low histamine diet histamine intolerance supplements antihistamine

Histamine Intolerance Frequently Asked Questions

I get plenty of questions about histamine intolerance from diet to supplements to what the heck can be done to fix it?

Here, I've compiled a list of frequently asked questions to help you along your journey.

Let's dive in!

Q: Why is histamine intolerance difficult to diagnose?

A: Histamine is present in every body system and is part of our naturally functioning immune system. This means that when there is an intolerance, it can impact any and all systems in the body, which is what makes it so difficult to recognise and diagnose.

Q: Can a person be histamine intolerant even if their blood histamine levels are normal during a flare?

A: Yes. This could very simply mean that they are unable to break down and/or handle normal levels.

Q: Is there a test you can do at home for testing histamine?

A: Yes! This test is cost effective and we recommend being monitored by your health care practitioner.

Find out more here: At home histamine intolerance test

Q: Is SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth) a precursor for histamine intolerance? And, does Candida and gut dysbiosis go hand in hand with histamine symptoms? Recommendations?

A: Bacterial imbalances can absolutely throw off the gentle balance of histamine in the body, creating increasingly high levels of histamine. To regulate bacteria and restore balance, it's important to use a low histamine probiotic. Additionally, adding Saccharomyces boulardii capsules into the mix on top of your probiotic is helpful for histamine issues and is highly effective at fighting off candida and other yeasts, while also regulating bowel movements, especially in those who experience diarrhea.

Find out more here:

Causes of histamine intolerance

Saccharomyces boulardii capsules

Low histamine probiotic

Q: After following the anti-histamine diet for a week I’m feeling bloated, is this normal?

A: This can be completely normal. To begin with, you may want to avoid foods which are causing digestive distress or consume them in small amounts. It is normal to experience digestive discomfort when incorporating supplements and dietary changes for a few weeks. It's always best to talk to your healthcare professional before incorporating lifestyle and dietary changes, however, if the discomfort is too much or if it persists beyond 2-3 weeks, it's best to book a consultation for a personalised assistance, since the reasons behind digestive distress can vary drastically depending on the person: Book a consultation

Q: I’m not sure if I’m histamine intolerant. How long do you recommend trying the low histamine diet out for to see results?

A: I recommend two weeks on the low histamine diet. If you find it assists with symptoms or, if you feel you're sensitive to many of the restricted foods on this list, histamine is likely a culprit. After these couple of weeks, you'll get a pretty clear indication as to whether you have a histamine sensitivity if your symptoms reduce. At this point, it's time to progress to the histamine intolerance course which explains all of the evidence-based interventions to repair histamine intolerance from the root cause.

Get the course: How I Solved My Histamine Intolerance Course

Histamine Intolerance Diet

Q: I’m confused about histamine ‘safe’ foods, is there a list?

A: It is best to start by looking over the histamine intolerance food list and follow the low histamine diet for 2 weeks and see if there's any improvement. Additionally, you can use any recipes in the Low Histamine Cookbook Bundle which contains 170 low histamine recipes that are all safe for the low histamine diet!

Find out more here:

Histamine intolerance food list

Low Histamine Cookbook Bundle - 170 Recipes

Download the Food List


Q: Are garlic and onions high in histamine?

A: Garlic and onions are okay as long as you are not salicylate intolerant and they do not aggravate digestion - for histamine issues garlic is actually recommended.

Q: Is the low histamine diet okay for vegans; considering most legumes and nuts are meant to be removed?

A: Soy, beans and legumes are okay, if tolerated. Many people have issues digesting these which is why they have been restricted. If you are certain they do not give you digestive distress, then you may proceed with them. However, it is best to keep nuts removed.

Q: Any recommendations low histamine protein powders or bars?

A: We do not currently sell a histamine-specific protein bar or powder, nor do we work with or have a list of approved brands that do. It is always best to keep in mind that whole food sources, which are low in histamine, such as fresh meat, fresh fish and cooked eggs, are your best chance at increasing protein in your diet.

Q: Are camel’s milk or goats milk ‘safe’ alternatives to dairy?

A: Goat’s milk is a good alternative if tolerated. The same would be recommended for camel’s milk. If tolerable by your system, both are welcome.

Q: What if I don’t see or feel improvements on the low histamine diet?

A: If you do not see improvement on the low histamine diet, your issues may not be histamine related. Or, it could mean that you have additional intolerances and you haven't eliminated all of the offending foods yet.

There might be many other reasons you're experiencing symptoms. Two closely related intolerances that are often confused with histamine intolerance are salicylate intolerance and oxalate intolerance, which could also be potential issues.

If you do feel better but not dramatically, it may be worth eliminating high oxalate and/or salicylate foods, too. 

Q: Since olives are high in histamine, does this mean that olive oil should also be avoided?

A: Olive oil is absolutely accepted, and even helpful! Olive oil, in fact, can increase the activity of diamine oxidase (DAO), a histamine degrading enzyme, by up to 500%! However, typical olives themselves are fermented and high in histamine.

Q: When can I start adding high histamine foods back in?

A: Everyone is on a different timeline due to their symptoms and healing, however, there is further guidance that can be found on food reintroduction in this post: Histamine intolerance test

Q: Is intermittent fasting recommended on a low histamine diet?

A: Intermittent fasting has shown excellent benefits for health and overall wellness – 16 hours fasting and 8 hours for eating is highly recommended!

Q: Is bone broth high in histamine?

A: As bone broth is required to be slow-cooked, during the slow cooking process bone broth increases in histamine levels through conversions of histidine to histamine. However, depending on your tolerance, you may be able to consume very fresh bone broth that hasn't been cooked for more than 8 hours, as bone broth is extremely beneficial for gut health and healing.

Q: How long do cooked and fresh foods stay tolerable?

A: The duration that people can tolerate after cooking depends on individual sensitivity. Some people can tolerate it 24 hours after cooking or more, whereas for some people, they will have a reaction to the same food that has been refrigerated. In general, I do not recommend consuming leftovers - especially high protein leftovers such as meat, fish or eggs. The best option is to eat fresh.

Q: I have trouble getting fresh meat and fish - can I freeze it?

A: Absolutely! Meat and fish which is frozen from fresh is absolutely fine. My recommendation is to ask your local grocer which day the meat gets delivered and purchase your meats on that day. Then, portion and freeze the meats directly and thaw them the day of cooking. This will ensure maximum freshness is preserved while making the process more convenient!

Histamine Intolerance Supplements

Q: Are DAO supplements helpful?

A: DAO supplements can be very helpful, especially because they specifically target histamine that is ingested. DAO therefore helps to control environmental histamine exposures.

It's important to keep in mind that DAO breaks down incoming histamine (ie. through diet), but does not act on internally produced histamine (ie. from mast cell release). For this reason, I always aim to combine DAO with my all natural antihistamine, Anti-Hist, which is much more helpful to histamine intolerance sufferers with greater and faster results. With this combination, my clients report being able to eat more foods with less symptoms in as little as 2 weeks!

Get Anti-Hist here

Get DAO here

Q: Is this antihistamine supplement safe for those with citrus sensitivities and allergies?

A: Yes. The ascorbic acid is derived from the fermentation of glucose from corn (not citrus) and is considered non-GMO under the European Union guidelines.

Find Anti-Hist here

Q: Who is this antihistamine supplement beneficial for?

A: The Anti-Hist supplement is beneficial for those experiencing dietary reactions due to histamine, and for those who are intolerant to histamines in general. It is not limited to environmental allergens.

Q: When should I take this antihistamine supplement?

A: We recommend 15-30 minutes before eating.

Q: How long can I take this antihistamine supplement?

A: You can take Anti-hist on an ongoing basis. You can gradually try to reduce the dosage down to one per day or even one per day on the days you're eating high histamine foods.

Q: I’m having issues with mast cell activation syndrome. Any recommendations?

A: The best recommendation is Anti-Hist. It specifically stabilizes mast cells and most report being able to eat more foods with fewer symptoms and have referred to this as their “miracle in a bottle”.

Find Anti-Hist here

Q: What is a good omega 3 supplement?

A: I recommend this one for my histamine intolerant clients: EPA/DHA

Q: When should I take my low histamine probiotic and how many per day?

A: 1 capsule, twice daily. 30 minutes before breakfast and dinner usually work best.

Q: Is turmeric helpful for histamine intolerance? If so, any recommended supplement brands?

A: Curcumin, the active ingredient found in turmeric, has been shown to be extremely helpful for reducing inflammation, and can absolutely be beneficial for histamine intolerance. However, curcumin has a very low bioavailability - meaning that it's not readily available for your body to use unless it's combined with specific ingredients. This is why you should be wary of buying cheap turmeric supplements, which can be a waste of money and even harmful if the capsules aren't clean. I recommend using this curcumin supplement, as it contains all of the ingredients to enhance bioavailability in the body and has an extremely clean capsule.

Find my recommended curcumin supplement here

Q: What should I take if I have H. pylori or other parasites/bad bacteria?

A: My recommendation, especially for those with H. pylori - which is a very common underlying cause of histamine intolerance - is a natural supplement called Pyloricil. I've done the research on these ingredients and realized that Pyloricil's ingredients work effectively against H. pylori, including antibiotic-resistant H. pylori - without all of the harmful side-effects. Pyloricil is effective against numerous bad bacteria and the ingredients benefit your body.

Get Pyloricil here

Q: How long should I take an H. pylori supplement for?

A: Pyloricil can be taken for a maximum of 4-8 weeks (which will be 1-2 bottles). If you need it in the future, you can cycle it back in again.

Q: Are collagen and gelatin recommended to improve gut health?

A: Yes, but some people with histamine intolerance cannot tolerate it. It is important to find what works for your body and symptoms.

Q: Recommendations to regulate bowels?

A: Keeping a healthy gut is one of the best ways to regulate your bowels. This starts with using the right low histamine probiotic.
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