@rugiyashamilli this is the thread about air fryers

Hi @Jyl – I’m glad that our conversation gave you some hope. And thanks for sharing more about Jake’s situation. I know how heavy and confusing it can feel when you’re trying to support your child and make the right decisions.

Daniel has already given you some great information, so I’d like to add my perspective and experience with this as well.

First off, I’d like to reassure you that Jake’s profile is actually very promising. The working memory is processed by the prefrontal cortex (front part of the brain), which is responsible for attention, organization, and holding information in mind while using it. The good thing is that this part of the brain is very responsive and trainable, especially in children.

My son also had weak working memory, and the approach we took was very holistic to address it, so please don’t feel overwhelmed by what I’m about to share. I’ll help break it up into actionable next steps later.

Here are things that can help support the prefrontal cortex (PFC):

1. Good quality sleep (this is a big one)

You already noticed how lack of sleep affects him, and that’s because the PFC is the FIRST area to suffer from sleep loss. So good sleep is non-negotiable. Daniel already provided some sleep tips to help him wind down, but I’d also to mention a few other things to keep in mind.

If he’s using iPads or other electronics in the evenings before bed, this is something to discontinue. The blue light from screens and lights will 100% affect his ability to produce melatonin and wind down before bed. If it’s a struggle to get him off electronics, then a compromise is to wear blue-light blocking glasses and set a “no electronics 1 hour before bed” rule. Also get into the habit of dimming lights at home once the sun sets to help set a calmer mood.

->Instead encourage reading, coloring books, a bath with Epsom salt for additional magnesium and calming benefits, or playing with legos if he likes them for more calming activities in the evenings.

2. Blood sugar stability

As Daniel already mentioned, the PFC is metabolically expensive. It needs steady fuel, and hates blood sugar swings.

Would you mind sharing more details about his diet and what he eats/drinks for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks? In our Beginner’s Health Roadmap, I share my VPF+C principle if you feel that you need some help ensuring that he’s having balanced meals. I’d encourage you to watch the “Food Pillar” starting here. You can also fill in this 3-Day Food Journal and share it with us for additional input about his diet.

->In terms of testing, if he doesn’t mind needles, then a simple blood test to measure fasting glucose, fasting insulin, HbA1C, LDH and HOMA-IR could be helpful.

3. Anti-inflammatory support

Daniel also touched on chronic inflammation and the impact it can have on the brain. This can lead to slower signaling in the PFC. And this is where the gut-brain connection really comes in as well. Given his recent flare of eczema, there is likely still some ongoing gut inflammation from possible dysbiosis and/or even histamine overload. Eczema is very often histamine mediated. While bone broth is an excellent food for gut healing, keep in mind that it’s also higher in histamine. If his ability to break down histamine is compromised (vitamin B6 deficiency/insufficiency and lack of DAO enzyme production is often at play), then foods higher in histamine can lead to an overload and possible flares.

When the gut is inflamed, the gut barrier integrity also becomes compromised and can lead to weaker intestinal junctions that can increase intestinal permeability (i.e. leaky gut). This can eventually develop into food sensitivities, which I suspect may also be at play with the random skin flares.

Gluten naturally increases zonulin which temporarily “opens” the intestinal junctions. This is why many functional practitioners recommend going gluten-free regardless of testing. And because of “molecular mimicry” and cross contamination, dairy and gluten-free grains are also often removed as additional supportive layers.

The goal in removing these possible food sensitivities temporarily is to help reduce inflammation if the immune system is seeing them as “foreign threats”.

With my son, we started out by removing dairy first. Within 2 months, he noticed his brain fog lifted. In his words, he said he could think clearer. We then removed gluten, and went DF/GF for 1 year before reintroducing them back into his diet given the progress he was making.

You could also consider getting a KBMO test done (it’s a finger prick blood spot test) to rule out IgG food sensitivities, but it’s pricey in Dubai. Much cheaper in the US.

With regards to other possibilities of gut inflammation, does your son have any digestive complaints? Does he have daily, well formed, easy-to-pass bowel movements 1-2 x per day? Any gas, bloating, indigestion that could point to possible dysbiosis?

4. Oxygen, hydration & blood flow

It’s important that his brain is getting enough oxygen and blood flow to the PFC. Cardiovascular exercise is key here. My son loved parkour so I signed him up to classes 5 x per week. Find a sport or another physical activity that your son enjoys and encourage him to get in daily cardio exercise (min. 30 minutes). Even brisk walks or running around at the park works! In the summer, playing in the pool is a great way to get in more cardio.

Hydration matters as well. If he has lots of sweaty play time and does lots of sports, make sure he’s replenishing with enough electrolytes. Coconut water, adding “sole” are natural options.

Another thing to consider is his breathing. Is he a mouth breather or nasal breather? Let us know if he’s a mouth breather so we can suggest additional tests/steps to take. Nasal breathing especially during exercise and sleep helps get more oxygen to the brain.

5. Micronutrients the PFC actually uses

As Daniel already mentioned, there are key brain nutrients that you’ll want to make sure are sufficient. Iron/ferritin, zinc, magnesium, B vitamins (especially B6, B9, B12) and iodine.

->All of these can be tested in blood. Request that zinc and magnesium be tested as RBC magnesium and zinc, instead of serum magnesium and zinc.

6. Brain exercises for the PFC

There are specific exercises that can help train the PFC. Here are some things we incorporated into my son’s protocol:

• ping pong or any activity that requires ball/hand coordination (we turned our kitchen table into a ping pong table by placing a white tape across the middle) – it was lots of fun during Covid
• games, especially ones that involve rules & memory like UNO, memory card games, chess/checkers, Simon Says, clapping patterns to repeat, etc.
• playing a musical instrument (my son really got into Piano)

7. Neurofeedback

Once the first 6 items were in place, and we started noticing some progress at school, we then layered in neurofeedback. This was a game-changer for my son and dramatically improved his working memory and auditory processing by training the brain to increase electrical activity where it’s needed most.

Warning, it’s expensive. We were able to add it as a benefit with our insurance so we claimed most of it back, but each session costs 790 Dhs plus the initial QEEG assessment which is ~1500 Dhs. We ended up doing 40 sessions of neurofeedback so it adds up. But it was honestly worth every penny because of how much it helped my son.

If that’s really cost-prohibitive, then you can look into the at-home neurofeedback device called the Mendi which is being clinically studied and recommended by doctors at the Amen Clinic.

8. Things to Avoid (actively harm the PFC)

I also wanted to include a list of no-no’s to avoid.

• Chronic sleep deprivation (again, this is a non-negotiable. Let us know if you need more tips to help improve his sleep)

• Excess screen time / constant notifications – this is another big one

• Repeated high-stress without recovery – if his schedule is overwhelming, that’s not good for his PFC

• Ultra-processed foods – diet matters. Let us know if you need more support here too.

As you can see, there are LOTS that you can do help support the PFC and working memory. The best approach is a holistic one. I know this might feel overwhelming, but we can help you piece it all together to make it feel more doable.

For now, please answer all of my questions asked above, and we carry the conversation forward.

Hi @Sheena – thanks for sharing. A few things jump out from what you’ve described, so I’ll share my initial thoughts, some additional clarifying questions, and also share a referral as requested.

There can be many non-oral reasons for bad breath/halitosis (please see our handout here) and given the fact that your son is also experiencing alternating symptoms of constipation and diarrhea, it is likely being caused by some sort of gut dysfunction such as dysbiosis (gut microbiome imbalance/overgrowths), low stomach acid due to chronic stress, possible H Pylori infection (and/or other reasons), and/or liver/gallbladder dysfunction (which often contributes to nausea).

Holding the urge to have a bowel movement can surely contribute to feeling unwell, but I suspect this is a secondary issue to the reasons I mentioned above.

Questions:

1. How long does it normally take him to have a bowel movement on the weekends when he’s not feeling rushed?

2. Does he experience these symptoms during extended holiday breaks when he’s not in school?

3. Does he have a bowel movement every day? If so, what type is it? (Look up Bristol Stool Chart for the 7 different types)

4. Does he experience any other GI symptoms like gas or bloating after eating? Any reflux or burping/belching?

In Dubai, I can recommend Dr. Zain at Joint Space in Al Quoz. She is a Canadian board certified naturopathic doctor who is also certified in hypnotherapy. So she can help address any mental/emotional blocks as well. She was our guest in B Better a few months ago – she’s lovely!

I’m also happy to suggest next steps, and tests to consider once I hear back from you on the above.

Hi @Jyl – sorry, I somehow missed your reply.

With regards to daily bone broth… Yes, it is a great food that can support gut healing by providing easily digestible protein and amino acids like glycine and proline, which help reduce inflammation and support the integrity of the intestinal lining. However, it is also high in histamine, especially if it’s reheated, long simmered, and stored for several days. So individuals with histamine overload (eczema is often evidence of excess histamine), this can become a trigger for flares if his “histamine bucket” overflows.

For example, if a person has low vitamin B6 combined with gut inflammation leading to low DAO enzyme production (to break down histamine), then eats leftovers and fermented foods (both of which are high in histamine), that could be enough in some to create histamine overload. And that’s why symptoms histamine sensitivity can “come and go” with no clear pattern.

We have several resources on histamine that can help. This one shares a sample list of foods and beverages that are high and low in histamine. This handout shares the various symptoms of high and low histamine to be aware of. And this is an article to understand more about histamine overload and how that can happen.

In the meantime, please watch this lesson from the Gut Health Masterclass to find other gut healing alternatives.

@R-S for nausea, ginger would help offer more rapid relief support. Not sure if you saw our Nausea Relief protocol here.

Castor oil packs and dandelion root tea, if tolerated, would also be great additions to support better liver/bile flow (and therefore nausea relief), and overall digestion until you’re ready to add in your digestive supplements again.

Regarding shortness of breath (SOB), there can be multiple contributing factors beyond the lungs themselves. Nutritional insufficiencies like low B vitamins, CoQ10, and omega-3s can affect cellular energy production and how efficiently the body uses oxygen. Anemia can reduce oxygen delivery to tissues, which often shows up as breathlessness, especially with exertion. The liver can also play an indirect role when it is under strain (think toxicity), which contributes to inflammation and metabolic stress. Gut-related issues like certain forms of SIBO, particularly hydrogen sulfide–producing bacteria, can interfere with cellular respiration and nervous system signaling, which creates a sensation of air hunger rather than true oxygen deprivation.

@R-S Your current NS program seems comprehensive and if you felt it made a positive difference, then definitely continue doing it daily. It’s especially important to continue doing this work even when you start to feel better as it should remain your main anchor while you layer things on top.

As for magnesium, chloride is well absorbed through the skin which is why it’s often the form you find in magnesium sprays/oils.

@R-S – First, please don’t apologize for sharing all of this. This is exactly why we built the community feature in B Better – to support, guide, educate and empower our members. So feel free to share as much as you’d like and ask as many questions as you need.

I agree with you that this feels less like a single trigger and more like a system that is hypervigilant. Which brings me back to my very first reply to you about prioritizing nervous system regulation over everything else, even though a person might be nutrient depleted.

This is important because it’s only when a body feels safe, that it will begin to absorb and respond favorably to what you are taking. Otherwise, it’s just adding fuel to a fire, even though the intentions are well meaning and needed.

I know you said previously that you’re doing nervous system work, but I’d like to dig a little deeper into that. What are the types of exercises or the program that you are following for that?

You’re attending the live sessions, but have you purchased the MastCell 360 course and following the exercises she recommends?

Right now, rather than thinking about adding in supplement support, really focus on your nervous system state. At the moment, your body is giving a lot of signals of overload and low capacity. In that state, stabilization usually looks very simple, very boring, and very consistent.

That looks like:

• Keeping food as predictable and gentle as possible for as long as needed, even if it feels repetitive.
• Prioritizing hydration and electrolytes, especially with the dizziness and low blood pressure feelings
• Supporting your nervous system through non-supplement inputs to help your body feel safe again.

With magnesium malate, I would not rush it. It can be supportive for some, but in a system that is already feeling activated, I would wait until things feel a little more settled before introducing something new. Stability first, then gentle rebuilding. An Epsom salt foot soak could be a good place to start as a way to bring on board more magnesium through the skin.

I also think it’s very wise that you’re bringing in a homeopath who understands MCAS and histamine patterns. Having someone walk alongside you in real time can take a lot of pressure off you to self-navigate every turn.

@R-S if constipation is at play, then magnesium citrate would be a good option to consider in the evenings or with dinner since it’s more stimulating and can help move the bowels the next morning.

The typical starting dose is 200-400mg up to bowel tolerance or 1200mg/day, which means a person increases the dose each day by 100mg until a well formed bowel movement is achieved. If a person takes too much, they’ll get loose stools. Magnesium is contraindicated in those with kidney disease.

@R-S – Yes, some people with more sensitive nervous systems don’t do well with anything that feels “activating,” including methylated B vitamins, glycine, or higher doses of quercetin. You don’t need genetic testing to see this. Your body’s reactions are already giving you signs.

With magnesium glycinate, the magnesium itself is calming, but the glycine part can feel stimulating so some people, especially in the days before a period when the nervous system tends to be more reactive. The fact that half a dose felt okay and then the full dose didn’t suggests that your tolerance threshold is in fact lower right now. Your body knows what’s best.

If glycinate doesn’t feel supportive, here are other gentler forms to explore as well:

• Magnesium malate

• Magnesium citrate (just watch for loose stools)

• Magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt bath or foot soak if you don’t have a bath)

Threonate form can be calming for some, but since it can cross blood brain barrier, it may be activating for some, so I’d approach that one low and slow.

If you notice patterns like feeling wired, restless, anxious, or having trouble sleeping after certain supplements, that’s usually a sign they’re pushing your system rather than supporting it.

Hormonal timing matters too. The luteal phase right before your period is often when tolerance drops, so things that feel fine mid-cycle can suddenly feel like too much. That’s not a time to be increasing dosages or trying anything new.

@R-S – to answer your earlier questions above:

1. Glutathione and NAC don’t just support the liver. They can actually speed up detox pathways, which for sensitive systems can sometimes feel like too much and trigger symptoms if digestion, bile flow, and elimination are not keeping up. They’re important players, but should be done in the right order.

NAC is a precursor to make glutathione, but in histamine-sensitive people it can feel stimulating and may increase reactivity. Direct glutathione is often gentler, but even that can cause discomfort if things are not flowing well.

Bitters and enzymes work more at the digestive and bile level, helping food break down and move through the system more smoothly. This is why many people start here before adding stronger detox support.

Ox bile is more about fat digestion and bile flow, not true detox. Castor oil packs support circulation and lymph, which can be a gentler, non-internal way to help the system along.

2. Vitex works at the brain signaling level and can gradually shift the balance between estrogen and progesterone over time. Breast tenderness and early flow changes can sometimes point to a relative progesterone dip or estrogen dominance, but one cycle alone does not tell the full story. So track this over a few cycles.

With histamine sensitivity, Vitex can feel stimulating for some, so it is often treated as a trial over a few cycles rather than a quick fix. A gentler, food-based option some people explore is seed cycling. You can read our blog post here for more details.

3. Quercetin and luteolin both help calm mast cells rather than just block symptoms. Some people use them regularly for baseline support, while others focus on the part of the cycle when flares usually show up.

With sensitive systems, it often helps to change one thing at a time so you can see what your body is responding to. Vitamin C can support histamine breakdown, but for some it can feel stimulating, so starting gently and tracking how you feel can be helpful.

4. Glycine is often used more for its calming and sleep-supporting effects than as something to take throughout the day. Many people bring it in at night, especially when nervous system or histamine symptoms tend to feel louder. Taking it before bed is usually fine, and for most people it can follow a probiotic without any issues. But with sensitive systems, introducing things slowly and noticing symptoms and sleep is important.

5. This is a really good question, and it is helpful not to think of detox as something dramatic or intense. When minerals like magnesium or selenium support things like thyroid function and energy production, the body can sometimes start doing its normal “cleanup” a bit more efficiently. That can show up as mild, short-lived changes like fatigue, headaches, or feeling more sensitive for a day or two.

What usually feels more reassuring is when symptoms are light and temporary and improve with hydration, regular bowel movements, and rest. If something feels strong, persistent, or clearly worsening, that is usually a sign to pause rather than push.

6. The website MyTavin helps show nutrient depletions caused by medications. And Medscape has a tool that shows interactions between drugs and vitamins/minerals/other supplements. Just enter the 2 different products you want to compare. With SSRIs, 5-HTP is contraindicated.

7. Look into Truvaga if you haven’t already.

8. It’s possible to do symptom questionnaires, but those aren’t diagnostic. Often, testing isn’t needed when symptoms are loud. When the body is “blocked” and not flowing, the goal is to open up detox pathways regardless of “what” the toxin may be.

@R-S I also just received an email from Mast Cell 360 that she’s hosting a free masterclass on the 22nd. Thought you might be interested in joining:

https://mastcell360.com/stabilize-your-mcas-webinar/?mc_cid=23fe248609&mc_eid=21f5783151

@R-S I completely understand your hesitation with taking medication given your history with conventional medicine, but medication can indeed provide rapid relief when needed – especially when it’s used short term.

I can only provide educational insights to help you make an informed decision. Both loratadine and famotidine are commonly used short term as histamine blockers, but they work on different pathways. Loratadine is an H1 blocker, which tends to help more with the “allergy type” symptoms like itching, flushing, sinus pressure, and that wired, reactive feeling. Famotidine is an H2 blocker, which works more on the gut side of histamine, like burning, reflux, nausea, and that unsettled, pinchy stomach feeling. That’s why some people find the combination helpful during flares.

In terms of dosing, what your doctor suggested falls within conventional short term use ranges. That said, many people find relief at lower amounts, especially when their system is sensitive.

For natural support, what you mentioned is very gentle and generally well tolerated. Zinc carnosine for gut lining support, quercetin at 250 mg, and vitamin C at 500 mg are often used as background support so they can sit alongside a short conventional break without pushing the system too hard.

But always listen to your body. If symptoms get worse, pause and check back in with your doctor.

@R-S I re-read your message and realized that you’re back from the hospital.

Since you’re in a flare at the moment, it’s important to stop everything and allow the body to full reset again. Just yesterday you added in a new supplement (vit C) and increased the dosage of quercetin. It’s all too much too soon for your body – especially in the middle of a flare.

Remember your reset point – bland food, no supplements, and LOTS of nervous system regulation work. You’ve been through this already before, so you know you can get through this one again as well. I know it feels frustrating to be constantly taking a few steps forward, and then several steps back, but that’s normal.

This “reset” has worked for you in the past and should be your default “reboot” when a flare hits until symptoms resolve and you’re ready to gradually add back in foods and supplements. Did you buy the Truvaga device by any chance?

If you recall, I previous suggested looking into parasite cleansing. Parasites are huge histamine liberators, and can also cause those symptoms you’re describing of random pains in the gut along with nausea. I would NOT recommend starting a parasite cleanse in the current state that you’re in now, but to consider it once you’re in a stronger position again. But you can still watch the video lessons now and take the assessment to help prepare for a cleanse, and gauge when a person is ready to start a cleanse.

@naslam1603 – I took a look at the product you shared from Amrita. While it looks good on paper, it’s not ideal if someone truly struggles to digest protein. It’s missing tryptophan, one of the 9 essential amino acids, and the total amount of amino acids per serving is quite low. So it ends up being more of a light support blend rather than something that can actually meet the body’s needs for repair, muscle support, and neurotransmitter production.

This product (Amino Acid Supreme by Designs for Health) is a much better choice because it includes all essential amino acids and delivers a meaningful, therapeutic dose that doesn’t require digestion. That makes it more suitable for people with malabsorption or poor protein tolerance. The only things to be mindful of are that very sensitive individuals may react to the stevia or guar gum, and the vitamin B6 content is quite high, so it’s best not to stack it with other high-dose B6 supplements long term.

Glad to hear @Inga-55 – we’ll soon be introducing online meet-ups so we can all reconnect and get to know each other better. Hope you’ll be able to join us… we’ll be sending an email soon with all of the details.