When most people hear “histamine,” they think: seasonal allergies, Benadryl, or a peanut reaction. But histamine is so much more than that, and for many people, it’s the missing piece in their gut and nervous system struggles.
In Episode 101, Susan talks with health engineer and gut specialist Steven Wright about histamine, mast cell activation, and why so many people are suddenly reacting to “everything.”
Histamine Isn’t the Enemy — It’s a Messenger
Histamine is a chemical messenger involved in immunity, stomach acid, brain function, and even sleep–wake cycles. You need histamine.
The problem isn’t histamine itself.
The issue is too much histamine hanging around with not enough capacity to break it down.
That’s when symptoms show up:
- flushing, stuffiness, hives
- migraines, motion sickness, brain fog
- IBS, bloating, reflux
- anxiety spikes, insomnia, heart racing at night
Because histamine receptors live all over the body, histamine overload can look like “mystery symptoms” no one can quite pin down.
Your Gut & Histamine: The Silent Link
Steven explains that when the gut is inflamed or imbalanced, histamine problems almost always follow.
Things that can raise your histamine load include:
- Dysbiosis & leaky gut – certain microbes make extra histamine
- Reduced DAO enzyme – from genetics (AOC1), celiac, SIBO, or intestinal damage
- Leftovers, long-cooked foods & fermenteds – higher in histamine
- Chronic stress and a dysregulated nervous system
So if you have gut issues and feel reactive to foods, seasons, or smells, histamine may be part of your picture.
Nervous System, Hormones & “Why Am I Like This?”
Histamine doesn’t live in a vacuum.
It’s influenced by:
- Stress & trauma – a constantly activated nervous system can keep histamine turned up
- Mold & infections – like Lyme and chronic exposures
- Hormones – as estrogen drops (PMS, perimenopause), DAO often drops too, and histamine rises
This is why some people feel “crazy” before their cycle or during perimenopause… when in reality, their biochemistry is shifting.
Where Do You Start?
You don’t have to live on three “safe foods” forever.
In this episode, Susan and Steven talk about:
- simple ways to test if histamine is a player (like short low-histamine trials)
- how to reduce your histamine bucket without obsessing over perfection
- practical tools: nervous system practices, food timing, smarter leftovers, and targeted supplements (like DAO and butyrate) to discuss with your practitioner
Most importantly, you’ll be reminded that you are not broken. Your body is communicating. This episode will help you finally understand what it’s been trying to say.
Listen to Episode 101 now on Everyday Epigenetics: Raw, Real, Relatable.
Connect with Steven Wright:
Website: https://healthygut.com/
Shop the products: http://healthygut.com/healthyawakenings (this link will provide you a special discount!)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/healthygutco/
Connect with Susan:
- Check out Susan’s NEW E-book! Download it FREE here: https://healthyawakening.co/ebook-signup
- Contact me for your DNA testing or epigenetic coaching! To schedule a FREE consultation, send an email to susan@healthyawakening.co
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/susanrobbinshealthyawakening
Instagram: @susanrobbins_epigeneticcoach - Susan’s LinkTree: https://linktr.ee/susanrobbins
Learn more about our guest Steven Wright:
Steven Wright is a Health Engineer, Kalish Functional Medicine Institute Graduate, and gut health specialist. Since 2009, Steven’s been researching, writing, and building products around gut, brain, and immune related issues. He’s overcome a host of complex gut, brain, immune issues himself and uses these painful and challenging experiences to help others. Steven is the co-founder of healthygut.com and he lives in Boulder, CO with his wife Shay and their two dogs.
Learn More about Susan Robbins:
Susan is a retired law enforcement officer and an accomplished Certified Epigenetic Human Performance Coach with a diverse and extensive background in wellness. She began her wellness career in 2015 as a holistic health and stress management coach. Her passion for helping others led her to expand her expertise into epigenetics in 2019, where she discovered the missing piece of the health optimization puzzle: Personalized health.
As a Certified Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, Certified Level 2 Apeiron Zoh Epigenetic Human Performance Coach (DNA), and Certified PH360 Coach through Precision Health Alliance, Susan has developed a unique approach to health and wellness through completely personalized health. She is the proud recipient of the 2023 Precision Health Alliance Coach of the Year award. Susan works with clients to elevate their health and overall quality of life by understanding their unique needs based on their genetic makeup, taking out the guesswork, and getting results.
