Is Shrimp High In Histamine? What You Need to Know About Shrimp Histamine and Intolerance

Whether it's a BBQ, cocktail hour, or just part of a delicious meal that has been cooked up, shrimp is a popular option that comes up in many dishes and recipes. When cooked well, it can be really delicious, and seems to pair with a variety of flavours.  

As someone living with histamine intolerance, you likely know to avoid most types of fish due to their rapid formation of biogenic amines such as histamine. But you might be wondering if shrimp falls into the same category. It doesn’t look the same as most other types of fish or seafood. So, is shrimp high histamine or not?

Let me answer that question for you today. 

Shrimp Histamine: Life Threatening Allergic Reactions

You may or may not know, the ingestion of shrimp - and various other types of seafood - are commonly associated with severe allergies in some people. The tiniest of exposure can lead to significant and widespread symptoms of anaphylaxis including swelling, redness and hives. In sensitive individuals, swelling of the mouth and throat can be life-threatening, and these severe allergic reactions are considered a medical emergency (1). Like those who are allergic to peanuts and bee stings, for example, sufferers of severe shrimp and seafood allergies need to carry epinephrine auto-injectors with them in the event they’re exposed. The administration of epinephrine can be life saving while the individual makes their way to receive the appropriate medical care. 

What does this have to do with histamine? And what is the relevance to you as someone who is living with histamine intolerance?

Well, the life-threatening symptoms of swelling, redness and hives in someone who has severe allergies is the same reason a person with histamine intolerance experiences these symptoms when exposed to foods and compounds they’re sensitive to. 

Histamine! 

That’s right. While it’s the protein in shrimp and various other types of shellfish someone with severe allergies reacts to, it’s the resulting histamine reaction - along with various other chemical reactions in the body - that simply develop far more rapidly and more aggressively than in those who have histamine intolerance. Severe allergies result in symptoms often developing within minutes of exposure, while your symptoms as a result of histamine intolerance, develop within hours or even days. But they’re the same symptoms: swelling, redness, hives, feeling short of breath, fatigue, brain fog… that’s histamine, for you! 

So, does that mean shrimp is high histamine?

Shrimp Histamine Content Revealed: Is Shrimp High in Histamine?

Interestingly, if you look at shrimp itself, it is considered a medium-low histamine food (2). If that shocks you, let me explain. 

But here’s the twist - is shrimp high histamine once it’s been processed or cooked? That’s where things get tricky for those with histamine sensitivity.

Shrimp, fresh from the ocean, usually has a tolerable histamine level, even for those who are slightly more sensitive to histamine. But who gets to each shrimp fresh from the ocean? Only a lucky few, I presume! 

Shrimp you would typically be exposed to on a regular basis has been caught, processed, transported and brought to where it will be sold. All of this does take some time, and even the most careful processes may lead to an increase in the shrimp histamine content. 

You see, for every minute the shrimp is no longer in the ocean, its flesh will begin to degrade and produce biogenic amines such as histamine, cadaverine and putricine (3). Producing these biogenic amines is simply what the amino acids making up the protein in animal products do once the being is no longer living! It’s nature. 

But, compared to various other animal products, the process of making biogenic amines often happens a lot quicker in shrimp and other seafood due to specific reactions taking place in the flesh (4). This rapid degradation is why shrimp and other seafood are considered some of the top allergens causing anaphylactic reactions in some people. And it’s the same reason I would caution you, as someone living with histamine intolerance, when it comes to consuming shrimp as part of your diet. 

Some of you with histamine intolerance might well be able to eat fresh shrimp without any reactions. Others might be able to tolerate eating cooked shrimp, as heating the protein soon after catching the shrimp decreases the rate at which the fresh flesh is broken down, thereby dramatically reducing the formation of biogenic amines (5). Others yet, may have to completely avoid eating shrimp altogether. But how do you know which category you fall into?

Get the free diet guide!

Shrimp Histamine: Choosing Whether to Include It in Your Meal Plan

Now, the choice as to whether you’d like to include shrimp in your low histamine meal plan is up to you. 

Making the decision can be based on a few factors based on your unique situation. 

Please note, these suggestions are only for those of you trying to manage and overcome symptoms of histamine intolerance. Those of you who have a true shrimp allergy should completely avoid eating any shrimp or shellfish. 

Those factors you should think about are:

1. The freshness of the shrimp. 

This is possibly one of the most important criteria to base your decision on. 

If you feel like you fall into a less sensitive category but still react to more than just the typical fermented foods and alcohol, you may still be able to to include shrimp in your diet if you want to. You can try cooked and frozen shrimp to determine whether the shrimp histamine affects you or not.

In all cases, even if you find your tolerance to shrimp histamine is high, you should always only eat very fresh shrimp or cooked shrimp. Shrimp that has been exposed - even when refrigerated - to air for longer than a few hours, or is cooked and leftover should not be eaten as the likelihood of a high level of histamine and other biogenic amine development is certain.  

Remember, you can always add a diamine oxidase (DAO) supplement. Diamine oxidase is an enzyme naturally made by the body to help you to break down and eliminate dietary histamines. Should you feel like you’ve tipped your levels with a particular meal, you can take it as a supplement! 

2. How sensitive you are. 

If you’re someone who is quite reactive to histamine exposure, it’s likely you’ll react to shrimp histamine levels even if they are considered to be in a medium-low category. Any exposure to histamine may cause you symptoms, so sticking with a diet that is low histamine is advised. 

If you only react to strong histamine-containing food such as fermented foods and alcohol, for example, you may well tolerate small amounts of fresh or well cooked shrimp on occasion. You can test your tolerance by adding a little cooked shrimp to an otherwise low histamine meal. You’ll know quite quickly whether you’ve reacted or not. If you don’t experience any symptoms with a small amount, wait a few days before adding a larger amount to your meal. The most important consideration here is to vary your diet as much as possible and moderate your intake of histamine-containing foods so your levels don’t build up. 

As with the note about the DAO supplement in the freshness section above, you can always take DAO with or after a meal should you feel you need extra support to clear dietary histamine. Or use one of these expert tips to reduce your overall histamine load. 

3. Where you are in your journey to beating histamine intolerance. 

As with the sensitivity section above, your decision to add shrimp into your diet or not can be based on where you are in your histamine journey. If you’re just setting out and finding your feet following a low histamine diet to control your symptoms, it’s likely not the best idea to add shrimp as it could contribute to your already high histamine levels. 

If you’re further on in your journey and trying to add more food back into your diet, it could be a good time to try something like shrimp. As with the process to check sensitivity, you can add a small amount of cooked shrimp to your diet to determine your reaction, and add a DAO supplement to help to clear histamine as needed. 

Is Shrimp High Histamine? Answer Revealed!

Now that you know shrimp is moderate-low histamine but can be high histamine in certain instances, you can make the individual decision whether to add shrimp to your diet or not. 

Be sure to eat it very fresh or cook it well, and avoid eating shrimp that has been left exposed to air for longer periods of time or as leftovers. Should you choose to eat shrimp as part of your diet, always pair it with other low histamine foods to keep your meal as low histamine as possible and avoid triggering unnecessary, bothersome symptoms. If you need inspiration, be sure to pick up a copy of my recipe book!

References:

1. Zhang P, Gao J, Che H, Xue W, Yang D. Molecular Basis of IgE-Mediated Shrimp Allergy and Heat Desensitization. Nutrients. 2021;13(10):3397. Published 2021 Sep 27. 

2. Auerswald, K., Morren C., Lopata A. Histamine levels in seventeen species of fresh and processed South African seafood. Food Chemistry. 2006. 98(2):231-239.

3. Visciano P, Schirone M, Paparella A. An Overview of Histamine and Other Biogenic Amines in Fish and Fish Products. Foods. 2020;9(12):1795. Published 2020 Dec 3. 

4. Saha Turna, Nikita et al. A review of biogenic amines in fermented foods: Occurrence and health effects. 2024. Heliyon, Volume 10, Issue 2, e24501

5. Chung BY, Park SY, Byun YS, et al. Effect of Different Cooking Methods on Histamine Levels in Selected Foods. Ann Dermatol. 2017;29(6):706-714.