Best Phytonutrients for Mast Cell Activation (MCAS)
For years, I looked for supplements to control my mast cell activation symptoms. Unfortunately, most were synthetic, hard on the gut, poor for detox, or an irritant to the immune system. I tried countless products until one day, I came across the exciting world of phytonutrients.
Unlike most supplements, phytonutrients promote gut health, increase detoxification, and calm the immune system. After trying countless phytonutrient supplements, I realized that I could heal from mast cell activation… strictly from plants. From there, I changed my approach, which was instrumental in healing from MCAS.
In this article, I will cover one of my favorite topics: phytonutrients. I will then discuss how to use phytonutrients for MCAS symptoms. I will also provide a long list of the best phytonutrients for mast cell activation and cover common questions about these novel compounds. Scroll down to get started!
Phytonutrients Explained
Phytonutrients are bioactive compounds made by plants when they are under stress. For decades, people thought that minerals and vitamins were the most beneficial part of plants. Now, they have discovered that phytonutrients are, in fact, the most critical component.
Phytonutrients are valuable for mast cell activation because they have many beneficial properties that support the body. First, they support the growth of beneficial bacteria like bifidobacterium, lactobacillus, and other important species. In addition, many of them stimulate Nrf2 production, which increases the production of natural detoxification enzymes. Most importantly, phytonutrients calm the mast cells and decrease histamine release.
Best Phytonutrients for Mast Cell Activation (MCAS)
These are the best phytonutrients for controlling mast cell response. Keep in mind, they are NOT in any particular order. If you are interested in the supporting studies, click the links provided. Let’s get started!
Isoquercetin
Isoquercetin is a bioavailable form of quercetin that could benefit those with mast cell activation. It has been shown to stabilize mast cells and reduce histamine release (1). It also supports regulatory T cell health and beneficial gut bacteria.
Curcumin
Curcumin is the active compound in turmeric roots. It has been shown to modulate mast cell activity (2), reduce the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, enhance regulatory T cell function and stimulate growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut. Also, when combined with other phytonutrients, it increases their absorption rate and effectiveness.
Resveratrol
Resveratrol is a phytonutrient with a host of beneficial properties. Its antioxidant properties reduce oxidative stress, decrease the release of histamine from the mast cells (3), have prebiotic effects on the gut, and support the production of regulatory T cells. Resveratrol can be derived from grapes or Japanese knotweed root. I prefer the resveratrol supplements derived from Japanese knotweed.
Luteolin
Luteolin is a phytonutrient found in parsley and celery that blocks the NF-kb inflammatory pathway. By doing so, it calms down the mast cells and reduces histamine release (4). It also enhances regulatory T-cell activity, which promotes immune tolerance. This is critical for people with mast cell activation. Lastly, it encourages diversity in the gut microbiome, further stabilizing the immune system. Luteolin is more potent than Cromolyn, the pharmaceutical drug of choice for MCAS. Take a look at the study for more information.
Ellagic Acid
Ellagic acid inhibits signaling pathways like NF-kb, calms down mast cells, blocks IgE allergy response (5), and reduces histamine release. It also promotes immune balance by assisting in regulatory T cell health. Lastly, it has strong antioxidant properties that prevent cell damage and excessive mast cell degranulation.
Apigenin
Apigenin is found in chamomile, celery, and plenty of other foods. In fact, it is the most prevalent phytonutrient in our diets. Apigenin has been shown to calm down mast cells (6), block the NF-kb pathway, support regulatory T cell health, and increase microbiome diversity. It also has a calming effect on the neurological system. Because of this, it can provide anxiety relief and sleep enhancement. This is one of my favorite phytonutrients for mast cell activation because of its relaxation properties.
Genistein
Genistein is a unique phytonutrient found in soy products. It has been shown to stabilize mast cells and reduce the release of histamine and other inflammatory molecules (7). Through its effects on the immune system and gut microbiome, it has also been shown to mitigate allergic response and inflammation. In addition, it has been shown to boost regulatory T-cell activity, which is critical for eliminating reactions to the things you consume or inhale.
Hesperidin
Hesperidin has strong antihistamine and anti-inflammatory effects. It supports vascular health, enhances regulatory T cell function and boosts good bacteria in the gut microbiome. In addition, it suppresses IGE-induced mast cell activation (8). It is most valuable because of its enhancement property on regulatory T cells and its anti-histamine effects. Both of these are critical for reducing MCAS symptoms.
Chrysin
Chrysin is a phytonutrient found in passionflower that has some excellent relaxation properties. Please note that this supplement can go either way for people. I have seen it calm them down; for others, it does the opposite. For me, it provided a nice calming effect. Studies show that it has a potent effect on mast cells, stopping allergy responses and the release of histamine (9). In addition, it suppresses inflammation in the neurological system. If anything, I would use this as needed for relaxation or sleep.
Baicalin
Baicalin is a phytonutrient found in skullcap. It has plenty of potential benefits for the body and is definitely one of my favorites. It has been shown to boost the production of regulatory T cells, modulate the immune system (10) and dopamine pathways, support detoxification, encourage the growth of beneficial bacteria, reduce anxiety, and more. This is one of my favorites and truly a phytonutrient powerhouse.
Sulforaphane
Sulforaphane is a unique compound found in broccoli seeds. Studies have shown that it stimulates Nrf2, which increases the production of over 50 natural detoxification enzymes. In addition, it has been shown to modulate mast cell activity, reducing histamine (11). It has also been shown to suppress the growth of pathogenic bacteria and encourage beneficial bacteria. This is one of my favorite things to use when someone has MCAS. In terms of brand, I do not use Swanson. Instead, I use the BioToxin Binder from CellCore, which has broccoli sprout extract.
Beta-Glucans
Beta-glucans are naturally found in oats and mushrooms. They have immune-modulating properties due to their effect on mast cells (12). In addition, they also support the health of regulatory T cells and beneficial bacteria in the gut. If you’re looking for a phytonutrient to REALLY boost your immune system, this is the one.
Naringin
Naringin, a nutrient found in citrus, can block the NF-kb pathway, which is responsible for most neurological inflammation. In addition, it has strong antioxidant properties, calms down mast cells (13), reduces histamine, improves oxidative stress, and more. If that isn’t enough, it positively impacts the gut microbiome, reducing the production of inflammatory molecules.
Boswellic Acid
Boswellic acid is derived from frankincense. It has been shown to inhibit mast cell degranulation and histamine release (14). It also promotes regulatory T cell health, diversity in the gut microbiome, and overall immune stability. In addition, it has a chemical structure similar to that of steroids. This means it profoundly impacts the immune system, but I would still not use it daily.
Anthocyanins
Anthocyanins are typically found in berries and berry extracts. They have been shown to modulate mast cell activity, which reduces histamine release (15). In addition, they promote the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gut microbiome while suppressing inflammation. Also, they support regulatory T-cell health and reduce oxidative stress. This makes them quite valuable if you are dealing with MCAS.
Fisetin
Fisetin has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects. It has also been shown to inhibit mast cell activation and reduce the release of histamine (16). It has also been shown to support brain health, improve memory, reduce oxidative stress, and exhibit anti-aging properties.
Carotenoids
Carotenoids like beta-carotene, lycopene, astaxanthin, and others benefit mast cells by reducing oxidative stress. These antioxidants also have immune-balancing and anti-allergy properties. In addition, they reduce inflammation, stabilize mast cells (17), and prevent excess histamine release.
FAQ – Phytonutrients and Mast Cell Activation
Where can I get these phytonutrient supplements?
You can get these phytonutrients from different companies online, but I’ve had the most success with Swanson Vitamins. They are all relatively cheap, so you can purchase a few products at a time to see how they work for you. If you choose to purchase elsewhere, make sure the phytonutrients are derived from plants.
Why are phytonutrients helpful for MCAS symptoms?
Phytonutrients have a beneficial impact on all areas compromised by MCAS. They upregulate the activity of beneficial bacteria in the gut, increase the production of natural detoxification enzymes, bind to toxins/metals, modulate genetic activity, calm down mast cells, eliminate pathogens, increase regulatory T cell levels, and more. All of these things are necessary to recover from mast cell activation.
Are there side-effects to using phytonutrients?
The side effects depend upon which type of nutrient you are consuming. In most cases, the worst-case scenario is feeling tired, bloated, or sleepy. That is about the only thing I have experienced. If you have more severe reactions than that, you are being exposed to mycotoxins in your environment. That is the main reason you would have an immune reaction to something meant to calm the immune system down.
Can phytonutrients cure mast cell activation?
Phytonutrients can temporarily relieve you of MCAS symptoms, but they won’t cure you. To overcome mast cell activation, you must change your diet, environment, and lifestyle. The most important thing to do is reduce the intake of animal products and foods with complex proteins. To learn more about using the plant-based diet for mast cell activation, click the link provided.
In addition, you want to test your house and self to determine if mycotoxins are an issue. To accomplish this, you want to perform the IgG/IgE mycotoxin blood test and the EMMA indoor mold test. By changing your diet and environment, you can reduce the severity of your mast cell activation symptoms. If you are unwilling to do either, you will suffer the consequences.
What else can I do to eliminate MCAS symptoms?
To eliminate symptoms of mast cell activation, you should investigate everything you eat, where you live, what you take, and the stressors in your life. The truth is, to beat MCAS, you must eliminate food sensitivities and exposure to toxic mold and modify your behavior to reduce stress. If you don’t, you will seek relief from a bottle rather than your own decisions. To learn more about how to accomplish this, read the 3 stages of healing. It will be an eye-opener if you are newer to my site.
How do I dose the phytonutrients if I have mast cell activation?
When you have mast cell activation, nearly anything can trigger you. This is why it is essential to be cautious with these phytonutrients. If any supplements should agree with your body, it would be these substances. The reality is, these phytonutrients are in many foods you have eaten throughout your life. For this reason, you should tolerate them. If you don’t, you are likely being exposed to trichothecenes or other mycotoxins. Trust me, I know this from experiencing it myself and seeing my daughter go through it, along with plenty of clients.
In terms of dosing, I would NOT take any phytonutrients every day. Ideally, you want to take each supplement no more than three times per week and rotate amongst multiple products. This will maintain the effectiveness and ensure you do not develop sensitivity over time. When starting them, I would take 2 to 3 capsules on an empty stomach to notice what they are doing. If I can’t notice any changes, I would increase the dose until I can discern an effect.
Conclusion- Phytonutrients Can Help Mast Cell Activation
If you are looking for a group of MCAS supplements you’ve never tried, these phytonutrients are your best bet. They are plant-based and have various properties that can promote natural healing. By combining these phytonutrients with the right mycotoxin binders and prebiotics, you will have everything you need to overcome MCAS.
If you have any 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
