“Most of the studies on long COVID are looking at narrow slices of our body’s chemical interactions – and that’s far too limiting. I don’t have all the studies in front of me to reference, but there’s a lot of evidence (and many have accepted) that long COVID and mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS) are essentially the same thing. Dr. Tina Peers found that most of her long COVID patients reported symptoms of MCAS before they got COVID, suggesting that a genetic or underlying predisposition to long COVID lies in mast cell dysfunction. Anyone with long COVID also have asthma, hypothyroid, food sensitivities before you had COVID? When you shift your lens to the mast cells you have to acknowledge the complexity of the effect on the body – it’s not just about too much histamine, but a host of other chemicals. When our body is, or thinks it is, under attack, our mast cells activate, and in the process release histamine and, for the purposes of this discussion, cortisol. So, to “fight” the paper cut, infection, bee sting, or cat hair, our body goes into full fight mode – inflammation – and our cortisol levels rise. When things are functioning normally, histamine and cortisol levels drop in time, and we return to equilibrium. However, our bodies have been under attack by all sorts of toxins for decades, or maybe we have a genetic abnormality such as Mannose-binding lectin deficiency or Ehlers Danlos, so our bodies cannot find the equilibrium, and eventually we suffer from adrenal fatigue. I don’t have evidence of this, but I expect that the authors of this article are measuring this adrenal fatigue that is just a symptom of the underlying condition that presents a welcome mat for long COVID. And when COVID – a disease of the mast cells – finds that welcome mat, the sensitivities and inflammation that were already present now kick into high gear, and we’ve got long COVID. How do we treat it? As you would MCAS – with a strict low histamine diet, and analysis that identifies vitamin deficiencies (likely Bs and D, to start). Reduce emotional stress, avoid triggers like heat and exercise, pace yourself, sleep more, and accept that it’s going to take some time. Excellent source of info: https://www.youtube.com/c/RUNDMC1”
Mark Sisson is the founder of Mark’s Daily Apple, godfather to the Primal food and lifestyle movement, and the New York Times bestselling author of The Keto Reset Diet. His latest book is Keto for Life, where he discusses how he combines the keto diet with a Primal lifestyle for optimal health and longevity. Mark is the author of numerous other books as well, including The Primal Blueprint, which was credited with turbocharging the growth of the primal/paleo movement back in 2009. After spending more than three decades educating folks on why food is the key component to achieving and maintaining optimal wellness, Mark launched Primal Kitchen, a real-food company that creates flavorful and delicious kitchen staples crafted with premium ingredients like avocado oil. With over 70 condiments, sauces, oils, and dressings in their lineup, Primal Kitchen makes it easy to prep mouthwatering meals that fit into your lifestyle.