This episode delves into the world of histamine intolerance, discussing its symptoms, potential treatments, and its connection to hay fever and allergies. It explores the importance of histamine as a signaling molecule in the body, its role in allergic reactions, and the dangers of excess histamine. The podcast also explores histamine intoxication and intolerance, factors affecting the effectiveness of the DAO enzyme, and tips for managing histamine intolerance through dietary changes and improving gut health.
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Quick takeaways
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body has impaired DAO activity or a compromised gut barrier, leading to symptoms such as bloating, headaches, and respiratory issues.
To prevent histamine intoxication, it is important to avoid consuming spoiled fish and high-histamine cheeses, and to prioritize eating fresh foods and freezing perishable products to reduce histamine intake.
Deep dives
Histamine Intolerance: Understanding the Basics
Histamine intolerance is a condition characterized by hypersensitivity to histamine, a chemical involved in various bodily functions. While histamine is important for our health, excessive histamine can lead to allergic reactions, scombroid fish poisoning, and histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance is a chronic condition that occurs when the body has impaired DAO activity or a compromised gut barrier, allowing histamine to enter the bloodstream and trigger symptoms. Common symptoms include bloating, headaches, palpitations, and respiratory issues. Diagnosis is challenging, and elimination diets are commonly used to identify trigger foods. Healing the gut and supplementing with DAO can help manage histamine intolerance.
Histamine Intoxication and Food Sources
Histamine intoxication is a form of food poisoning caused by consuming foods with high levels of histamine. It is commonly associated with spoiled fish but can also occur with certain cheeses. Symptoms include headache, nausea, diarrhea, flushing, and sweating. The best way to prevent histamine intoxication is to avoid consuming spoiled fish and high-histamine cheeses. Histamine levels increase as food matures, so eating fresh food and freezing perishable products can help reduce histamine intake.
Managing Histamine Intolerance and Future Directions
Managing histamine intolerance involves following a low-histamine diet, which excludes foods high in histamine, fermented foods, and certain beverages like alcohol. Improving the gut barrier and supplementing with DAO can also be beneficial. Sprouted legumes, a source of natural DAO, can be an alternative to expensive DAO supplements. It's important to note that the low-histamine diet is temporary and part of the diagnostic process. Long-term management involves healing the gut and gradually reintroducing histamine-rich foods while maintaining a diverse and balanced diet. Further research is needed to better understand histamine intolerance and advance its diagnosis and treatment.
We've probably all heard of “antihistamines,” medications that can ease symptoms of hay fever and other allergies.
But what is “histamine”? It’s a vital chemical that our bodies produce, and it plays a role in a number of functions that support our health.
Histamine intolerance seems to be increasingly common, but it’s difficult to diagnose. Some people may not be aware that they have it or how to treat it.
In today’s episode of ZOE Science & Nutrition, Jonathan speaks with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz, ZOE’s U.S. medical director, to learn more about this flourishing area of research — and the best ways to identify and treat histamine intolerance.
Will is a board-certified gastroenterologist, and New York Times bestselling author of the microbiome book Fiber Fueled.
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