Symptoms can vary from
Headaches and fatigue
Hives and rashes
Flushing
Digestive disorders and diarrhoea
Sinus and nasal congestion
Hay fever
Nausea or vomiting
More severe symptoms can include:
High blood pressure, irregular heart rate and anxiety
Tissue swelling
Dizzy spells
Abdominal cramps
Difficulty regulating body temperature
Histamine intolerance isn’t a sensitivity to histamine, but an indication that there are excessive histamine levels.
it is the amount of histamine that will determine symptom frequency and onset.
Unlike other food intolerance and allergies, reactions to histamine may not always be immediate.
Symptoms may vary from person to person and can influence a variety of body systems. These can include the digestive, respiratory, cardiac, skin and nervous systems.
If histamine intolerance is suspected, a histamine elimination diet is recommended for a month, followed by slowly re-introducing high histamine foods. This is known as rest and reset.
Common histamine sources include aged cheese, aged fish products, preserved meats, berries, citrus, cocoa, spinach and eggs. Alcohol blocks the metabolism of histamine.
High histamine foods
Fish (Mackerel, Herring, Sardines, Tuna)
Meats (Sausage, salami, ham)
Aged cheeses
Vegetables (sauerkraut, spinach, eggplant)
Alcohol (wine both red and white, beer, champagne)
Causes
Histamine is normally metabolized by a specific enzyme found in the gut called diamine oxide or DAO. Certain factors can inhibit DAO such as a genetic fault, or compromised gut barrier health.
Nutrient deficiencies such as Vitamin C, B6, Zinc and Copper.
Certain medications can decrease the metabolism of histamine.
Hormonal imbalance such as increased oestrogen can make women more susceptible.
Dysbiosis, IBS or inflammatory bowel disease.
Excessive consumption of foods that trigger the release of histamine.
Supplements and Herbal Medicine
Quercetin Is a flavonoid found in fruits and vegetables that is well known for its antioxidant and anti-allergic properties. Supplementation with quercetin can help s inhibit the release of histamine. It is best taken 5-10 minutes before meals.
Bromelain is an enzyme found in pineapple that possesses anti-allergy properties.
Vitamin C can support histamine metabolism and breakdown.
Albizia, traditionally used in Ayurvedic medicine helps relieve symptoms of mild allergies.
Gut health
Dysbiosis is an imbalance in the gut microbiome community and is one of the key mechanisms in histamine Intolerance.
So, restoring a healthy microbiome and improving mucosal barrier is important.
A combination of pre / probiotics and Glutamine can form the basis for restoring a healthy digestive system.
If you would like any further information on histamine intolerance, please get in touch.
Jules
Bibliography
Campbell, G. (2016) Histamine Intolerance: A Beginners Guide. FX Magazine.
Schnedl, W., & Enko, D. (2021). Histamine Intolerance Originates in the Gut. Nutrients, 13(4), 1262.
·