Allergy-like symptoms that develop after you eat may not be caused by an allergic reaction. Most allergy symptoms are the result of increased levels of histamine released in your soft tissue from a hypersensitivity to certain proteins found in foods. Eating a high histamine diet can cause your histamine levels to increase, leading to skin irritations, rashes, nasal congestion, eye irritation, and throat irritation. You may also have a condition called histamine intolerance, the inability of the body to metabolize histamine.
Histamine Intolerance and Allergy
Histamine intolerance is a condition where your body doesn't absorb and properly store the chemical. Eating foods that are high in histamine can trigger a wide range of symptoms. A food allergy triggers excessive production of histamine because of a malfunction of the immune system. If you're allergic to certain foods, certain antibodies cause your white blood cells to create histamine in soft tissues that leads to inflammation, swelling and irritation. If you're allergic to a certain food, you need to eliminate that food from your diet.
High Histamine Foods
Certain foods naturally contain more histamine than others. If you're histamine-intolerant you should avoid wine, beer, avocados, anchovies, cheeses, cider, mackerel, mushrooms, dried fruits, sardines, sausage, hot dogs, pickled meats, sauerkraut, sour cream, sour milk, yogurt, vinegar, ketchup, sour breads and mayonnaise, according to Michigan Allergy, Sinus and Asthma Specialists. If you are diagnosed with histamine intolerance, your doctor may recommend a histamine-restricted diet that requires the avoidance of all high histamine levels.
Symptoms
Symptoms can affect various systems in your body, such as your respiratory system, skin and digestive system. Common symptoms may include shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, wheezing, asthma, itching eyes, burning in the eyes, itchy nose, sneezing, increased mucus production, congested sinuses, sinus headaches, hives, eczema, skin rashes, cramping, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting. In rare cases, histamine intolerance may lead to a severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis. If you develop facial swelling, hives, the inability to breathe and lightheadedness, call 911 for emergency attention.
Considerations
If eating a high histamine diet causes adverse reactions, eat foods that don't contain a lot of histamine. Plain bread, fresh meats, poultry and fish, plain milk, nuts, seeds and sugar are all considered to be low in histamine. Because histamine intolerance and food allergy symptoms are so similar, you need to make an appointment with an allergist to determine the cause of your symptoms.
