Histamine intolerance is a flourishing area of research, and many people may not be aware that they suffer from it or how to treat it.
Histamine is an essential chemical for healthy bodily functions, serving as a signaling molecule produced by immune cells to communicate and activate processes in the body.
Histamine intolerance is distinct from allergic reactions and involves histamine entering the body through the food we eat.
Histidine is converted into histamine by the enzyme L-histidine decarboxylase, which is present in many species of bacteria.
Histamine from ripe or fermented food moves from the stomach to the small intestine, where it encounters the enzyme DAO (diamine oxidase) which neutralizes it to prevent it from entering the bloodstream.
Jonathan compares DAO to a security check at the airport, removing histamine like sharp objects before allowing it to pass through.
Histamine intoxication is a form of food poisoning caused by foods with high histamine content, overwhelming the bloodstream with excessive histamine.
98% of histamine intoxication cases are caused by bad fish, while the remaining 2% is attributed to cheese with unusually high histamine levels due to bacteria interaction.
Symptoms of histamine intoxication include throbbing headache, nausea, explosive diarrhea, flushed face, palpitations, and profuse sweating, lasting for about half a day.
Histamine intolerance is a chronic condition, occurring more frequently and caused by seemingly normal food at times.
It's crucial to ensure fish is fresh to avoid histamine intoxication.
Histamine intolerance is a hypersensitivity to histamine, often due to impaired DAO activity in the small intestine.
Factors affecting DAO effectiveness include genetics, medications, alcohol, certain foods, and conditions like celiac disease or Crohn's disease.
The permeability of the epithelial barrier in the intestines plays a crucial role in preventing histamine from entering the bloodstream.
Healing the gut can restore competence to the epithelial barrier, preventing histamine from entering the body.
Symptoms of histamine intolerance include abdominal distension, bloating, and a myriad of other symptoms affecting various body systems.
Diagnosing histamine intolerance involves an elimination diet, as there's no easy test for it.
Tips for following a low histamine diet include consuming fresh food, avoiding high histamine foods like spinach, tomato, avocado, and eggplant, and being mindful of histamine levels in different food stages.
Research suggests that about 1 to 3% of the population has histamine intolerance, but this number may be underestimated.
Treatment options for histamine intolerance include DAO supplements and consuming sprouted legumes, which are rich in DAO activity.
Recent research shows that improving the gut barrier can lower blood histamine levels, offering hope for histamine intolerance.
Histamine is crucial for bodily functions, but an imbalance can lead to issues. Histamine intolerance can manifest in various symptoms and is linked to damaged gut. High histamine foods can trigger symptoms.
The way forward for histamine intolerance involves diagnosing with a low histamine diet, healing the gut, and potentially using supplemental DAO. Improving gut health over time can potentially reduce or stop symptoms completely.
Dr. Will emphasizes the importance of eating a wide diversity of plants and a diet of abundance for better gut health, rather than restriction.
When dealing with histamine intolerance, dietary restriction is intended to be temporary, typically lasting two to four weeks for diagnostic purposes.
The goal is to understand and diagnose the issue of histamine intolerance, and then correct it to be able to tolerate and enjoy fermented foods.
Becoming a ZOE member offers a gut microbiome test and an individually personalized program to make step-by-step changes for improved gut and overall health.