Cooking Tips for Mast Cell Activation (MCAS)

Cooking tips for mast cell activation MCAS Most people with MCAS are aware that the foods they eat can aggravate their symptoms. What most people don’t realize is that the way the foods are cooked and prepared can also trigger mast cell activation. This was something that took me years to learn.

In this article, I will discuss several important tips for cooking and preparing meals. By implementing these tips, you can prevent yourself from unnecessary suffering. Scroll down to get started.

Cooking Tips for Mast Cell Activation

Smoothies Save You Time

Smoothies are a great way to get nutrients and save yourself time. Keep in mind, if you have MCAS, you want the smoothies to be as simple as possible. In addition, you want them to be as fiber-dense as possible. If there is plenty of fiber, then I wouldn’t worry about the carbohydrates.

If you have mast cell activation, you should not fear carbohydrates. In contrast, you should be fearing undigested animal products/meat. The reason is, these products feed histamine-producing bacteria in the gut. Typically, when people have MCAS, their gut is dominated by these annoying organisms. To turn the tide, you must increase your plant fiber. The reason is, fiber is the number one food source for beneficial microbes. Learn more about plant fiber in the article linked.

Less Ingredients the Better

When you have MCAS, you should minimize your ingredients. The reason is, it’s important to be able to identify the cause of your reactions. For example, if you eat a meal of broccoli, beans, carrots, and potatoes, it would be easy to identify your trigger. In contrast, if you ate sushi with dipping sauce and a chicken salad with dressing, there would be over 100 ingredients to make that meal. Not only is one of those foods bound to set you off, but you will NEVER know which ingredient is causing the problem.

Keep in mind, less is typically better with mast cell activation. The last thing you want to do eat too many ingredients, or take too many supplements. This increases your chances of being exposed to something that triggers you. Just remember, when your body is ultra-sensitive, simplicity is always your best friend.

Avoid Leftovers/Reheating

Leftovers are not the best idea if you have mast cell activation. As the food sits in your refrigerator, it increases in histamine content. Ideally, you want to cook each meal fresh, but I know that’s not feasible for some people. For that reason, I would say that anything less than 24 hours should be safe.

One downside of leftovers is that you have to eat them cold or reheat them. Every time you apply heat to food, it makes it harder to digest and reduces nutrient availability. If you reheat your food after already cooking it once, there are definitely no enzymes left. Also, if you reheat using a microwave, you might as well kiss the nutrients goodbye.

Steam Nearly Everything

My favorite method of cooking is steaming. It retains most of the nutrient value, doesn’t produce toxins in the air, allows you to apply fat afterwards, and requires the least attention. Let’s face it, when you steam something, you can literally walk away from it and do something else. If you have enough water in the pan, just set the timer and drift off to your happy place.

When steaming, try to put just enough water in the pan so that it almost evaporates by the time it’s done. You don’t want to put too much water in the pan, or the food will become waterlogged. Also, it is best to cook with distilled water for taste reasons. If you don’t have distilled water, just try to use something filtered if possible.

Bland is Best for MCAS

If you have mast cell activation, it’s best to eat foods with less intense flavor. For example, red apples would be better than green apples because of the tart flavor. Another example, broccoli would be better than onions/garlic because of the strong sulfur taste.

In essence, the stronger the flavor, the more likely the mast cells will be shocked by it. This is obviously the last thing you want when recovering from MCAS. Stick with more bland foods like the ones I’ve listed in the hypoallergenic food list. Trust me, it isn’t that bad once you get used to it. For those who want more creative ways of pairing these foods, I have provided links to hundreds of hypoallergenic recipes later in the article.

Replace Frozen with Fresh

Frozen vegetables are easier, but they’re not necessarily the best choice. Though the nutrients are mostly retained through the freezing process, the enzymes are inactivated. Once this occurs, the enzymes do not reactivate after the food is thawed. This means you are still consuming a highly nutritious food, but it is lacking in enzymes.

The lack of enzymes may not be a big deal for normal people, but to those with MCAS, it may cause digestive difficulty. The reason is, most people with MCAS have insufficient enzyme production or a compromised digestive system. Because of this, it is best to consume raw or lightly cooked fresh foods since those have a higher chance of retaining the enzymes.

Cook Until the Color Changes

When cooking vegetables, it is important not to overcook them. Doing so eliminates the enzymes that help you digest the food. In addition, overcooking can break down the fiber to a point where it is less beneficial for your gut. The last thing you want to do is eat an ultrasoft, dead version of your otherwise healthy food.

To maximize nutritional value and be kind to the gut, it is best to lightly steam your vegetables. As soon as you see the color start to darken, take them off the heat. You can then test the vegetables to see how they are. Ideally, you want them to be just a little bit crunchy but not soft. If they taste just right, remove them from the pan immediately to make sure they don’t cook further.

Ventilate Properly while Cooking

If you bake foods or use fat to cook with, you must create a strong ventilation strategy. These cooking fumes are toxic, and they are irritating your immune system, whether you realize it or not. When you have MCAS, you must be ultra-aware of anything that changes the smell in the air. If there is a smell to it, there’s a risk.

The best way to mitigate the toxins released from the cooking process is to place a box fan in the window and blow the air out. This will suck the cooking fumes towards the fan and out the window. Trust me, the overhead fan isn’t enough. I have confirmed these VOCs with air quality monitors AND have seen my daughter have reactions while cooking. Since MCAS cases are often driven by environmental sensitivities, anything toxic in the air can be a significant threat.

Use Stainless Steel Cookware

Stainless steel cookware is much safer than non-stick cookware. Studies have shown that using these pans at high temperatures can generate toxic fumes in the air and food. Anything toxic clearly aggravates the mast cells. In addition, it isn’t tough to scratch those pans and consume the non-stick material. If you are becoming increasingly sensitive to different things, I would step it up to stainless steel. The non-stick surface is made of a “forever chemical”, which means it NEVER leaves your body. This is the last thing you need if you have MCAS.

Multi-Task while Cooking

Don’t ever let food preparation become frustrating. If this starts to happen, just pay attention to something else while you’re cooking. When it truly has your full attention, the next thing you know, the food will be done. For example, you can call someone, listen to music, do your work, or do anything else you enjoy.

This is important because if you start to get tired of preparing foods, you are likely to slip up. The minute you prioritize convenience over health, you are at risk. Do yourself a favor and make your cooking process ritualistic and enjoyable. Remove the monotony of steaming foods by doing something you love simultaneously. This has made cooking a breeze for me.

Apply Fats After Cooking Complete

You always want to apply your fats after cooking. This is easy when you are steaming most things. All you need to do is drain out the water and put the food in a glass container with oil/salt. You then shake it up so the oil/salt distributes evenly amongst the food. This retains all of the oil’s nutritional and immune benefits. It also ensures that no particular portion is overly saturated in fat.

In contrast, when you cook with plant-based oils or animal fats, it can become quite harsh on the body. The cooking process causes free radicals and other toxins to accumulate in the oil, and on top of that, it makes it even harder to digest. All of these things are likely to irritate the mast cells in the gut, which will inflame the lining. This is the last thing you want if you have mast cell activation.

Rotate Your Foods/Recipes

It is important to have variation in your cooking and eating. If you have MCAS and eat the same thing every day, you are likely to develop a sensitivity to it. If the food is not a fruit, vegetable, rice, bean, or potato, then it shouldn’t be consumed every day. To learn more about which foods are the safest, visit the hypoallergenic food list. It will give you all the details you need.

To remain interested in cooking, you must try new recipes. For some safe recipe ideas, take a look at my breakfast, lunch, and dinner ideas. There are hundreds of options to choose from. Keep in mind, the diet may take a few weeks to get used to, but it is well worth the relief.

FAQ – Cooking Smart with MCAS

What is the best way to cook food if you have MCAS?

It is best to have a combination of slightly steamed and raw food. Obviously, fruits should be eaten raw, but most vegetables should be steamed just enough to change color. By steaming, you avoid creating harmful toxins/fats like you would if you were using cooking oil.

Once you notice the vegetables’ color darkening, they’re done. The goal is to remove some of the crunch, but they should never become too soft. After taking the vegetables off the stove, you can drain the rest of the water and then apply your salt and oil, if desired.

Any recipes for people with mast cell activation?

Yes, I have hundreds of recipes to choose from. The links are provided in the next paragraph. If you want to recover quickly from MCAS, you should ONLY eat from the hypoallergenic food list. These foods have the most easily digested protein structures, making them less likely to create sensitivities.

All of our recipes include only foods from the hypoallergenic food list. This makes them all MCAS friendly. For recipes, click on breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snacks. As you will see, there are limitless options if you’re creative enough. Before viewing the recipes, remember, the goal of your diet should be to support your MCAS recovery, NOT your cravings. Though some of these recipes may seem bland now, they won’t once get used to eating this way. Also, keep in mind, eating this way is necessary to expedite your recovery.

What foods are best for mast cell activation?

I created a hypoallergenic food list that breaks down plant-based foods into four categories based on their risk of creating an immune sensitivity. The foods that are least likely to cause a reaction are called “green foods.” These are safe to be eaten nearly every day. Next, we have the yellow, orange, and red foods, which have stronger reaction potential and should be consumed less frequently.

To heal from mast cell activation, you must identify the triggers in your diet and environment. The best way to identify your dietary triggers is to follow the elimination diet. As mentioned above, this starts you off with the safest foods and gradually introduces foods with more risk over time. If you have an issue with the food, it becomes obvious. Learn more about the elimination diet from the link provided.

Are raw foods safe for MCAS clients?

The only foods I would consume raw are fruits and a few veggies. The fruits include organic apples, pears, bananas, blueberries, cucumbers, avocados, and tomatoes. Regarding raw vegetables, I would only consume spinach, lettuce, and carrots.

When you have MCAS, you typically have digestive insufficiency. Because of this, it’s important to lightly steam most of your vegetables before you eat them. If you are going to consider going raw, do it gradually over time. Though going mostly raw can be helpful, it could also aggravate your gut if it’s already compromised. This is why I don’t recommend it for people with mast cell activation.

How much of each type of food should I consume?

Ideally, you should eat 40% vegetables, 30% fruit, 20% starches, and 10% plant-based proteins. If you are exercising, under a lot of stress or on certain medications, you may need more starches/proteins.

The diet is divided this way because starches and proteins are the hardest to break down. If you give your body the simplest food to break down, then it will start to recover. In contrast, ingesting foods that are more difficult to break down doesn’t allow the gut lining to repair itself. This keeps the mast cells aggravated and makes your symptoms much worse.

Conclusion – Embrace Tips for MCAS Relief

The changes I mentioned may seem minor, but they are very important. As you know, when you have mast cell activation, even the littlest things can make a big difference. Try these tips and see how they work for you. In the end, your only risk is time.

After recovering from MCAS, it has become a passion of mine to help people who are still battling it. If you have questions about mast cell activation, get in touch. I’m willing to help and blessed to have the opportunity.

Happy healing everyone!

Matt Nedin
Certified Holistic Nutritionist
EndSickness, Founder
Phone: (734) 846-8619
Email: endsickness@gmail.com
WhatsApp/Telegram: +17348468619