Understanding Food Allergies, Environmental Sensitivities, and POTS

Once a POTS diagnosis is made, it is important to investigate potential food allergies and environmental sensitivities. Once a person is exposed to mold or experiences a severe infection, it is not uncommon to develop new allergies. POTS patients are known to have more sensitivities than others.

Gluten sensitivity is a food allergy to be mindful of because it is becoming more prevalent with time. Statistics show that 1 in 100 people experience gluten intolerance, but 4 in 100 of POTS patients experience it. Therefore, those with a POTS diagnosis are 4 times as likely to be gluten intolerant [1].

Here's some ideas on gluten free grains, flours, and starches:

• Amaranth

• Arrowroot

• Buckwheat

• Cassava flour

• Chia seeds

• Corn (maize), cornmeal

• Flax, flax meal

• Hominy

• Millet

• Nut flour and meals (almond, coconut, hazelnut)

• Potato flour

• Quinoa

• Rice

• Tapioca flour

Food allergies, especially dairy and egg sensitivities, are prevalent in POTS patients. As a POTS patient, it is important to be tested for allergies, so that you will have an accurate understanding of what changes in your daily routine are successful.

Another potential food allergy in POTS patients are mycotoxins. If you want to take it another step forward to food restrictions, avoid grains altogether. While the list of gluten free grains, flours, and starches is beneficial for some POTS patients, other POTS patients have more extensive food sensitivities.

Grains, gluten free or not, can have high amounts of mycotoxins. When some people consume foods high in mycotoxins, they may experience a negative reaction. Mold allergies, especially if there was exposure in the past, can cause POTS to flare. There are 5 different types of common mold species the allergist can test you for using the mycotoxin test. If you test positive to one or more, an allergist can help give eating restrictions and supplements so that your body can expel the mycotoxins on its own. However, if the amount of mycotoxins in the body is extremely high after potential exposure, some allergists can use Ozone therapy treatment through IV or Hyperbaric oxygen therapy to cleanse the body of mold. Mold hinders the immune system so much that once a patient has mold treated, it is possible for the other illness to resolve themselves (ie Lyme).

A safe recommendation as a POTS patient, would be the Paleo diet. It is free of gluten and mycotoxins. While waiting to get tested for allergies, it may offer some relief.

The Paleo diet is a good guide to follow. It is simple and it avoids food with ingredients that are impossible to pronounce. Paleo is a good starting point especially when trying to explain any dietary restrictions to friends or family. It is so simple, that it is easy for people to avoid foods full of gluten or mycotoxins.

Following recommendations given from other POTS patients will be irrelevant, if you are unknowingly reacting to the food and environment surrounding you. To get an accurate read on whether POTS is improving, it is important to start at a point where you know that your body is not reacting to food allergies or environmental sensitivities. Once ridding the body of its inflammation response to allergies, you will be able to receive accurate responses from your body on efforts trying to reduce POTS symptoms.

For a more in depth explanation on how mycotoxins affect the overall health of the body, check out this post: The Impact of Mycotoxins on POTS: Understanding Mold Exposure.

References

[1] https://www.potstreatmentcenter.com/living-gluten-sensitivites-pots/