Histamine intolerance – these are the symptoms

The messenger substance histamine can lead to severe symptoms in some people. We’ll tell you everything you should know about histamine intolerance – and how to recognize it.

In the case of histamine intolerance, the body reacts with intolerance reactions to the messenger substance histamine, which occurs naturally in the body but is also found in many foods. Histamine intolerance is one of the food intolerances that many sufferers do not recognize for a long time. Typical symptoms associated with histamine intolerance are often not associated with the intolerance.

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Histamine intolerance – how to recognize the intolerance

Various symptoms can occur with histamine intolerance:

  • nausea
  • diarrhea
  • reddening of the skin
  • Migraine headaches
  • Hitzegefühl
  • shortness of breath
Histamine intolerance has a very imprecise clinical picture. For this reason, it is sometimes not even recognized or diagnosed as a disease. So far there is no reliable test that can prove histamine intolerance. The best way to detect histamine intolerance is what is known as an elimination diet, in which a low-histamine diet is followed under medical supervision. If there is a histamine intolerance, no more symptoms should occur during the diet. Certain blood tests can provide additional support for the diagnosis.

These foods contain a particularly large amount of histamine

Histamine is found in many foods. However, one must distinguish between those that actually contain histamine and those that only release the messenger substance in the body . And then there are foods that inhibit the enzyme diamine oxidase, which is responsible for breaking down histamine. No matter which group the food belongs to – they can all lead to complaints!

Foods containing histamine

  • Cheese (especially hard cheese)
  • Smoked meat (e.g. ham and salami)
  • Sojaprodukte
  • fish
  • Preserved Foods
  • beans and legumes
  • ready meals
  • Certain fruits (e.g. bananas, pears and oranges)
  • alcohol
  • chocolate
  • yeast
Foods that release histamine
  • citrus fruits
  • Certain fruits (e.g. strawberries and pineapples)
  • nuts
  • chocolate
  • tomatoes
  • seafood
Foods that inhibit the breakdown of histamine
  • alcohol
  • Energy-Drinks
  • Cocoa
  • Black and green tea

How is histamine intolerance treated?

“Since the tolerance threshold for histamine intolerance is very individual and the diagnosis is very difficult, those affected should keep a nutritional symptom diary and make a change in diet under the guidance of specialist staff . In general, with this intolerance, it is recommended to use food that is as fresh as possible and not to store vegetables and fruit for a long time,” says the nutritionist from the biotechnology company BIOMES Franziska Dreidax. According to Dreidax, those affected should also avoid reheating food, since the histamine content is below among other things due to long storage, long maturation and insufficient cooling in the food.

If the consumption of histamine-containing foods is unavoidable, antihistamines can relieve the symptoms. Here you can buy an antihistamine for 41.77 . Taking diamine oxidase, which is responsible for breaking down histamine, can sometimes be helpful. Healing earth can also naturally alleviate the symptoms of histamine intolerance, as it binds histamine and also has a calming effect on the intestines. You can order healing earth from Luvos Heilerde , for example .

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Editor’s note: This article contains, among other things, product recommendations. When selecting the products, we are free from the influence of third parties. For mediation via our +affiliate links+, we receive a commission from the relevant service provider/online shop when a purchase or mediation is made, with the help of which we can continue to offer independent journalism.

Crystal Waston MD

Crystal Waston has a degree in Cross Media Production and Publishing. At vital.de she gives everyday tips and deals with topics related to women's health, sport, and nutrition.

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