The Hidden Ways How Histamine Can Make You Fat

Histamines are compounds released by mast cells, a type of white blood cell that tends to be elevated during inflammatory and allergic reactions as part of an immune response to stressors. They play a big role in mold illness, but they can also cause symptoms - in particular weight gain and an inability to lose it – in healthy individuals.

 

Histamine has gotten a bad reputation, but it is necessary to survive, as it is responsible for multiple jobs in your body, such as:

  • the secretion of stomach acid

  • proper digestion

  • communication of key messages throughout the entire body

  • regulating the immune system

  • regulation of the sleep-wake cycle

 

When the body encounters a foreign invader, it properly responds by releasing histamine - these inflammatory reactions are designed to protect you from danger. Due to chronic mold exposure and ongoing inflammation, a person can develop histamine intolerance. In this case, the mast cells over-produce histamine in order to protect the body from mold toxins, but the body isn’t able to keep up with the high levels of released histamine.

Histamine becomes a problem when the body is not able to adequately break it down so it can build up to an unhealthy level. This is called histamine intolerance. Histamine intolerance leaves the body in a chronic state of inflammation, which in turn can create stubborn weight gain. Holistic functional medicine approaches often address this by targeting the root causes of histamine build-up and improving the body’s ability to manage inflammation.

~ Around 40% of people are estimated to have some degree of histamine sensitivity. ~

Histamine intolerance can make it feel as if you’re having an allergic reaction 24/7. And while histamine intolerance is not as life-threatening as an allergic response, it can be debilitating. Mold is one of the biggest triggers for the mast cells to release histamine. Since mold exposure can significantly increase histamine intolerance, eating high-histamine foods can be one piece of the puzzle if you are really struggling during a mold detox protocol!

The most common signs and symptoms of histamine intolerance:

  • Migraines (past eating)

  • Accelerated/irregular heart rate

  • Passing out in the sun

  • Anxiety out of the blue

  • Dermatitis / Hives

  • Random Flushing

  • Getting dizzy from sitting to standing

  • Extreme fatigue

  • Swollen Throat

  • Difficulty Breathing

  • Hot Flashes

  • Sweating

  • Cravings

  • Low Blood Pressure

  • Severe Diarrhea

  • Hungry after meals

  • Itching

  • Sneezing

  • Watering Eyes

  • Nasal Congestion

  • Chronic runny nose

  • Crawling sensation on your skin

  • Abnormal menstrual cycle

  • Asthma attacks

  • Nausea

  • Abdominal Pain

  • LSD-like tripping (past eating high-histamine foods)

 

Symptoms of histamine intolerance and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome can be quite similar. However, there are some differences between them. Histamine intolerance develops due to excess histamine and histamine build-up in your body. With Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, mast cells are being triggered spilling histamine and other chemicals into the body, which in turn creates symptoms. MCAS is one of the primary causes of histamine intolerance, but it is not the root cause for everyone.

 

Other root causes of Histamine intolerance include:

  • A reduced enzyme activity, such as the DAO enzyme that is responsible for breaking down histamine

  • Vitamin deficiencies such as vitamin C, copper, and other vitamins (certain types of nutrients increase DAO enzyme)

  • Impaired gut health, such as a leaky gut, bacterial overgrowth, parasites, etc. because DAO enzyme is mostly produced in the gut.

  • Medications such as antidepressants

  • Mold exposure

  • Prolonged Stress (especially PTSD)

  • Autoimmune or inflammatory conditions

~ To put it in a nutshell: High levels of histamine plus an impaired ability to break histamine down

= histamine intolerance! ~

 

Which foods are high in histamine?

As a rule of thumb - the longer you cook food, the more histamine is being produced in it. Cooking for an extended time, such as in a slow cooker or your 48H bone broth, leads to high levels of histamine in the food.

There are three categories: histamine-rich foods, histamine-releasing foods, and foods that keep the body from breaking down histamine.

Histamine-Rich Foods

  • Slow-cooked meals

  • Bone Broth

  • Dairy and aged cheese

  • Fermented foods and drinks like yogurt, sauerkraut, vinegar, and soy sauce

  • Vinegar-soaked foods such as pickles and olives

  • Fermented alcoholic beverages, including wine, beer, and champagne

  • Cured and aged meats

  • Some types of fish, especially frozen, smoked, and canned varieties

  • Spinach

  • Eggplant

  • Strawberries

  • Avocado

  • Tomatoes

  • Fish sauce

  • Leftovers

 

 

Histamine-Releasing Foods

  • Citrus fruits, papaya, pineapple

  • Nuts such as walnuts, cashews, or peanuts

  • Cocoa and chocolate

  • Fish and crustaceans

  • Pork

  • Egg whites

  • Licorice root

  • Seasonings: chili powder, cinnamon, cloves

  • Tomato ketchup

  • Many food additives

 

Foods that Keep Your Body From Breaking Down Histamine

  • Alcohol, especially red wine

  • Different types of tea

   

A low-histamine diet is a therapeutic diet and is not meant to be a long-term or lifelong diet. It can be a helpful tool during mold detoxification, but it is important to never eliminate histamines from the diet completely, as it can worsen the resistance to histamine. If limiting histamines in the diet does not fully relieve your issues, you might want to consider additionally limiting oxalates until the root issues are resolved. 

If a low-histamine diet is not sufficient, it is time to go deeper. Download this comprehensive guide with my favorite supplements and holistic strategies in this comprehensive guide to get symptom-free and shed pounds.

 

Prices are in USD - please click on the document for a detailed description.

 
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