Histamine Intolerance

Many people are plagued by a symptoms assumed to be allergies, such as itchy watery eyes, runny nose, itchy skin and hives, and headaches. However, the issue may not be food or environmental allergies, but rather histamine intolerance.

Histamine is a neurotransmitter that helps break down food in the stomach and is involved in the the immune response. A histamine intolerance is when there is too much histamine in the body and it isn’t broken down or degraded properly. The most common reason that histamine is not degraded properly is due to an issue with the enzyme DAO (diamine oxidase), which is responsible for breaking down histamine ingested from food. Many foods are high in histamine, and if there is reduced DAO, symptoms may develop. Other causes of histamine intolerance are GI issues (such as IBS, leaky gut or gluten sensitivity), UV light or a bacterial overgrowth

When the body reaches a level where there are very high levels of histamine that are unable to be broken down, a range of symptoms may occur including: abdominal cramps, anxiety, digestive issues, vertigo, fatigue, headaches, acid reflux, blood pressure issues, itching, hives, nasal or sinus issues or nausea/vomiting.

To alleviate symptoms from a histamine intolerance, all foods high in histamine should be eliminating for at least a month. Some of these foods include, citrus fruit, dried fruit, fermented foods, vinegar, tomatoes, spinach, seafood, alcohol and protein rich foods. DAO supplements are also available.