Histamine intolerance can be very frustrating because the symptoms often feel like they come out of nowhere. Eating certain types of anti-histamine foods may be effective, but may not result in sufficiently positive results for some.
Are you looking for histamine intolerance supplements that really work? Then read on quickly. In this article we tell you more about the 6 best supplements against histamine intolerance.
What is histamine?
Histamine is a chemical involved in your immune system, digestion and central nervous system. As a neurotransmitter, it communicates important messages from your body to your brain. It is also part of stomach acid, which helps your body break down food.
You may already be familiar with the relationship between histamine and the immune system. If you suffer from seasonal allergies or food allergies, you will find that antihistamines provide quick relief from your symptoms.
In the body, histamine results in causing inflammatory reactions that are almost always immediately noticeable. It serves as a warning to the immune system and informs your body about possible attackers. Antihistamines prevent or suppress these inflammatory responses.
Histamine causes your blood vessels to swell and widen so your white blood cells can quickly find and attack the infection or problem. This process is part of the body's natural immune response.
Certain enzymes then break down the released histamine so that it does not build up. If for some reason you don't break down histamine properly, it builds up in your body and you develop a histamine intolerance.
Histamine travels through your bloodstream, so it can affect your gut, lungs, skin, brain, and your entire cardiovascular system. Histamine can contribute to a wide range of symptoms, making histamine intolerance often difficult to diagnose and diagnose.
6 best supplements for histamine intolerance
To rebalance your immune system, here are some histamine intolerance supplements that will help ease symptoms and make your daily life more enjoyable.
Each of these histamine intolerance supplements has been carefully researched. They have been tried and tested for their effectiveness in histamine intolerance and are supported by numerous scientific studies.
Along with a nutritious diet that is low in histamine, the right nutritional supplements can go a long way in alleviating the symptoms resulting from histamine intolerance.
1 . The right probiotics
Many Dutch people try to obtain a healthy intestinal flora with probiotics . Of all the over-the-counter supplements that are available in the Netherlands, you should – if you have histamine intolerance – pay extra attention when looking for a suitable probiotic. It is essential that the right bacterial strains are selected. The wrong combination of bacteria can worsen the symptoms of histamine intolerance.
This is because many “beneficial” strains of bacteria in a probiotic actually produce histamine. This production is completely natural and in a healthy person who is not intolerant to histamine, the body will easily break down this histamine.
Someone who suffers from histamine intolerance should take into account the avoidance of histamine-producing bacteria. Instead, you need to balance your body with a histamine-friendly probiotic .
It is recommended that you choose low-histamine probiotics with a dairy-free formula. In addition, the bacterial strains should be stomach acid resistant, so that they can be optimally absorbed by your body. These probiotics have been shown to be effective in numerous studies .
2 . Preventing histamine intolerance with vitamin C
Here's something you've probably heard before: A daily dose of vitamin C can help boost the immune system. This idea doesn't just stem from the wisdom of today's consumers – it's also backed up by science.
Numerous studies have shown that supplementing with vitamin C in your diet can reduce the symptoms of histamine intolerance. In addition, vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant and provides numerous additional benefits to the human body. You can think of slowing down natural aging and counteracting certain disorders that become more common as we get older.
Keep in mind that consumption of citrus fruits, which are one of the best sources of vitamin C, should be kept to a minimum when following a low-to-no histamine diet. This can make it more difficult to meet your daily needs. In that case, supplementation of this vitamin can be both practical and therapeutic in nature.
3 . Quercetin
Quercetin, a plant pigment found in many superfoods , has been shown to be an effective supplement in the fight against histamine intolerance. The release of histamine from the so-called “mast cells” is directly blocked by quercetin.
Mast cells contain molecules called mediators (histamine is one such mediator). These mediators, including histamine, are secreted when the mast cells are activated.
Since quercetin blocks the mast cells, it is also a very effective substance that quickly reduces hay fever symptoms . People who suffer from hay fever can therefore combat these complaints by taking a supplement with quercetin.
Research has shown that quercetin exhibits both anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties. It works more effectively in combination with a supplement that also contains bromelain (a substance found in pineapple, for example).
4 . Bromelain for fighting a histamine intolerance
Bromelain is a phytochemical found in high concentrations in the stem of pineapple. In other words, it's a common mistake that eating pineapple chunks is a source of enough of this substance.
Bromelain has been used in traditional medicines around the world for centuries and recently, science has begun to delve into the evidence behind this “miracle substance”.
According to studies, bromelain has been shown to be effective in treating numerous symptoms associated with histamine intolerance. In addition, bromelain appears to improve the absorption of certain compounds in the gut. A real win-win situation!
5 . Nettle Extract
Nettles, or Urtica dioica, have been shown to work better than a placebo in blinded tests at reducing the symptoms of histamine intolerance. Let's see what goes on behind the scenes when the body ingests Urtica dioica!
Interestingly, the stinging hairs on the leaves of nettles are rich in serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and acetylcholine. Freeze-drying this plant during the processing process allows Urtica dioica to maintain its anti-allergenic properties and work similarly to existing antihistamines available on the market.
6 . N-acetylcysteine
N-acetyl cysteine is an important amino acid in supplements against histamine intolerance. This amino acid is in fact responsible for stimulating the inhibitory effect of mast cells on the release of histamine.
In other words, N-acetyl cysteine acts as an assistant for maximizing the effect of other supplements used to reduce histamine release.
This help can make an important contribution to the overall reduction of histamine in the body. This is because an increased release of histamine from mast cells is one of the main causes of histamine intolerance.
This means that N-acetyl cysteine can relieve symptoms by targeting the root cause of histamine intolerance (rather than just treating the symptoms). This amino acid should therefore not be missing from this list of histamine reducers!
Supplements against histamine intolerance summarized
If you suffer from histamine intolerance, the first step is to change your diet and avoid histamine-rich foods.
For example, minimize your alcohol intake and also eat as little spinach, pickled and smoked foods, shellfish and crustaceans, pumpkins, citrus fruit and sauerkraut. A complete histamine intolerance diet list can be found on the internet or requested from a dietitian.
Fortunately, there are several nutritional supplements that can help reduce the symptoms of histamine intolerance. Before you start using one or more supplements, it is first of all important that you contact a dietician or doctor. They can determine whether there are no other underlying health problems, in addition to histamine intolerance.
