Why histamine intolerance is getting more attention and what you can do about it
Most people are familiar with the idea of food intolerance. Common struggles to digest a variety of different foods can lead to discomfort and even pain.
Some intolerances, like the inability to break down lactose, are well known, while others are less common. One intolerance that falls in the latter category is histamine.
What is histamine intolerance?
Histamine intolerance is a unique condition that affects as little as 1-3% of the global population. Unlike other intolerances, a histamine intolerance does not indicate that an individual is sensitive to histamine. It simply means they have too much of it in their body at a time.
The chemical compound histamine is a biogenic anime that is naturally produced by the body itself. It is stored in mast cells, and the body releases it for select functions, such as:
- Communicating messages to your brain.
- An allergic reaction or immune response.
- Aiding in digestion
While the presence of histamine is normal, too much of the chemical can be a problem. When the body struggles with things like allergies, inflammatory reactions, or gastrointestinal tract disorders, it can lead to a histamine overdose. Eating histamine-rich foods, like fish, spinach, or aged cheese, can also lead to too much histamine. This can come with a variety of symptoms, including headaches, sleeplessness, palpitations, diarrhea, stuffy nose, and itchy skin.
To avoid this, the body creates the enzyme Diamine Oxidase or DAO. If the body doesn’t have enough of the DAO enzyme to manage its histamine levels, it can lead to an intolerance. Fortunately, there are multiple ways to manage histamine intolerance.
Managing histamine intolerance
One of the best ways to manage histamine intolerance is by eliminating foods with high levels of histamine from your diet. For instance, rather than eating aged, ripe, or fermented fruits and veggies, aim for fresher options.
A low-histamine diet is a good starting point. However, if the problems persist, you can also utilize Intoleran’s histamine-focused digestive supplements for further support.
For instance, cozidase is carefully formulated to boost DAO levels in the body. The product doesn’t have DAO in it. Instead, it includes key vitamins and minerals — vitamin B6, vitamin C, copper, and zinc. These provide the body with the building blocks required to produce its own Diamine Oxidase.
As an alternative, you can also use our DAO products, DAO Mini and DAO Plus, to help digest histamines that enter the body through food. These contain the DAO enzyme itself and help digest histamines in your digestive tract.
It’s important to note that the product DAO mini is strictly the digestive enzyme. DAO plus capsules include vitamin C and quercetin, which also help lower histamine levels in the body. In addition, you can take both the cozidase and DAO supplements together — cozidase every day to lower histamine levels in the body and DAO supplement to manage histamine-heavy meals.
Using the right tools to manage histamine intolerance
Histamine intolerance isn’t common — but when it is a factor, it can be quite unpleasant. Intoleran’s products can help you enjoy your food again, even when histamine is present.
As always, don’t use products like DAO plus or cozidase as a way to overeat histamine. Instead, use them to make a low-histamine diet more effective — and, by extension, your quality of life much better.