Here’s a savory recipe for lower histamine shepherd’s pie.
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Table of Contents
Who is Betsy Leighton?
I’m a writer, blogger, and healer dedicated to helping individuals reconnect with their innate peace and wholeness by healing nervous system dysregulation. My personal experience with chronic illness called Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) shapes my work, and my content offers tools to empower those with chronic illness to improve their well-being and take charge of their health.
I created the Sacred Self-Healing Method and am a trained and certified Safe and Sound Protocol provider, an author, blogger, and A Course in Miracles Teacher. I hold a Master of Divinity in Spiritual Counseling and am a trained spiritual mentor, with certificates in sound healing, aromatherapy, nutrition, and Sacred Deathcare. I offer a self-study certificate program in the Sacred Self-Healing Method, provide spiritual counseling and coaching, courses, and supported subscriptions for the Safe and Sound Protocol.
What is MCAS?
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a chronic condition that affects all organ systems. It can cause severe, disabling symptoms every day, including potentially fatal anaphylaxis.
The common triggers for MCAS are infections, toxic exposures including mold exposure and EMFs, trauma, concussions, and stress.
MCAS often occurs with other chronic conditions like Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). Managing MCAS is challenging because many healthcare providers are unaware of it, and diagnostic tests can be unreliable. Treatments include antihistamines and mast cell stabilizers in the form of medications and supplements, along with avoiding triggers. Check out this post on managing MCAS.
Ingredient notes for this lower histamine shepherd’s pie
I can tolerate this brand of frozen ground elk. They also make ground venison, bison, and chicken, so choose a ground meat that works with your tolerances.
Why this recipe?
This recipe is low in carbs, higher in fat, protein, and fiber, while still being lower in histamine and histamine-releasing foods, lower in oxalates, and free of nightshades, grains, and gluten. Eating a diet lower in carbs and inflammatory foods can help to control histamine intolerance. To learn more about the lower histamine diet click here!
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!
Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
Here’s the recipe for lower histamine shepherd’s pie
Ingredients
Method
- Prepare the potatoes: Boil the peeled and cubed potatoes in a large pot of water until tender, about 15-20 minutes. Drain well and return to the pot. Mash the potatoes with the butter and a splash of milk alternative. Season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Cook the filling: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Heat the olive oil in a large, oven-safe skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Brown the elk: Add the ground elk meat to the skillet. Cook until browned and cooked through, breaking it up with a spoon. Drain off any excess fat if necessary.
- Add vegetables and thicken: Stir in the diced carrots and cook for another few minutes. Sprinkle the flour over the meat mixture and stir to coat, cooking for 1 minute.
- Simmer: Gradually pour in the low-histamine broth, stirring constantly to avoid lumps. Bring the mixture to a simmer. Stir in the dried thyme, rosemary, salt, and pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer for about 5-10 minutes, until the gravy has thickened. Stir in the frozen peas during the last few minutes of cooking.
- Assemble and bake: Spread the meat mixture evenly in the skillet or transfer it to a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spoon the mashed potatoes over the top, spreading them into an even layer. Use a fork to create texture on the potato topping for a crispier finish.
- Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until the topping is golden brown and the filling is bubbly.
- Serve: Let the shepherd’s pie stand for a few minutes before serving.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!What to serve along with this lower histamine shepherd’s pie
- A green salad is lovely with this dish.
- Choose sides based on your other dietary needs.
Leftovers and reheating
- Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 5 days, but if you have histamine intolerance or MCAS, you should freeze them right away.
- Freeze for up to 3 months.
- To reheat, microwave for 2-3 minutes, depending on your microwave’s power. Or, place in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until piping hot.
Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
Order my books!
Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
