Einkorn Cookies and a Look at Histamines
H1 and H2 Histamine blockers many are familiar with, you know the decongestants for stuffy noses and acid blockers for too much stomach acid. My cardiologist prescribed Famotidine as an H2 blocker when my “fight or flight” was in full tilt and my night sweats were out of control. My sleep was suffering and my cortisol on overdrive needed help. However, my initial discovery of my heart condition was a negative response to an H1 blocker, Benedryl taken for seasonal allergies. I still wonder if it weren’t a reaction to the pink dye in the product. (I now know there is a colorless version, without dyes.)
I’ve written a previous post on histamines and you really should check it out. I learned how not all milk is a problem for people with histamine or mast cells issues. Not all milk is created equal.
I’ve proven that sourdough or any yeast is not well tolerated for someone (like me) with mast cell and histamine intolerance issues. It’s not the gluten, it’s the bacterial cultures that my digestive system can’t handle. That’s why I called it “The Sourdough Experiment” since I wasn’t sure of the result but I had my suspicions.
H3 and H4 Histamine Receptors
Today I delve into the H3 and H4 histamine receptors that have recently come under my radar. These receptors are still under wraps, with drugs being developed and some in trials as I speak. But are they the answer? If so, what is the question?
I started doing some research on the pharmacological remedies for histamine intolerance, for zebras like me.
Histamine Receptors, Pharmacological actions of histamine @thepharmaguidechannel
This got me interested to learn more about H3 and H4 receptors which are of particular interest in regards to H3 is important for ADHD and GABA, serotonin and dopamine and more, I’m sure. The H4 receptor is involved in mast cells, so of course my interest was peaked. So I dove deeper. This video on the drugs in development for H3 and H4 gave me more avenues to explore. So I did….and bingo.
The Histamine H4 receptor has been shown to be involved in mediating eosinophil shape change and mast cell chemotaxis.[11] This occurs via the βγ subunit acting at phospholipase C to cause actin polymerization and eventually chemotaxis.[11]
The histamine H4 receptor has been identified as a vital regulator of the immune system, involved in eosinophil migration, mast cell recruitment, dendritic cell activation, and T cell differentiation. The discovery of this receptor has brought it to increasing attention for its therapeutic use in inflammatory diseases such as allergy, asthma, chronic itch, and autoimmune diseases.[12]
Wikipedia - Histamine H4 receptor
The next thing I knew, I hit “pay dirt” with regards to my recent EoE experience.
The role of histamine H4 receptor in immune and inflammatory disorders
E Zampeli 1, E Tiligada 1
Check out Table 1 - the last one in particular describes what is happening in EoE. What do you know? I must be on to something??
The role of mast cells in eosinophilic esophagitis
Histamine Relief
What does this all mean? Well, for now…not much. The drugs are still under development and some in clinical lab trials. But how can someone with histamine intolerance find relief? Ben Lynch, PhD, created a company “Seeking Health” and is who I consider the guru of MTHFR, he’s the author of “Dirty Genes”. He explains the biochemistry and the products his company has developed for histamine relief and histamine blocking supplements, and DAO support.
Einkorn Wheat
Einkorn wheat was freshly milled for baking chocolate chip cookies this week. My husband was hinting for some cookies to snack on. So I hunted for another recipe, since my first attempt wasn’t what I’d call successful. What do you think popped up on my YouTube feed that day? Serendipity? I don’t know but I do know that I got the recipe for the cookies from Brenda at Waardenburg Family Farm on YouTube. Here’s the easy recipe that makes “the best cookies in the world”, according to my husband.
Chocolate Chip Cookies with Freshly Milled Einkorn
8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. fine sea salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 large egg
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chocolate chips (or white chocolate chips)
2 -1/2 cups whole grain Einkorn flour
Instructions.
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F
2. Cream the butter, sugar, salt and baking soda well
3. Add beaten egg and vanilla to creamed mixture
4. Mix in chocolate chips until well combined
5. Add flour and mix until fully incorporated
6. Chill in refrigerator for 15 to 30 minutes
7. Drop by tablespoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheet about 1 inch apart
8. Bake for 10 minutes
9. Let the cookies cool for 5 minutes on the baking tray and then transfer to a cooking rack
10. Cookies can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days
Brief History of Einkorn
Einkorn was on the brink of extinction when some farmers in Italy joined together to save this and other rare seeds from oblivion. Here’s the family’s story behind the book I featured this week, “Einkorn” by Carla Bartolluci. Her and her husband created the brand usually associated with Einkorn flour, Jovial. Here’s a glimpse of Jovial’s Organic Einkorn Farms.
Additional information regarding mast cell receptors:
Mast cells H4 receptor mRNA and protein expression (human skin) Lippert et al. (2004)
Intracellular Ca2+ mobilization; chemotaxis without degranulation (mouse) O'Reilly et al. (2002); Hofstra et al. (2003); Thurmond et al. (2004)
Enhancement of CXCL12 chemotactic activity on mast cell precursors (human umbilical cord blood) Godot et al. (2007)
Local mast cell regulation, redistribution in ovalbumin-challenged oesophageal mucosal epithelium → infiltration of eosinophils (guinea pig) Yu et al. (2008)*
*Yu S, Stahl E, Li Q, Ouyang A. Antigen inhalation induces mast cells and eosinophils infiltration in the guinea pig esophageal epithelium involving histamine-mediated pathway. Life Sci. 2008;82:324–330. doi: 10.1016/j.lfs.2007.12.002. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]