“Antihistamines” control allergy symptoms by blocking histamine activity. But our body can also produce enzymes such as histamine-N-methyltransferase and diamine oxidase (DAO) capable of inactivating histamine.
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.
Vitamin C is a natural antihistamine, which means it can lower histamine levels and mitigate allergic reactions and symptoms. Consume plenty of Vitamin C rich foods, like tropical fruits, citrus fruits, broccoli and cauliflower, and berries.
What is the most powerful natural antihistamine? Researchers haven't yet established any natural product as the “best” or “most powerful.” Natural antihistamines with the most research backing their use include stinging nettle, vitamin C, quercetin, butterbur, bromelain, and probiotics.
Histamine intolerance (HIT) is assumed to be due to a deficiency of the gastrointestinal (GI) enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) and, therefore, the food component histamine not being degraded and/or absorbed properly within the GI tract.
Though citrus fruits such as lemons, limes, and oranges are not actually high in histamine, they can trigger the release of histamine in your body. Many health care professionals recommend limiting citrus fruits and juices as part of a low-histamine diet.
Coffee contains histamines in low amounts, but for people who are sensitive to them, it contains plenty to get a reaction out of them. While the natural histamine content in coffee is low, some coffee processes can increase histamine levels.
Your body releases higher levels of histamine naturally at night as well as after meals so taking activated charcoal at night (about two hours after an early dinner) sweeps up excess histamine and can alleviate some, if not all of the symptoms associated with high histamine at night.
Boiled, fried, or poached eggs aren't affected by cooking methods when it comes to histamine content. 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.
– Ginger: As a powerful anti-inflammatory, ginger has the ability to reduce the release of endogenous histamine, a mechanism that occurs in allergies.
There are also some nutrients and plant compounds that act as natural antihistamines, and so inhibit the build-up of histamine. These include vitamins C and D, quercetin, bromelain and curcumin. Some people find including foods rich in these nutrients helps.
Avocados are naturally high in histamine and also act as histamine liberators. In other words, they trigger the release of the body's existing histamine. Every person has unique dietary triggers. Your reaction to avocado may be different than someone else's.
A small study from Malaysia has found that consuming local, raw honey can result in reduced allergy-like symptoms associated with histamine sensitivity.
High histamine symptoms
In histamine intolerant individuals, high levels of histamine are capable of producing such histamine intolerance symptoms that may seem similar to an allergic reaction. Think hives, rashes, itching and congestion.
Histamine intolerance occurs when you have a high level of histamine in your body. It can happen if your body can't break down histamine properly. It causes a variety of symptoms, including: Headaches or migraines.
Magnesium has an important role when it comes to mast cells and histamine. It helps support DAO levels by reducing the amount of histidine (an amino acid) that gets converted to histamine. In an animal study, researchers found 4 days of low magnesium intake caused histamine to rise quickly. and it kept getting worse.
Vitamin C does this by helping the body produce more of the histamine-degrading enzyme, diamine oxidase (DAO). Not only that, but it's an antioxidant vitamin that can support the reduction of histamine-induced inflammation in the body.
Zinc has shown to play an important role in histamine intolerance, as it impacts how your body stores histamine. Zinc deficiency has shown to allow a higher release of histamine. Concentrated zinc has actually shown the capacity to prevent histamine release from mast cells and normalize immune responses.
When your estrogen levels rise, you release more of your own histamine. Histamine then stimulates your ovaries to release more estrogen - thus setting off a vicious cycle. In addition, estrogen stops your DAO from working well. If you are intolerant to histamine, you will not tolerate your own estrogen very well.
Histamine works with nerves to produce itching. In food allergies it can cause vomiting and diarrhea. And it constricts muscles in the lungs, making it harder to breathe. Most worrisome is when histamine causes anaphylaxis, a severe reaction that is potentially fatal.