You can check out our Histamine rich food pdf here.
Stress, imbalance, health issues, and other factors can disrupt hormones, triggering a host of unwanted symptoms. Histamine-rich foods can cause a significant disruption in hormones, altering female health and wellness. Understanding which foods to avoid can help women take control of their health and improve their quality of life.
What Are Histamine-Rich Foods?
Histamine is a natural chemical essential for cellular communication. It is responsible for multiple roles in the body, especially allergies. Seasonal allergies, genetics, and environmental triggers can increase allergies in many women. Histamines reside in several types of foods. While most people don’t react to them, a small percentage of people have an intolerance. Those that have other imbalances in the body may experience an increase in histamine intolerance. Certain foods are higher in histamines than others.
High Histamine Foods
There are many histamine-rich foods that can increase imbalance in the body. A few examples of high histamine foods are:
- Cheese
- High-fermented foods
- Alcohol
- Pickled and processed foods
- Nightshade vegetables – eggplant, sweet potatoes, tomatoes
- Dried fruits
- Canned or preserved fish
- Cured meat
- Certain fruits – banana, cherries, strawberries, pineapple
- Citrus fruits – lemons, oranges, limes
- Vegetables – spinach
- Nuts and seeds – almonds, pistachios, chestnuts, hazelnuts
Lower Histamine Foods
These are a few examples of foods lower in histamine:
- Eggs
- Fresh meat and chicken
- Honey
- Milk alternatives such as goat milk or sheep milk
- Certain herbal teas
- Coconut and olive oils
Avoiding Histamine-Rich Foods
- Buying Fresh – Choose local foods that are ripe and in season. Choosing fresh fish, caught within 2 hours, is best. Avoid artificial ingredients, processed foods and GMO foods.
- Cooking Fresh – When cooking at home, select oven-baked, steaming, boiling, poaching, or marinade methods.
- Storing food – Freezing food on the day of purchase is best since it halts histamine production. Aim to use the frozen food within 1 month of freezing.
Selecting Low-Histamine Foods
Many whole foods are low in histamines. The harvesting, processing, and transporting process can increase the risk of histamines in food. The storage process also increases the risk of microorganisms in food, leading to an increase of histamine production. Avoiding artificial ingredients and eating fresh whole foods will help limit exposure and protect your health.
Take the Next Steps to Protect Your Hormone Health Today
To learn which foods you should avoid, contact our office to schedule an appointment. Dr. Karen looks forward to helping you.
