• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Heather Cooan logo
  • My Story
  • Recipes
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Services
  • Success Stories
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
menu icon
go to homepage
  • My Story
  • Recipes
  • Articles
  • Resources
  • Services
  • Success Stories
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • My Story
    • Recipes
    • Articles
    • Resources
    • Services
    • Success Stories
    • Amazon
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • TikTok
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Home » Articles » Chronic Illness » Histamine

    Histamine Intolerance an Overview

    Published: Jan 12, 2023 by Heather Cooan, MBA, NTP, FDN-P, ONC · This post may contain affiliate links.

    You may hear histamine and instantly think about allergies, and you wouldn’t be wrong. Histamine is a compound that is involved in allergic reactions and the body’s inflammatory response. But, histamine intolerance is not the same thing as allergies. Since it can cause a host of symptoms and issues in the body, I’m going to give you an overview that explains what it is, and how you can begin to address it.

    QUICK REFERENCE
    • Histamine is Your Friend
    • Histamine is Your Foe
    • Histamine Intolerance
    • Symptoms may include:
    • Root Causes of Histamine Intolerance
    • Plan of Action
    • High histamine foods include:

    Histamine is Your Friend

    To understand what histamine intolerance is let’s first understand what histamine is. The National Institute of Health likes to refer to histamine as a ‘frenemy’ of the body. And that’s because it’s a little bit of friend and foe.

    Histamine is a compound in our body that’s essential to our immune and digestive systems, and plays a key role as a neurotransmitter in our central nervous system, communicating important messages from the body to the brain.

    Truth be told, it’s a complex compound. Not only does it have an effect on the inflammatory process of the immune system, but it also has regulatory functions in both the innate and adaptive immune responses. (1)

    The inflammatory response happens when the body detects an antigen, and immune cells (also known as B cells) make IgE antibodies. These IgE antibodies then spread throughout the body instructing the immune system to be on the lookout for specific pathogens. Mast cells and basophils pick up the IgE antibodies and become sensitized to them. When they then come into contact with targeted antigens, they release histamine and other inflammatory chemicals, which cause blood vessels to become thinner. Now the body’s white blood cells can cross these barriers more easily, and join in the immune response, fighting and eliminating pathogens from the body.

    Histamine has pleiotropic actions due to the different natures of its receptors, which means that it also helps to promote homeostasis in the body and is involved in immunomodulation, the process that down-regulates the immune system’s inflammatory response so that the body does not continue to attack itself once a threat is gone. (1)

    In addition to the role histamine plays in the immune system, it also signals when the stomach cells should produce more stomach acid to promote healthy digestion and helps to keep our brains awake and alert. Anyone who has felt the grogginess caused by antihistamines can certainly attest to that!

    Histamine is Your Foe

    Despite all the good that histamines do in the body, it also has a bit of a dark side. Histamines are at the root of all allergies: hay fever, food allergies, and skin allergies. And, allergies affect so many of us, young and old. Since histamine is a signaling molecule, it doesn’t always get things right, and in the case of allergies, the immune system overreacts in response to harmless substances, mistaking them for antigens. Whether it’s pet dander, pollen, or food, the histamine response happens and comes with a whole host of unwanted symptoms.

    Allergy sufferers will recognize this list of symptoms all too well:

    ● Watery eyes
    ● Runny nose
    ● Itching and hives
    ● Diarrhea or vomiting
    ● Anaphylaxis

    To recap, in a balanced and properly reacting body, histamine should be released in response to something in the body, and then it should be broken down by enzymes and removed from the body. Allergic reactions are an inappropriate histamine response, but, unfortunately, they’re not the only negative that’s associated with histamine.

    Histamine Intolerance

    Histamine intolerance, also known as sensitivity to dietary histamine, is a disorder that results from the body’s inability to metabolize histamine that has been ingested. In order to clearly differentiate food allergies from sensitivities and intolerances, adverse reactions to food that do not have an immunological basis are referred to as non-allergic food hypersensitivity. (2) Basically, it’s as if the body is having an allergic reaction when there is no allergen present.

    When the intestine has a reduced ability to break down histamine in the body, most likely due to a deficiency in a histamine-degrading enzyme, like diamine oxidase, or DAO, then histamine accumulates in the body, leading to an imbalance that causes symptoms of histamine over-reactivity.

    Clinical manifestations of histamine intolerance are varied and nonspecific, which makes it difficult to determine if you are dealing with this intolerance. Because the four histamine receptors in the body are dispersed in different organs and various bodily tissues, symptoms of histamine intolerance can be widespread.

    Symptoms may include:

    • Gastrointestinal discomforts, like bloating, feeling of fullness, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal pain
    • Symptoms of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, like anxiety, dizziness, low blood pressure, heart palpitations, headaches, and migraines
    • Respiratory symptoms, like runny nose, sneezing, shortness of breath, and chronic rhinitis
    • Dermatological symptoms, like itching, flushing, eczema, hives, and rash

    In a study that was trying to assess the clinical picture of histamine intolerance, 97% of cases experienced combinations of three or more symptoms involving different organs and they had an average of 11 symptoms per patient. (3) This makes it difficult to create appropriate diagnostic criteria for histamine intolerance. Histamine can even mimic hormone imbalance causing hot flashes.

    Root Causes of Histamine Intolerance

    At the root of histamine intolerance is an inability or reduced ability to break down ingested histamine. This can result from genetic or acquired impairment of the enzymatic function of DAO or other enzymes responsible for metabolizing histamine. (4) Some other possible factors that may contribute to it include:

    • Poor gut health or gut damage
    • Stress
    • Thyroid or sex hormone imbalance
    • Nutrient deficiencies
    • Poor methylation in the liver

    And, like many other problems in the body, it is often a combination of factors that leads to histamine intolerance.

    Plan of Action

    If you know or suspect that you may be dealing with an issue of histamine intolerance, you should first begin by changing your diet. Reducing your intake of high-histamine foods can help your body once again find balance.

    High histamine foods include:

    • Fermented foods that are not fermented in an airlock system
    • Red Wine
    • Vinegar
    • Citrus Fruits
    • Avocado
    • Tomatoes
    • Strawberries
    • Coconut
    • Fish
    • Pork
    • Foods that are aged or cooked for a long time, like meats and cheeses
    • Leftovers - the histamine levels of stored, cooked foods increase as they sit

    After removing offending foods from your diet, you should then investigate the underlying cause of your histamine intolerance. Addressing high-histamine foods, working to identify any underlying issues, and moving towards a more balanced body can help you begin to heal slowly and reduce any negative symptoms you’re experiencing.

    Struggling with autoimmunity or chronic illness? Check out these success stories from clients who addressed the root-cause contributors of their autoimmune disease and are now thriving!

    Sources

    1. Castelo Branco ACC, Seiti F, Yamada Yoshikawa SF, Pietrobon AJ, Sato MN. "Role of Histamine in Modulating the Immune Response and Inflammation", Mediators of Inflammation, 2018;(10):2018.
    2. Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla M, Vidal-Carou MDC. Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art. Biomolecules. 2020;10(8):1181.
    3. Kovacova-Hanuskova E, Buday T, Gavliakova S, Plevkova J. Histamine, histamine intoxication and intolerance. Allergologia et Immunopathologia, 2015;43(5):498-506.
    4. Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance, The Amer Jour of Clin Nut, 2007;85(5):1185-1196.

    Histamine

    • Hot Flashes: Histamine or Hormones?
    3 shares
    • 2

    Reader Interactions

    Tell Me What You Think

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Recipe Rating




    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Primary Sidebar

    Heather Cooan - Nutrition Consulting, Counseling, and Education

    Hi, I'm Heather! I’m a Functional Nutritionist and Educator helping women suffering from autoimmunity and cancer take control of their health and care through education, data-driven nutritional therapy, and strategic lifestyle design.

    More about me →

    VALENTINE'S DAY RECIPES

    • Keto Valentine's Day Dessert Recipe Roundup
    • Keto Chocolate Covered Strawberries (Whole30, Paleo, GFDF)
    • Ultimate Fudge Keto Brownies (Paleo, GFDF, Vegetarian)
    • Cheesecake with Raspberry Sauce (Keto, GF, Vegetarian, Low-Iron)

    POPULAR RECIPES

    • Keto Pumpkin Spice Muffins
    • Gluten-Free Sourdough Chocolate Chunk Cookies
    • Turkey Stew (GFDF, Keto, Paleo, AIP, Whole30, Low Iron)
    • Pickle Wheels (Keto, GF, Low Iron)
    • Vanilla Frosted Buttercream Cupcakes (GFDF, Keto, Low-Iron)
    • Roast Duck (Keto, Paleo, GFDF, AIP, Whole30)

    LATEST POSTS

    • Food Sensitivity, Intolerance, or Allergy?
    • The Six Stages of Ketosis
    • Low-Dose Naltrexone for Cancer and Autoimmune Disease
    • How Sugar Drives Inflammation

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Privacy Policy
    • Disclaimer
    • Terms of Use
    • Affiliate Disclosure
    • Accessibility Policy

    Let's Connect!

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • YouTube
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter

    Subscribe for Recipes and Updates

    My Amazon Favorites

    Work With Me

    • Functional Nutrition Services
    • Contact Us
    • Media and Press

    Disclaimer All information on this website and in HDC Media products, services, meal plans, and content is general information. Nothing on the website or any HDC Media content is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

    Affiliate Disclosure Many outgoing links on HeatherCooan.com are affiliate links. If you purchase a product after clicking an affiliate link, I receive a small percentage of the sale for referring you, at no extra cost to you. HDC Media is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

    Copyright © 2022 Functional Nutrition Consultant - Heather Cooan

    We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.

    You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.

    Heather Cooan
    Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
    Privacy Overview

    This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

    Strictly Necessary Cookies

    Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

    If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.