More and more individuals each year are suffering from a mysterious illness called histamine intolerance.  In fact, those suffering from this condition typically are forced to consume a severely limited diet due to several different food intolerance’s.  Interestingly, as time goes on, it seems that individuals develop a reaction to almost every type food.

However, although histamine intolerance can have genetic factors involved, this typically is not the case.  In our experience, those suffering from digestive disorders such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) are more prone to developing a histamine intolerance.  This is due to several different reasons that we will get into below.

With that said, it’s highly likely that those suffering from a histamine intolerance often have an imbalanced gut and possible bacterial and fungal overgrowth’s.  Before we get into how digestive orders such as IBS and IBD can cause histamine intolerance, let’s first discuss what histamine intolerance is.

What is Histamine Intolerance?

Histamine intolerance is a tricky disorder to treat and correct but its cause is quite simply.  A histamine intolerance occurs when the body develops a sensitivity to the compound histamine.  It should be mentioned that histamine is a natural byproduct of the body and is needed for several different biological functions in the body.

In fact, histamine plays an extremely important role with the body’s immune system and is needed for healthy immune system function.  Unfortunately, those with a histamine intolerance typically have too much free histamine circulating in their body.  When this occurs, the body begins to develop extreme sensitivity to the compound.

As mentioned before, both histamine and the immune system are intertwined.  It’s for this reason that those with a histamine intolerance often times suffer from immune system irregularities, or an over-reactive immune system.  As a result, foods that naturally contain high amounts of naturally occurring histamine begin to cause severe issues in those suffering with this intolerance.

Symptoms of Histamine Intolerance

For those unsure whether their symptoms are related to a histamine intolerance, please refer to the list below.  This list includes the most common types of symptoms that are related to histamine intolerance.

• Random Bouts of Intense Anxiety
• Fatigue
• Brain Fog
• Nausea
• Hives
• Headaches
• Sinus Issues
• Digestive Problems
• Vomiting

A clear indication of histamine intolerance is the development of small red itchy bumps after eating.  This is a classic sign of histamine intolerance and can be a great indication of what’s going on in the body.

IBS and IBD can Cause Histamine Intolerance

As previously mentioned, those suffering from digestive disorders such as IBD and IBS are going to be more prone to developing a histamine intolerance in the body.  This is mainly due to fungal overgrowth’s in the gut such a candida.  In fact, research shows that those suffering from digestive disorders such as IBS almost always suffer from a candida overgrowth in the gut (1).

For those unaware, candida is a pathogenic fungus that has the ability to take over the hosts microbiome and create all sorts of digestive and bodily problems.  Interestingly, research has shown that candida naturally stimulates mast cells in the body and causes them to release histamine (2).  Again, this makes sense histamine is required in order for the immune system to function properly; basically this histamine is being released so that the immune system can fight against candida.

However, most are consuming a diet high in sugar and starchy carbohydrates which naturally allows candida to replicate and reproduce.  As a result, candida is able to easily survive while the body gets stuck in a viscous cycle of releasing histamine in order to try and fight against this pathogenic fungus.  Overtime, this excess amount of histamine begins to build up in the body and this can give rise to a histamine intolerance.

Foods that contain Histamine

For those suffering with a histamine intolerance, it may be beneficial to avoid all high histamine foods until the gut is properly healed.   Unfortunately, many high histamine foods are extremely healthy and actually have gut healing properties.  In any case, these food should be removed until the gut has been properly re-balanced.

Below is a small list of foods that naturally contain high amounts of histamine:

• Avocado
• Fish
• Fermented Foods
• Bone Broth
• Banana
• Dried Fruit
• Aged Meats
• Alcohol
• Vinegar

These foods contain the highest amounts of histamine when compared to any other foods.  It should be mentioned that although bone broth is on list, many find that consuming bone broth that is boiled for less than 2 hours gives them no problems.  It’s only when bone broths are cooked for extremely long periods of time that histamine levels rise dramatically.

IBS, IBD, and Intestinal Inflammation

Another factor that can contribute to histamine intolerance in the body is the high amounts of intestinal inflammation that typically accompanies conditions such as IBS and IBD.  When the intestines are inflamed, they become more permeable, or “leaky.”  When this occurs, undigested food particles are able to pass through the digestive system and straight into the blood stream.

This can create an intense immune response and can often give rise to several different food allergies.  Foods that cause intestinal inflammation are almost always from the plant kingdom.  In fact, consuming high amounts of plant foods that are naturally high in gut irritating anti-nutrients can naturally destroy the mucosal lining which protects the intestines from inflammation and gut permeability.

In particular, phytic acid, lectins, and oxalates seem to be the most problematic anti-nutrients for those with digestive disorders and histamine intolerance.  Foods that contain these anti-nutrients consist of grains, nuts, seed, and leafy green vegetables.

Follow a Gut Healing Diet

Anyone suffering from a digestive disorder and a histamine intolerance should seriously consider taking up a gut healing diet.  As demonstrated above, all health begins in the gut.  In fact, once the gut is properly healed and cleared of pathogenic fungi such as candida, individuals can experience dramatic improvements in their digestive health and reactions to histamine can lessen significantly.

With that said, there are thousands of individuals who have reversed their IBD or IBS through diet alone.  However, it’s vital that you are following the right type of diet and not eating foods that will further inflame the gut.  We highly recommend you check out our Diet Protocol Page for a complete list of foods that are best for healing the gut.

In time, when the gut begins to re-balance itself, individuals may notice that they no longer react poorly to high histamine foods.  With that said, histamine rich foods should always be added back into the diet slowly and always one at a time.

Cook Gut Friendly Meals

As well as following the correct diet, it’s extremely important that you begin to cook gut friendly meals.  Luckily, we’ve got you covered.  We’ve created our Intestinal Health Cookbook which contains over 20 different mouth watering recipes that both taste amazing and can be great for the gut.

We highly recommend this cook book to anyone who is new to this style of eating.  Also, it can be great for those who want delicious and gut friendly recipe ideas!

Eat Clay

Yes, that’s right, eat clay.  Although this may seem bizarre to some, clay has amazing detoxifying properties.  In fact, it’s well known that almost every single tribe found living a traditional way of life, always consumed clay as part of their diet. 

Clay can be great for those with digestive disorders such as IBS and IBD because it has the ability to bind to toxins in the gut and carry them out of the body.  It should be mentioned that candida, which is likely present in those with IBS and IBD, can release over 70 different toxic byproducts in the body.  Clay consumption can help bind to these toxins and remove them safely from the body.

Interestingly, most Native Americans used clay in order to detoxify the system from plant poisonous and to relieve digestive woes.  Also, it was very common for pregnant women to consume clay during pregnancy; this was most likely due to the rich source of trace minerals present in clay.

However, clay can be great for improving digestive health and removing toxicity from the intestines.  That being said, always find a clay product that says it’s safe for internal use.  Do not use clay products that are intended for external use only.