Histamine is a molecule known for its inflammatory effects. Colorado State University notes that histamine is normally encapsulated in granules inside cells of the immune system called mast cells. When a person ingests something he is allergic to, mast cells release histamine that causes inflammation. However, histamine can also get into the body if a person eats foods rich in this molecule. Thus, a person may feel like he is having an allergic reaction, but this method of action of histamine is not related to allergies.
Alcoholic Beverages
Michigan Allergy, a medical practice headed by Drs. Jeffrey Tulin-Siler, MD, and Sucheta Kinhal, MD, describes how some alcoholic beverages may contain high levels of inflammation-inducing histamine. Not all alcoholic beverages are rich in histamine, but many beers and wines are histamine-rich. In a review article published in the "American Journal of Clinical Nutrition" in 2007, Drs. Laura Maintz and Natalija Novak from the University of Bonn in Germany report that, among alcoholic beverages, champagne contains the most amount of histamine.
Fruits and Vegetables
Similar to alcohol, some but not all fruits and vegetables also contain histamine. According to Michigan Allergy, a subset of fruits and vegetables, including eggplant, spinach, avocado, and tomatoes are histamine-rich foods. Additionally, dried fruits like dates, prunes, figs, apricots, and raisins have histamine. However, the histamine in dried fruits can be greatly diminished if these foods are washed thoroughly before eating. Drs. Maintz and Novak add that sauerkraut can also be high in histamine.
Fish
A few types of fish, such as mackeral, contain histamine, notes Michigan Allergy. Additionally, smoked fish such as herring and sardines also generally have a concentrated amount of histamine. Drs. Maintz and Novak add that tuna is also a histamine-rich food.
Meats
According to the article by Drs. Maintz and Novak, some meats contain histamine, such as sausage and ham that are fermented, as well as salami.
Sour Foods
Some foods that are "sour" are also rich in histamine. These foods are, according to Michigan Allergy, sour cream, buttermilk, yogurt, and sour milk. These foods may be especially high in histamine content if they are not very fresh. Also included among these histamine-containing sour foods are sourdough bread, pumpernickel, and coffee cakes. These breads are made with a large amount of yeast, which contributes to their high histamine content.
Cheeses
The article by Drs. Maintz and Novak notes that several types of cheese can have high levels of histamine. These cheeses include gouda, emmental, parmesan, cheddar, camembert, and swiss.
