Histamine Sensitivity – A Hidden Culprit Behind Health Issues

Histamine is a powerful chemical found in many foods, but it’s also naturally produced by the human body. While histamine is best known for triggering allergic reactions like hay fever, it actually has a wide range of important functions throughout the body.

For instance, histamine acts as a neurotransmitter, helping nerve cells in the brain communicate with each other. It’s also a key ingredient in stomach acid, which aids the digestive process by breaking down food. Additionally, histamine plays a role as an inflammatory mediator, meaning it helps the immune system respond to infections and injuries.

In fact, histamine receptors are located all over the body, so this versatile chemical can have wide-ranging and varied effects. So while histamine may cause unpleasant allergy symptoms, it’s an essential part of many critical bodily functions.

Histamine intolerance is a non-allergic food sensitivity caused by the intestine’s reduced ability to break down histamine. This is because histamine metabolism in the digestive system relies on the DAO (diamine oxidase) enzyme. People with histamine intolerance may have a DAO deficiency, leading to higher levels of circulating histamine in the body.

People with histamine intolerance may experience a variety of symptoms, including:

• Respiratory: nasal congestion, rhinitis, sneezing
• Nervous system: headaches/migraines, dizziness
• Cardiovascular: rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure
• Gastrointestinal: bloating, gas, IBS-like symptoms (diarrhea, constipation)
• Nausea and vomiting
• Feeling overly full after eating
• Reproductive: menstrual cramps
• Skin: dermatitis, swelling, flushing, hives

Histamine levels can be influenced by hormone fluctuations, so women may be more prone to developing or worsening histamine intolerance, especially during perimenopause when hormonal changes are common.

Histamine intolerance can develop when you consume too many histamine-rich foods for your body to properly break down. If your body doesn’t produce enough of the DAO enzyme, that can also cause histamine intolerance. Certain medications can contribute to this condition as well, by impacting DAO.

Another potential cause of histamine intolerance is dysbiosis – an imbalance in your gut bacteria. Microbes like staphylococcus, proteus, enterobacteriaceae, and clostridium have the ability to release histamine, leading to elevated levels in your body.

To reduce your histamine levels, try these five steps:

• Avoid high-histamine foods like aged or fermented items.
• Support your DAO enzyme production by getting enough vitamin C and B6, which are cofactors.
• Limit alcohol, as it can impair DAO production.
• Reduce your use of NSAIDs like ibuprofen and antihistamines, as they can disrupt DAO.
• Work with a functional medicine practitioner to address any underlying causes of your histamine sensitivities and develop a personalized treatment plan.

By tackling your histamine intolerance through these methods – supporting DAO, improving gut health, and limiting histamine intake – you can find lasting relief for your symptoms.