Histamine: It's Not Just About Allergies

If you say the word histamine to someone, they will probably think of sneezing, watery eyes, itching, a runny nose, or any other typical seasonal allergy symptom. As a kid, I suffered from seasonal allergies and remembered taking plenty of anti-histamines to deal with the miserable onslaught of an allergic reaction. If the allergic reaction wasn't enough, I could recall the moodiness that often accompanied these episodes. I thought it was the sneezing and watery eyes that were making me feel glum, but as you'll read below, histamine is garnering a closer look by many researchers.

Let's start with new research published in the Journal of Neuroscience, July 28, 2021, from the Imperial College of London and The University of South Carolina may explain the connection between high histamine and mood, specifically how histamine affects the release of the neurotransmitter serotonin. The study in mice suggests that Inflammation-induced histamine lessens the release of serotonin from the brain and affects the activity of serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), like Prozac, Zoloft, and Lexapro.

Many mental health practitioners have been baffled as to why certain people respond well to these medications, and others do not. This new study may shed light on the inflammatory biochemical influence on mental health and shed light on the importance of the gut-brain and inflammatory connection. Lead author Dr. Parastoo Hashemi from Imperial's Department of Bioengineering said," Inflammation could play a huge role in depression, and there is already strong evidence that patients with both depression and severe Inflammation are the ones most likely not to respond to antidepressants."

Throughout my twenty years of experience working with gut health, the microbiome, and supporting patients to reduce whole-body Inflammation, many of my patients have noticed that their moods improve when they go through my protocols and relay to me that they feel more emotionally balanced. In the past five years, more and more research has been conducted relating to the gut-brain connection. This research is another important step in relaying the importance of balancing Inflammation in the body for mental, physical, and emotional health.

Let's take a closer look at histamine, and I will explain its function and purpose in our bodies. Histamine is a neurochemical messenger and neurotransmitter that sends messages between nerve cells. It helps dilate capillaries to make them more permeable to white blood cells to attack pathogens or what the body perceives as an invader. Histamine is found in stomach acid and helps digestion work optimally. Histamine is produced by mast cells and basophils. Therefore, any issue in the functioning of basophils and mast cells can lead to too much or too little histamine production.

There are two enzymes that degrade histamine: DAO (Diamine Oxidase) and HMT (N-methyltransferase). DAO is the primary enzyme that can inhibit gastrointestinal issues like infection, or microbial imbalance, medications, a genetic single nucleotide polymorphism, and certain foods can inhibit DAO. If DAO is inhibited, then histamine levels aren't degraded properly, and they become high. HMT is an enzyme that degrades histamine in the central nervous system.

Women tend to have more imbalances in histamine vs. men because of certain hormones' relationship to histamine. For example, higher histamine levels in women can correlate to estrogen dominance. This is because estrogen can activate histamine release by immune cells.

Methylation imbalances which are related to another enzyme imbalance (MTHFR), can also influence histamine levels. Supporting methylation can have a direct impact on balancing histamine. This may require supportive supplementation with certain types of B vitamins, trimethylglycine, zinc, magnesium, etc. Other supplements can help by directly supporting and balancing histamine levels. For example, certain supplements that contain quercetin, NAC, rutin, bromelain, etc., can help certain individuals.

High histamine foods can contribute to higher histamine levels. If someone has high histamine levels, then it is a good idea to limit or exclude the following foods: dairy, nightshades, cabbage, spinach, fermented foods, avocado, aged and smoked foods, chicken, turkey, salmon, trout, bass, chocolate, scallops, shrimp, tuna, crab, and cod. In addition, certain foods aren't high in histamine but can trigger histamine release in the body. These include citrus fruits.

If you are experiencing high histamine levels, you will want to balance your exercise and activity level with activities that lower histamine. Activities like dancing and strenuous exercise can increase histamine. If you don't want to give up your dancing shoes, then balance them with gentle yoga, tai chi, chi gong, or light strength training, and maybe reduce the time frame that you are strenuously exercising.

About the Author

Dr. Louis Granirer is a leading Holistic Chiropractor in NY who helps patients overcome severe and chronic illness with natural remedies. Learn more about his services by visiting his website at https://www.HolisticChiropracticCenter.com.