I get many people contacting me to solve symptoms that can seem like a mystery. Stuffy nose, post nasal drip, skin itching, runny, irritated or puffy eyes and persistent itchy cough or wheezing. Other symptoms can include diarrhoea, vomiting, headaches, and abdominal pain.
I often see cases of eczema misdiagnosed by doctors too…the culprit? Histamine intolerance.
Foods naturally contain a chemical called histamine. Similarly, the body releases histamine, along with other chemicals, when it is faced with an allergic reaction.
Different foods contain different levels of histamine and usually wouldn’t cause a problem for most people because of a clever little enzyme called diamine oxidase. Diamine oxidase breaks down the histamine in foods which contain it. Some people, however, have a low level of this enzyme so can’t break down the histamine leading to an allergic reaction being triggered.
High histamine foods include:
Champagne, wine, beer and cider
Pickled foods
Vinegar
Processed meats like sausage, ham, chorizo and salami
Mushrooms
Tinned vegetables
Yeast extract
Chocolate
Tinned and smoked fish
Other types of foods, even though they are low in histamine contain enzymes which stimulate your body into releasing it. These include:
Tomatoes
Nuts
Egg white
Shellfish
Pineapple
Kiwi
Aubergines
Spices
Strawberries
Tangerines
This is not an exhaustive list, there are many other foods which can be histamine liberators, as I’ve just described, or foods that have high histamine content themselves. Histamine intolerance can take time and is a little more difficult to get to the bottom of than other health issues, but with good management we can have you right as rain.
If you’re suffering from health condition you’re finding it hard to get to the bottom of, get in touch for a chat. A dietary approach could help!