Have a Histamine Disorder?

Do You Have a Histamine Disorder?

Did you ever consider that you might have a histamine disorder?  Histamine Intolerance (HIT), Histaminosis, Mast Cell Activation Disorder (MCAD, MCAS, MCA), Mastocytosis, Systemic Mastocytosis are histamine disorders. Other conditions with a histamine/mast cell element are: Acid Reflux, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, Cancer, Narcolepsy, IBS, Crohn’s Disease, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, heart disease and migraines.

Histamine intolerance is usually caused by a defect in the body’s histamine breakdown in one of two enzyme systems: histamine N-methyl transferase (HMT) and diamine oxidase (DAO). (1) Deficiency in the DAO enzyme system, found in the intestinal mucosa, has been considered the most probable cause of histamine intolerance. (2)  When the activity of either of these enzymes is insufficient, the resulting excess of histamine may cause numerous symptoms resembling an allergic reaction.

Symptoms Related to Histamine Intolerance

Skin rash, spots, redness, hives, acid reflux (heartburn), nasal congestion, persistent fatigue, itching, flushing & severe sweating, joint pain, bone pain, headaches,  tachycardia (racing heart rate), eyes tearing/dry, eye pain, persistent body/tissue pain, difficulty exercising, vertigo, episodes of low body temperature, unexplained vitamin B12 deficiency, scents/odors/chemical reactions, difficult menses (females), numbness & tingling in face and extremities, skin feels on fire, unexplained anxiety, sudden drops in blood pressure, fainting, persistent diarrhea, vomiting, unexplained weight loss, cognitive impairment, sinus problems,  chest pain, vision problems, hair loss, mouth sores, nausea, swelling & inflammation, odd reactions to insect stings, anesthesia difficulties, anemia, thyroid problems, decreased bone density, unexplained weakness, shortness of breath, sunlight sensitivity, temperature (hot/cold) sensitivity, difficulty with foods, drinks, anaphylactoid reactions, anaphylaxis, gastrointestinal pain, bloating, unexplained medication reactions, enlarged liver/spleen, liver/spleen/bladder/kidney pain, enlarged lymph nodes, frequent urination,  recurring infections, neuropathic pain, constipation (MCAS), iron deficiency, unexplained bruising, bleeding, malabsorption, intermittent tinnitus or hearing problems, skin lesions or sores (mastocytosis).

Mastocytosis Canada’s www.mastcellmaster.com

For more information, see http://thelowhistaminechef.com/histamine-intolerance-symptoms/

To heal this disorder, it is imperative to eat an anti-histamine diet.

Foods High in Histamine

(there are different lists but this includes the basics)

• Seafood: shellfish or fin fish, fresh, frozen, smoked or canned
• Eggs
• Processed, cured, smoked and fermented meats such as lunch meat, bacon, sausage, salami, pepperoni
• Leftover meat (after meat is cooked, the histamine levels increase due to microbial action as the meat sits)
• All fermented milk products, including most cheeses
• Yogurt, buttermilk, kefir
• Citrus fruit: oranges, grapefruit, lemons, lime
• Most berries
• Dried fruit
• Fermented foods: sauerkraut, Kombucha, pickles, relish, fermented soy products,
• Spinach
• Tomatoes including ketchup and tomato sauce
• Artificial food colors and preservatives
• Spices: cinnamon, chili powder, cloves, anise, nutmeg, curry powder, cayenne
• Beverages: tea (herbal or regular), alcohol
• Chocolate, cocoa, and cola drinks
• Vinegar and foods containing vinegar such as pickles, relish, ketchup, and prepared mustard

Supplements That Help

* Quercetin (1,000 mg a day)
* Bromelain (500 mg a day)
* Vitamin C (1,000 – 3,000 mg a day)

Anti-histamine Juice Recipe

 Spicy Fennel

• 1 green apple
• 1/2 large fennel with fonds
• 1 inch ginger root
• 1 large broccoli stem
• 1 medium or 1/2 large cucumber

Cut produced to fit your juicer. Start by juicing the apple and finish with the cucumber. Drink as soon as possible.

Serves 2

Fennel: anti-inflammatory, anti-histamine analgesic, and antioxidant.

Apple: inhibits the development of allergies. Rich in histamine lowering quercetin.

Cucumber: analgesic (pain killer), antioxidant that prevents the synthesis of the inflammatory compound prostaglandin.

Broccoli: anti-carcinogenic, prevents gastric mucosal damage (suggesting potential histamine-lowering action).

Ginger: as effective an H2 receptor antagonist as Zantac/ranitidine.

(Click on each ingredient; it will take you to the study)