In the present study, the range in canned tuna was 7.2 and 62.33 mg/kg. Zarei et al. (38) found histamine in 57.5% of canned tuna samples at 0.12 to 648.20 mg/kg; 25% of the samples exceeded the FDA limit (50 mg/kg).
Tuna is generally high histamine. The histamine content of fish depends tremendously on freshness and species. Freshly caught or immediately frozen fish are strongly preferred. Avoid canned, smoked, marinated, salted or dried fish.
Histamine is formed in fish and fishery products due to certain bacteria capable of producing an enzyme, histidine decarboxylase. This enzyme will convert free histidine to histamine [4].
Histamine (C5H9N3) is a biogenic amine and can be produced during processing and/or storage of tuna and certain other foods, usually by the action of spoilage bacteria. Histamine or scombrotoxin formation is a result of time and temperature abuse of certain species of scombroid fish.
Histamine was detected in 46.6% of canned fish samples, and histamine was absent or below the LOQ in 53.33% of the samples. The histamine concentrations in 18.33% of samples exceeded the FDA limit (50 mg/kg) (35), and all of those samples were from canned tuna in oil.
Fish such as sardines, salmon, and tuna are chock full of omega-3 fatty acids and considered to be anti-inflammatory.
A. Potatoes do not have a high histamine content and do not increase the body's histamine burden. Therefore, most people with histamine intolerance can eat them safely. You can also eat potatoes with additional food sensitivities, such as gluten sensitivity.
There is currently no cure for histamine intolerance. The key to success is for the patient to learn to adjust to a low-histamine diet and manage the condition(s) until it either goes away, or for life.
Broccoli is likely suitable for a low histamine diet. Broccoli is likely low in histamine and other amines and does not trigger release of the body's natural histamine.
Avocados are naturally very high in histamine and such high levels can be problematic for people with histamine intolerance. If you suspect that you may have histamine intolerance, it is best to avoid foods high in histamine, such as avocados.
Chicken is low histamine only if it is fresh or frozen. Like all meat and poultry products, chicken is highly perishable and will form histamine rapidly. Avoid ground, marinated, smoked, aged and/or canned chicken.
White Rice is likely suitable for a low histamine diet. White Rice is likely low in histamine and other amines and does not trigger release of the body's natural histamine.
The major allergen in tuna fish is Thu a 1, a parvalbumin, which is a highly stable and heat resistant protein found in fish muscle. Fish parvalbumin is a panallergen, which is responsible for cross-reactivity among different fish species. Patients allergic to tuna may show 50% cross-reactivity with salmon and cod.
Bananas are not directly high in histamine, but many people have reported that bananas are still a trigger for their histamine intolerance symptoms. Such a food is known as a “histamine liberator,” and should therefore be treated like a high histamine food.
Drinking plenty of water every day is essential for all bodily functions, including the regulation of histamine levels. Water does aid in the removal of histamines from the body as more that 95% of excess histamines are removed from the body through the urine.
Magnesium is also needed to make the enzyme, DAO, which mops up histamine when it's been released, if you can't make DAO, histamine levels in the blood increase 16. Histamine release from immune cells causes many of the symptoms of allergic responses to, for example, pollen and insect bites.
Eggs are low in histamines, this makes them ideal for the low-histamine diet. Chickpeas, peanuts, and lentils have been found to have low concentrations of histamines and may be safely consumed in a low-histamine diet.
Low Histamine Foods
Vegetables: Onion, sweet potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, squash, cucumbers, beets.
Mushrooms, tomatoes, spinach, eggplant, avocado, and citrus are generally considered high in histamine.
Canned tuna contains mercury, so eating too much of it can lead to mercury poisoning.
This may leave you wondering if eating canned tuna is safe, but the FDA says adults should be fine eating one or two servings a week, as long as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding avoid tuna and other fish that may contain mercury.