In my pursuit to find out why I nonetheless can’t add any new meals to my extraordinarily restricted food plan (I’m at present solely consuming 4 natural meals), I’ve come throughout a mobile situation known as Cell Hazard Response (CDR) that’s starting to make sense as a reason for my very slender food plan. I first examine this idea in Dr. Neil Nathan’s e book, “Poisonous: Heal Your Physique from Mould Toxicity, Lyme Illness, A number of Chemical Sensitivities, and Continual Environmental Sickness.” (The 2nd version is popping out in April 2025.)
From what I do know, I don’t undergo from Lyme Illness or some other situation talked about within the title of the e book, nonetheless MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) definitely seems to me, a non-scientist, as qualifying as a cell hazard response.
What’s CDR? I like Neil Nathan’s clarification initially of the eighth chapter of the e book: “This chapter is central to the understanding of how cells get “caught” in a response that was supposed to heal the physique, however when extended, backfires and turns into a part of the issue as a substitute.” In line with Dr. Nathan, it was in 2013 that Dr. Robert Naviaux, a professor of genetics appeared on the sophisticated biochemical abnormalities which might be seen in inflammatory circumstances and known as it Cell Hazard Response. These inflammatory circumstances will be Continual Inflammatory Response Syndrome (CIRS), continual fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, Lyme illness, and the checklist goes on and on.
A cell is meant to answer threats to the physique, akin to a virus, by the mitochondria reacting. This course of is the start of a deeply ingrained protection mechanism that has been evolving in human cells from the start of time. Dr. Nathan goes into a really concerned dialogue of all the steps that happen inside CDR after the mitochondria start their response and the method of chemical being launched whereas the physique is attempting to heal itself. There may be nice potential for the physique to get out of stability when the CDR alarm is turned on to fight this virus. It’s well worth the learn, particularly if you’re scientifically inclined.
Want one other definition of Cell Hazard Response?
In line with an article in Science Direct, “The cell hazard response (CDR) is an evolutionarily conserved mobile metabolic response that’s activated when a cell encounters a chemical, bodily, or microbial risk that would injure or kill the cell. Frequent microbial threats are viruses, micro organism, fungi, and parasites…Psychological trauma, significantly throughout childhood, may also activate the cell hazard response, produce continual irritation, and improve the danger of many issues.”

I discover it VERY fascinating that psychological trauma will also be the supply of the cell hazard response mechanism. And it is sensible. Our physique is simply attempting to guard us from hurt, however one way or the other will get caught in that safety mechanism and can’t inform good friend from foe. That’s what I imagine is happening with my physique not accepting any new meals. Meals must be a nutritious deal with and never an enemy!
Nearly each MCAS affected person I’ve spoken to has instructed me a few traumatic occasion of their life that was sort of a turning level of their signs turning into a lot worse. I didn’t begin having mast cell activation points till after I used to be stung by a wasp. I’d been stung many instances earlier than by wasps and bees and by no means had a lot of a response. I didn’t go into anaphylaxis with the final wasp sting, however I had a pores and skin response of hives for weeks post-sting, and I rapidly started to not be capable to eat meals that had beforehand been tolerated effectively. I’ve had meals allergy symptoms and pollen allergy symptoms since I used to be a baby, however Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a beast in contrast to these circumstances. I might really feel my nervous system get amped up as I attempted to proceed to eat meals, and my gastrointestinal system went on tilt. It took years for me to get a analysis, and H1 (antihistamines) and H2 (antacid) medicines did assist to settle down the histamine reactions. Nonetheless, they haven’t helped to rewire the Cell Hazard Response (CDR)
I really feel like my physique is caught on this CDR, and no Western drugs physician that I’ve seen over the past nearly 20 years has ever talked about this to me. Whereas I’ve been in a position to lower my want for medicines (Zyrtec, Ketotifen, Pepcid), my physique nonetheless goes into response when I attempt to add even a small quantity of a brand new meals.
These reactions aren’t on the stage they was, which was nearly anaphylaxis. I’ve calmed down my nervous system and my cell responses sufficient for that to not happen. Nonetheless, once I eat a small quantity of a brand new meals for a number of days, I start to get the mast cell response of feeling warmth in my physique, getting mouth sores, and in addition turning into extraordinarily hungry. The intense starvation is a certain signal that my mast cells are activating, and inevitably if I stop attempting so as to add the brand new meals, this excessive starvation goes away as does the warmth and mouth sores.
It has been very discouraging by means of the years to proceed to have this response whereas attempting so as to add one thing as innocuous as an natural carrot or candy potato. And it doesn’t matter how small of an quantity that I eat, or how lengthy I attempt to trick my physique into accepting one thing new. Simply the truth that it’s new is sufficient for my physique to maneuver into safety mode.
In my subsequent few weblog posts, I’ll be writing about what I’ve found to assist settle down my nervous system and to lower the reactions that I used to be having, and what may enable you to additionally get higher. Please let me know in the event you’ve discovered the magic system to with the ability to add meals into your food plan by emailing me at [email protected]
Within the meantime, I discovered Dr. Neil Nathan’s e book out there in our native library. Hopefully you will discover it additionally and revel in studying extra about this fascinating scientific clarification of what may very well be occurring for many people!
