What Is A Histamine Response?

Histamine

Histamine forms an essential part of our immune system. However when the body can’t ‘keep up’ with the histamine response, we can start to see symptoms such as light-headedness, anxiety, headaches, rashes and even digestive upset. Read on to learn more about why your body releases histamine and what you can do about it.

Symptoms Of Histamine Release

Histamine is in all our tissues and is mostly stored in the mast cells. Histamine is vital for our health and a very important part of our immune system, however sometimes the symptoms can feel problematic. When we start to release histamine at a pace the body can’t keep up with we can see:

  • Mucus Production

  • Redness

  • Rashes

  • Headaches

  • Light Headedness

  • Anxiety

  • Heart Palpitations

  • GI Upset

What Causes A Histamine Response?

There are several things which can cause our bodies to start to release histamine. For some people certain triggers will be more significant than for others - remember you are unique!

  • Food Allergies

  • High Estrogen Levels

  • Hay-fever

  • Gut Imbalances

  • Stress

  • High Histamine Foods: Beer, Wine, Coffee, Chocolate

What Can You Do To Lower Your Histamine Reaction?

The answer isn’t to just avoid high histamine foods long term. you need to find the root of why your histamine reactions feel so ‘over the top’. Some areas to consider:

  • Do you have low levels of the nutrients essential for creating the enzyme that breaks down histamine?

  • Do you have high cortisol levels and low GABA levels?

  • Do you have excess oestrogen or oestrogen dominance?

  • Are you going through perimenopause?

  • Do you have low grade food allergies?