Uhh...I have MCAS and eating cold potato is helping me? (The case for resistant starch)

[ChickenBear]

Hi there lovely fellow MCASers,

I'm wondering if anyone here knows about using Resistant Starch as a tool to beat back histamine and inflammatory responses within mast cells?

I've really stabilized lately (knock on wood) and I'm not on *any* antihistamines or prescription meds at the moment except my thyroid medication. Hopefully it continues this way. I'm really trying to employ a food-as-medicine model, along with strategic supplementation.

Over the holidays, I stumbled on something, just by chance. Because it was Thanksgiving/Christmas, etc, there was always a steady stream of cold potato leftovers in the fridge. I crave carbs at night and I'm lazy. So I just ate some potato cold. The first time I did this last winter, I noticed an IMMEDIATE difference in my lungs and the itchiness of my ever present hives, about ten minutes after eating.

I thought it was a fluke. So I tried it again the next night. It worked just as well.

And I have continued since then, off and on, using cooked and cooled potato (RS 3 type) as a tool when my histamine levels start to rise. Now I'm trying to get off the potato and onto green banana flour- my naturopath says it's better for people with Hashi's to avoid too many nightshade foods. And I'm worried about blood sugars.

But the potato still works best.

Does anyone have any theories as to why this might be? I've been focusing pretty intently on healing my gut (leaky + dysbiosis due to extensive ABx over the years) and many functional medicine specialists believe that when the gut isn't working optimally, histamine levels rise. I believe this is true in my case.

But it could actually have no measurable affect on histamine and is more of just a general anti-inflammatory.
Eating RS helps our good bacteria produce more butyrate, which is really good for inflammation in general.

Either way it could be helpful to try for people that are too sensitive for meds or even supplements. Which was me, not too long ago.

But if anyone understand the science behind WHY this works, I'd be really interested to know. Or if you know someone that had success with RS in the same way, could you tell us more?
xoxoxo
CB

(Be aware that supplementing with RS is contraindicated for those with SIBO, as it can feed bacterial overgrowth.)

 

[Runner5]

I don't know anything about mast cells or etc. etc. But as a runner I used to use the drink mix, "Tailwind" -- it's starch. I used to use it on long runs because it doesn't upset the stomach and it's a good energy source.

At aid stations on long runs they have potatoes and salt setup, you dip the potato into the salt and eat it. I don't know if they cook the potatoes or not though, hmm. I have never run an ultramarathon. But just saying there is something to starch if top athletes fuel with it.

If it makes you feel better -- that's the key right there. I changed my diet dramatically and my habits and I'm getting better.

 

[echobravo]

I've been focusing pretty intently on healing my gut (leaky + dysbiosis due to extensive ABx over the years) and many functional medicine specialists believe that when the gut isn't working optimally, histamine levels rise. I believe this is true in my case.

Yes, I had the same experience of becoming histamine intolerant (beer, alcohol, aged cheese, tomatoes, prosciutto) after several Abx cures had left my biota in a depleted state..and with an increase in pathogenic / dysbiotic bacteria - including low motility (serotonin/tryptophan production reduced), candida overgrowth and probably leaky gut too (brain fog, autoimmunity, pain).

Since RS stays in the intestines it seems logical that the good effect of cold potatoes has to do with feeding certain bacteria, no?

Actually, in Norway, we have this traditional tortilla-like “thing” called “lefse”, it is almost 90% potato. I have eaten it quite a bit lately, and despite worrying a bit about the high carb content I cannot say to have experienced any negative effects from eating it. They are really good with butter (and honey).

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lefse

 

[MTpockets]

What if it's the potassium?

 

[MEWarrior]

What if it's the potassium?

I am curious about the potassium possibility, too, as I constantly crave bananas and sweet potatoes.