Genetic variants this might be relevant for: ADIPOQ; IL6; SOD2; NOS3; CYP17A1; CYP19A1; CYP1B1; GSTPT; GSTT1 - essentially, anything that indicates you may be more predisposed to high oestrogen and/or poor oestrogen clearance, inflammation or oxidative stress.
Especially if you experience digestive issues or IBS (especially loose stools and food intolerances), autoimmune/inflammatory conditions, eczema, POTS, food allergies/intolerances and more.
Women’s health: hormonal imbalances relating to oestrogen (painful, heavy periods; tender breasts; PMS), perimenopause.
What is Histamine and What Does It Do for Us?
Histamine is a natural chemical in the body that helps regulate immune responses, gastric acid production, brain function and more. It is produced from the amino acid histidine and is found in many areas of the body, including the gut, brain and immune cells. While histamine is important for normal bodily functions, too much can cause symptoms like itching, headaches, digestive issues, hormonal imbalances in women and more. Too much histamine can occur as a result of high histamine load and/or poor histamine clearance. Maintaining a proper balance of histamine is essential for overall health and wellbeing.
How Histamine Impacts Your Health:
● Connection to Immune Responses - histamine is involved in immune responses, and imbalances can lead to increased inflammation and susceptibility to various health issues.
● Interaction with Hormones - histamine can influence hormone levels and activity, especially oestrogen, potentially exacerbating conditions like PMS and endometriosis.
● Effect on Allergic Reactions - histamine plays a role in allergic responses, leading to symptoms like itching, swelling and rashes.
● Influence on Digestion - histamine affects gastric acid secretion, which can impact digestion and contribute to conditions like acid reflux and ulcers.
● Impact on Mood and Sleep - elevated histamine levels can affect neurotransmitter balance, leading to issues like anxiety, insomnia and brain fog.
Too much of a good thing… Histamine and Mast Cell Activation
Excess histamine can lead to symptoms such as diarrhoea, painful periods, anxiety, skin problems, brain fog and insomnia. High levels of histamine may be triggered by consuming high-histamine foods, stress, gut issues or hormonal imbalances, especially elevated oestrogen. Additionally, histamine intolerance happens when the body has trouble breaking down histamine effectively.
Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) is a condition where mast cells release too much histamine and other inflammatory substances, causing allergic reactions, inflammation, and problems with digestion and skin.
Proper management of both MCAS and histamine intolerance is essential to relieve symptoms.
Signs Your Histamine Levels May Be Out of Balance:
● Allergic Reactions: Itching, hives, swelling
● Digestive Issues: Acid reflux, bloating, loose stools, food intolerances
● Neurological Symptoms: Headaches, brain fog, insomnia
● Mood and Energy: Mood swings, anxiety, irritability, fatigue
● Immune and Inflammatory Symptoms: Increased infections, chronic UTIs, inflammation
● Hormonal Imbalances: Irregular periods, PMS, worsened perimenopausal symptoms
Conditions Linked to High Histamine and/or MCAS:
● Digestive: IBS, GERD/Reflux
● Autoimmune & Chronic: Autoimmune diseases, CIRS, POTS
● Skin & Respiratory: Eczema, psoriasis, asthma
● Women’s Health: Dysmenorrhea, endometriosis, interstitial cystitis, infertility
● Food-Related: Food intolerances and allergies
Factors That Disrupt Histamine Balance:
● High Oestrogen: Can destabilise mast cells and lower DAO enzyme levels, affecting histamine breakdown, especially around points in the menstrual cycle where oestrogen is higher, during perimenopause and in endometriosis.
● Gut-Brain Axis: Gut dysbiosis can worsen histamine symptoms through bacterial production of histamine.
● Stress: Increases histamine release and exacerbates symptoms through mast cell activation.
Strategies to Manage Histamine Levels:
● Balance Your Diet: Eat high-quality proteins, healthy fats and complex carbs with each meal.
● Be Mindful of Your Overall Histamine Intake: Limit/avoid high-histamine foods (aged
cheeses, processed meats, fermented foods and alcohol) and those that trigger histamine
release (tomatoes and bananas), especially around ovulation. Please note that a low
histamine diet can be very restrictive and can result in nutrient deficiencies, so start by being mindful of your overall intake i.e. avoiding having multiple high histamine foods in one meal, and multiple high histamine meals in one day.
● Support Digestive Health: Use probiotics, prebiotics and supplements that support optimal gut health, as well as ensuring adequate intake of nutrients that support the enzymes involved in histamine breakdown (such as DAO and HNMT).
● Manage Stress: Practise stress-reducing techniques like meditation, deep breathing and
regular exercise.
● Optimise Sleep: Maintain a consistent sleep schedule and create a restful sleep environment.
● Monitor Hormonal Balance: Manage hormonal fluctuations, particularly high oestrogen, to help control histamine levels.
● Reduce Environmental Triggers: Minimise exposure to allergens and pollutants. Consider using air purifiers and switching to natural products for cleaning and personal care.
● Incorporate Anti-inflammatory Foods: Add foods like turmeric, ginger and omega-3 rich options to manage inflammation.
Further Testing ar Body Fabulous
DUTCH Hormone Test: Dried Urine Test for Comprehensive Hormones (DUTCH) assesses oestrogen, oestrogen detoxification and cortisol (stress picture)
Histamine DNA Report: This test check genetics relating to enzymes that breakdown histamine.
Microbiome Stool Test: GI360 + Zonulin + H-Pylori to check gut permeability
Methylation DNA Test: This assesses 31 genes including-glutathione, MAOB, ammonia and more
