12kg for my US friends), but we have been focused on a low histamine diet cutting out fermented foods, dairy, yogurt, cheese, processed or smoked meats, citrus fruits, chocolate and other nice food and drinks rich in histamine! This low histamine diet approach has provided my body with more histamine headroom when an allergic reaction is triggered.

But one of my biggest, single most noticeable improvements is taking an antihistamine when going to bed at night. Your natural histamine levels are highest when you first wake up in the morning. Taking an antihistamine when going to bed gives your body time to process and counteract your natural rise in histamine, ready for when you first wake up.

My suggestion, if you suffer from Hay-Fever or such allergies, just try taking an antihistamine when turning in at night and possibly cutting down on histamine rich foods when taking any antihistamine.

Wow, what a difference. I now wake up feeling alive and energetic, going for a 16+ mile bicycle ride most mornings. It feels like my shackles have been removed, my head is no longer underwater, no mountain is too high to scale, or any horizon too far to conquer….

Wishing you all well and ready for your next challenge too.