What Is Histamine Intolerance?

Could your chronic illness actually be an issue with histamine?

Note from Stephanie: After I had my wisdom teeth out, I noticed a massive increase in my "vestibular migraine” symptoms. At first I thought it was just vascular, but I was also itchier than usual. I believe excess histamine may be causing a lot of my symptoms. I’ll write more on this soon from a personal perspective, but in the meantime, here’s an article I whipped up with the help of AI:

Have you ever experienced a sudden, unexplainable headache or felt nauseous after eating certain foods? These may be symptoms of histamine intolerance, a condition that affects many people but is often misdiagnosed. Histamine intolerance occurs when the body accumulates an excess amount of histamine or fails to break it down properly, leading to a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms.

In this article, we’ll explore the ins and outs of histamine intolerance, from its causes and symptoms to diagnosis and treatment options. We’ll also discuss lifestyle changes that can help improve your quality of life if you are living with histamine intolerance. By the end of this article, you will have a better understanding of what histamine intolerance is and how to manage it for optimal health.

Understanding Histamine: What It Is and Its Role in the Body

Histamine is a chemical compound that is naturally produced by mast cells, which are an essential part of the immune system. Its primary function is to trigger inflammatory responses as a defense mechanism against allergens, pathogens, and other harmful substances that enter the body. Histamine does this by attaching to specific receptors in tissues throughout the body, such as the skin, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and brain.

Although histamine plays a vital role in our immune system's response to threats, when produced in excessive amounts or not broken down properly due to a lack of enzymes like DAO and HNMT, it can lead to histamine intolerance. Symptoms of histamine intolerance can range from mild discomforts such as headaches and hives to more severe issues like asthma attacks or anaphylaxis. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how histamine works in our bodies so we can better comprehend how histamine intolerance can impact our health.

When Mast Cells Go Haywire: Causes and Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

Histamine intolerance occurs when the body's mast cells release too much histamine, overwhelming the body’s ability to break it down. This can happen due to a variety of reasons, including genetics, gut dysbiosis, and certain medications. For individuals with histamine intolerance, avoiding high histamine foods is essential to avoid triggering symptoms.

Symptoms of histamine intolerance can range from mild to severe and may include hives, itching, flushing, headaches, migraines, nasal congestion, runny nose, sneezing, itchy eyes, digestive issues (diarrhea/nausea/vomiting), anxiety, depression, irritability, mood changes, fatigue, and insomnia. These symptoms may appear rapidly or take hours or days to develop after consuming offending foods or drugs. Symptom severity varies widely between individuals.

Who Is at Risk: Factors That Increase the Likelihood of Histamine Intolerance

While histamine intolerance can affect anyone, certain factors increase an individual's likelihood of developing this condition. Genetics play a significant role, and those with a family history of allergies, asthma, or eczema are more susceptible. Additionally, women are more likely to experience histamine intolerance than men due to hormonal fluctuations throughout their menstrual cycle and during menopause.

Other risk factors include underlying medical conditions such as leaky gut syndrome or small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO), both of which can interfere with proper histamine breakdown in the gut. In addition, enzyme deficiencies like DAO deficiency — which helps break down dietary histamines — can also contribute to the development of histamine intolerance. Finally, some medications like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics have been linked to increased histamine intolerance risk.

If you suspect you may have histamine intolerance due to any of these risk factors or symptoms discussed earlier in this article, it is important to speak with a functional medicine doctor and/or holistic healthcare provider to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

Diagnosis and Testing: How to Confirm Histamine Intolerance

If you suspect that you may have histamine intolerance, it can be difficult to get a proper diagnosis from a qualified medical professional. Unfortunately, there are currently no lab tests or imaging techniques that can definitively diagnose histamine intolerance. However, your healthcare provider will likely perform blood and urine tests to rule out other underlying conditions such as allergies, autoimmune disorders, or infections.

One of the most reliable methods of diagnosing histamine intolerance is through an elimination diet. This involves removing foods high in histamine and those that trigger the release of histamine from your diet for several weeks before gradually reintroducing them one by one. This allows you to pinpoint which foods exacerbate your symptoms and make more informed decisions about what you eat.

Foods to Avoid: High Histamine Foods and Histamine-Releasing Foods

For those with histamine intolerance, understanding what foods to avoid can be a crucial step towards managing symptoms and preventing flare-ups. The goal is to minimize exposure to foods that are either high in histamine or have the potential of releasing histamines in the body. In general, fermented and aged foods are high in histamines, making them a common trigger for those with histamine intolerance.

Common high-histamine foods include cured meats like salami and pepperoni, aged cheeses like cheddar and blue cheese, fermented beverages like wine and beer, as well as fermented vegetables like sauerkraut.

Additionally, certain fruits like citrus fruits, dried fruit, avocados, and bananas can release histamines when they begin to over-ripen. Artificial food additives like preservatives and artificial colorings also have the potential of increasing histamine levels in the body.

While it may seem daunting at first to avoid these foods completely, there are plenty of alternative options available for those with a little creativity. For example; swap out aged cheeses for fresh cheeses like mozzarella or ricotta; replace wine or beer with spirits that are lower in congeners (impurities from fermentation); opt for fresh fruits over dried ones; choose freshly cooked meals over pre-packaged ones that contain artificial additives.

Mind Your Meds: Over-the-Counter and Prescription Medications that Aggravate Histamine Intolerance

Medications play an important role in the management of various health conditions. Unfortunately, certain medications can exacerbate histamine intolerance symptoms and make it challenging to control the condition. Over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen are among the most common culprits that can trigger a sharp increase in histamine levels in sensitive individuals.

Antibiotics, antidepressants, antihistamines, and some prescription painkillers are also known to aggravate histamine intolerance. While it is not always possible to avoid these medications altogether, especially if they are necessary for your treatment, it’s important to talk with your doctor about alternative options or ways you can mitigate their effects on your system. (Herbs can be a great substitute for many Western pharmaceuticals.)

Natural Ways to Combat Histamine Intolerance: Holistic Approaches to Recovery

When it comes to managing histamine intolerance through natural means, there are several holistic approaches that can be taken. One of the first steps is to identify any underlying health conditions that may be contributing to the intolerance, such as gut dysbiosis or chronic stress. Working with a functional medicine practitioner can help address these issues and improve overall health, which can in turn alleviate histamine intolerance.

Another effective method for combating histamine intolerance is through diet. A low-histamine diet, which involves avoiding high-histamine foods and histamine-releasing foods, can significantly reduce symptoms for many people. Additionally, incorporating anti-inflammatory foods and supplements such as omega-3 fatty acids and quercetin can help decrease inflammation and improve immune function.

Neural reprogramming to take the body out of a chronic, low-grade fight or flight mode may also be helpful in reducing histamine excess. You can use tools ranging from NLP to yoga and meditation to help with this.

Living with Histamine Intolerance: Coping Mechanisms and Lifestyle Changes that Help Improve Quality of Life

Living with histamine intolerance can be challenging, but there are several coping mechanisms and lifestyle changes that can help improve quality of life for those affected by this disorder. The following are some helpful tips:

Avoid Trigger Foods: One of the most important things that someone with histamine intolerance can do is avoid consuming foods that are high in histamine or trigger the release of histamine in the body. This includes foods such as fermented products, citrus fruits, chocolate, and alcohol.

Take Supplements: Certain supplements may help reduce symptoms associated with histamine intolerance. These include Vitamin C, Quercetin, DAO enzymes, and probiotics which support gut health.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: Adopting a healthy lifestyle is essential for anyone dealing with histamine intolerance. Regular exercise, adequate sleep, stress management activities like yoga or meditation can help improve overall health and reduce inflammation in the body.

Social Support: Feeling isolated or misunderstood can be common for those who live with histamine intolerance. Finding support from others who understand what you are going through can be helpful. Join groups online or seek out local support groups for people struggling with similar issues

Overall, it’s important to remember living well despite having histamine intolerance is possible, but requires some shifts in habits behavior in order to feel your best self.

Histamine intolerance can be a challenging condition to deal with, but it is not insurmountable. With proper management and lifestyle changes, those affected can lead full and healthy lives. By avoiding high histamine foods and taking note of medications that trigger symptoms, individuals can reduce the severity of their symptoms. Additionally, natural approaches such as mindfulness practices and herbal supplements may help manage symptoms. By taking charge of their health and working closely with a holistic healthcare professional, those with histamine intolerance can find relief and improve their overall well-being.