Symptoms of a histamine intolerance range from problems in the gastrointestinal track (including nausea) through to skin irritation as well as swelling of the mucous membrane and headaches, menstruation problems or even circulatory problems and shortness of breath.
But what exactly does histamine intolerance entail?
The term “histamine” must be defined for this. Histamine is a biogenic amine. The tissue hormone is a messenger substance produced naturally in the body and controls vital muscle contractions in the bronchia, intestine and blood vessels. Histamine is also responsible for allergic reactions. The body forms the messenger substance and stores it in cells. If you come into contact with allergens, the body releases the tissue hormone.
However, histamine also originates from the catabolism of protein from foods during digestion. Histamine is also present as a maturation substance before consumption in some foods such as cheese, wine, raw sausage, beer, spinach or mackerel. Spoiled food can also have a high histamine content.
Catabolism of histamine in the body takes places via the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO) and can be affected by some life situations. Diverse medicines, (gastrointestinal) infections and alcohol can affect the decomposition of histamine.
If high doses of histamine are taken in via food, this can also cause reactions in healthy people, as they body cannot break down the large amount of tissue hormone fast enough.
If the organism produces DAO in too low amounts, this can lead to a histamine intolerance.
Nowadays, a simple blood test can be applied to find out whether a person has sufficient diamine oxidase. The DAO level can be measured by extracting a few drops of capillary blood from the finger. If a diamine oxidase deficiency has been determined, this can be counteracted specifically with dietary supplements.
The body must be provided with antioxidants, minerals and trace elements in order to be able to restore an optimal enzyme activity. Here it is particularly important for the body to receive a sufficient intake of vitamin B6, vitamin C and zinc. This is because histamine catabolism can be boosted in such a way.
To help individuals with weakened immune systems and inadequate enzyme production while counteracting the problem described at the start, cerascreen® has developed the product Aminoforits BCZ. This contains essential vitamins, antioxidants and trace elements in an effective composition and dosage.
A diet low on histamine can also provide relief and give the intestinal system that chance to recover.
An allergic reaction can also be prevented by consuming fresh food that has been stored properly as short as possible. Long periods where the food is kept warm should be avoided. It is advisable to prepare, freeze and, when required, defrost fresh food.
