Histamine is a naturally occurring chemical in the body that helps to protect against infection. If you're intolerant or have sensitivity to histamine, you will need to avoid certain foods that contain the chemical. If you eat or drink any food or beverage that triggers allergy-like symptoms, stop consuming it and call your doctor. Histamine intolerance will cause allergy-like symptoms but is not caused by an immune system reaction. Your doctor will determine the cause of your symptoms and prescribe a modified diet to prevent adverse reactions.
Histamine
Histamine is a chemical in the body that is mainly produced in soft tissues, such as your skin, lungs, sinuses and digestive system. Histamine is one of the primary chemicals released in your body during an allergic reaction that causes most symptoms. Histamine intolerance is a condition in which your body overreacts and produces more histamine when foods that contain the chemical are consumed. The presence of histamine causes your blood vessels to dilate and increases mucus production. This leads to a runny nose, nasal congestion, coughing, skin rashes, itching and flushing.
Foods that Contain Histamine
Certain foods contain higher levels of histamine that can trigger histamine sensitivity symptoms. The American College of Gastroenterology states that tuna, spinach, cheese, eggplant, red wine, mackerel and yeast contain histamine. Eating these foods will trigger common symptoms, such as asthma, skin rashes and digestive complications. Other foods that are histamine-rich include avocados, beer, dried fruit, fermented foods such as smoked meats and sauerkraut, processed meats, sour cream, yogurt, vinegar and sour breads.
Foods that Release Histamine
Some foods might not contain high levels of histamine but can trigger histamine production in the body when consumed. Bananas, chocolate, eggs, fish, milk, alcohol, tomatoes, strawberries, shellfish, papayas and pineapple might cause histamine levels to rise in your body. Avoid these foods if you notice adverse reactions after consuming them.
Food Allergy Consideration
Any food you're allergic to will cause histamine production in your body. During a food allergy your immune system produces immunoglobulin E antibodies that attack the proteins in the food. The release of these antibodies triggers mast cells in soft tissues to create larger amounts of histamine, according to MayoClinic.com. While you can have an allergy to any food, the most common foods that cause allergic reactions include wheat, soy, milk, eggs, fish, tree nuts and peanuts.
