Too much histamine in your body might be causing symptoms like allergic reactions and GI distress.
Here’s howand whyfollowing a low-histamine diet might help.
What is a low-histamine diet and should you try it?
Getty / Thomas Barwick
We talked to NYC-based dietitian Isabel Smith, M.S., R.D., C.D.N.
to get the details.
That inflammation prompts other chemicals from your immune system to kick into action to help counteract the perceived threat.
For example, with seasonal allergies you may get a runny nose or itchy eyes.
That’s one way histamine is trying to get rid of the triggerby prompting membranes to make more mucus.
That mucus then leads to a runny nose, itchy eyes, a cough or sneezing.
What is histamine intolerance?
Your cells already have all the histamine you need, but foods and drinks contain histamine too.
If too much histamine builds up in the body, it can causehistamine intolerance.
Two enzymes break down histaminediamine oxidase (DAO) and histamineN-methyltransferase (HNMT).
Histamine intolerance is thought to be a result of DAO not working properly.
Genetics, gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, alcohol and drugs can cause reduced DAO activity.
Symptoms of histamine intolerance are similar to those of an allergic reactionlike hives and itchiness.
But othersymptomscan present also, like bloating, diarrhea, gas and headaches.
This makes it difficult to diagnose histamine intolerance.
What is a low-histamine diet?
Who should follow a low-histamine diet?
Often people with histamine intolerancehave other food intolerancestoo, like lactose or fructose intolerance.
Foods to avoid on a low-histamine diet
The following foods are high in histamine.
Another thing to note: Freshness is also a factor in a food’s histamine levels.
A2017 study in theAnnals of Dermatologyalso found that frying and grilling increased histamine in foodsbut boiling did not.
