Hi please can I ask how many people are sensitive to high histamine foods. I am trying to ascertain if I am having food sensitivities from hashimoto or if its MCAS
I have numb tongue, feeling of throat swelling, tachycardia of heart and fight/flight response heart to high histamine foods
Extreme reaction to GF porridge HR jump to 165 so wondering if coeliac too waiting on immunology referral
interested to hear others experience thank you
Sally, sorry you've not had replies yet. Yes folks write posts about food histamine sensitivity fairly regularly on here. It is well recognised that thyroid problems and histamine mcas and gut problems are intertwined.If you do a Google search of thyroid and mcas a lot of reading comes up.
Yes, I have a rotten time if I overfill my histamine bucket, ends in a migraine for several days until cleared from my system
hello Sally, yes I have a problem with histamines too. Fast heart rate, palpitations, itchy red eyes, irritable and bloated are my symptoms. One thing I’ve learned that helps with the fast heart rate is doing something called resonant breathing. Apparently people with histamine intolerance aren’t able to switch between the sympathetic (fight or flight) and parasympathetic nervous systems as easily as others and this technique helps. It’s a horrible feeling isn’t it? Stops me from sleeping … but now I do the breathing and feel more settled, you can get an app on your phone to help you. I learned about it from here: mastcell360.com/resonant-br...
Another great resource I came across is Alison Vickery who has loads of free info on her website including food lists for low histamine foods and even better, antihistamine foods.
Yes lots of histamine reactions - mainly gut discomfort / pain / bloating / nausea, which ease if taking anti-histamines. Also a strange reaction to GF porridge! I always avoid gluten and dairy anyway - but also have intolerances to onion family and some other foods which don't seem to be histamine related. So difficult to navigate!!! I only seem to get sore eyes / breathing reaction to airborne allergens - mould and dust etc.
thank you everyone, thank you for your suggestions, sorry to hear of your struggles with it too
Really the only food issues with Hashi's are gluten and dairy, possibly soy. Histamine intolerance is a separate thing and can include sensitivities to oxalates, and salicylates.
I found this article that says apparently oats is the second most problematic grain after gluten.
thefoodintolerancedietitian...
There are a couple of UK MCAS groups on Facebook for further information and support.
Interesting isn't it, I'm fine with wheat and oats but barley, spelt, amaranth and buckwheat 🤢, I can't do dairy or nightshades either 🙄
Im rice and barley too my system is all over the place after medical intervention in 2021 . I have to follow a strict low histamine diet now 😌 Im working with a homeopath atm so hoping she can help
Certainly avoidance is the best route but when it's easier to pretend I'm 'normal' I take DAO enzymes 😉
Intriguing, does the Homeopath suggest there is a way back from this?
She has successfully put a lot of people in remission and off medication, so I am going to request to regularly test my tsh from now on as per her suggestion
Oh, I see she is working on the Hypo rather than the histamine issue, from what I have read once your body stops making enough DAO it doesn't seem to restart?
Eeyore,
I disagree as have (almost) reversed my own histamine difficulties.
DAO is an enzyme that requires the nutrients commonly deficient in hypo (zinc, magnesium, B Vits, etc). Therefore, once thyroid hormones are regulating well (adequate levels effective in their working) then gut absorption improves, nutrient levels (maybe supplemented) raise, thyroid hormone deiodinase actions improve and possibly other enzymic behaviours.
I replied below to Sally regarding gut issues that is a huge source of excess histamine release. Repair/improve health of GI lining and DAO secretion improves.
That is heartening to know! I've only seen articles that suggest avoidance is the only route.... perhaps it is still early days for me to see any improvement as I have only been in the optimal zone about 3 months.
Gut health has greatly improved but histamine, though I avoid mostly, is still building up and biting me on the proverbial. I've realised that as it builds up it raises my RHR as I had a big release a couple of weeks ago, worst so far, wheezing, itching, snotty, migraine... after this I notice my RHR had dropped back significantly.... I had wondered why it was creeping up, I'm going to put it down to the addition of a little weekly hangar beef which I thought might help raise ferritin... and it tastes sooo good having not had any for years 😩
I've since started taking a daily DAO supplement rather than just when I know I'm going to eat something possibly dodgy to see if that helps things along
Eeyore100,
DAO can be increased by sprouting your own legumes, especially peas. I sprout everything 😁.
If you listen to the podcast Food Intolerances by ZOE (10.03.2023), one of their science board members explains about histamine intolerance around 30 minutes in. He’s actually selling his cookbook! … but it’s an interesting talk anyway.
I haven't provided a link as haven't got time to read stuff but if you google something like 'DAO + sprouted peas' you will get scientific hits.
Thanks, I'll take a look into the future for the Zoe podcast 🤣I've a vague memory I might have heard it but obviously didn't store it well at the time... just queued it up... last listened 27th Oct 22 🤯at least I vaguely remembered!
I have dabbled with Sky Sprouts ready sprouted before but the company I used didn't supply the sprouted peas and I was too lazy to do my own 🙄 I did go through a phase of sprouting my wheat for bread which is really tasty.
Perhaps now I have more beans I'll get onto the peas 😏 when I found the Vege Tablets I took the easy option
(10.03.2023) .. 🤣
It took me three reads to understand what you referred to! 🤪
Sprouting is easy-PEAsy ... so along as they don't go mouldy 🤮
😆 I went off peas when I used to grow and eat them direct from the garden and met a wiggly worm 🐛or 10 🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛🐛😱 I ought to man up and embrace the protein
Are you a jar grower or a tray system?
Any recommendation on pea variety... I can get Green Pea which seems apt!
They say to grow them in the dark to increase DAO
Eyesore,
Have only sprouted in a jar.
I love the pics of tray systems like drawers full of nourishing sprouts overflowing but my husband won't eat them, and when family are about I tend to precook hot dinners, and so a jar is just sufficient for me. I sprout anything I can find, not just peas and yes, starting them off in the dark is suppose to increases DAO.
I havent done any since before Christmas so need to restart. Happy sprouting 🌱
FYI your TSH is not the best indicator of your thyroid health. Yours is already too high and your FT4 only at 46% of its range. Advise getting thyroid advice from here.
thank you jaydee that is really what I am trying to ascertain as I have a pending immunology referral but wondered if it would be grouped under my hashimoto diagnosis
You may or may not get lucky with the immunology referral. Many immunologists don't believe in MCAS so don't mention it unless they do. They may call it something else, but so long as you get the right medication then don't sweat the details.
If you struggle with getting treatment then join one of the Facebook groups who keep a list of interested doctors.
The last thyroid results you posted weren't optimal and it would pay you to get that sorted along with key vitamins. Low ferritin can play into food intolerances inparticular.
thank you jaydee yes it was rejected in october 2021 but they are starting to be more open to the possibility of covid and covid v being connection now according to some I speak to who have had successful referrals
My last tsh october was 1.09 and T$ 15.4 antibodies have risen again to 357 I have worked on my folate deficiency and need to retest ferritin it was 96
You really need a FULL thyroid panel of TSH, FT4 & FT3 for the full picture. Most of us here pay for private tests. Monitor my Health is the cheapest. I know I'd be pretty unwell with a TSH of over 1. An FT4 of 15.4 looks pretty lowish but depends on the range. Are you supplementing D3? Most of us need to. Your ferritin looks OK.
Many immunology departments reject referrals that mention MCAS, it's a thing, but glad things are changing!
Sally1253,
High histamine foods used to make me sneeze, cough, eyes water and seemingly harmless foods such as g/f porridge could give me palps, hot flushes, dizziness, although it was often difficult to know what was causing what. Before I was diagnosed with Hashi, I suffered years of postnasal drip, patches of eczema, and numerous other ‘ailments’.
Everything improved after thyroid meds were optimised and nutrient deficiencies were addressed but didn't actually clear up without dietary changes. I went G/F (and dairy-free for a while), cut out grains and ate a low histamine diet. I also learnt which foods not only contain histamine but encourage histamine release or inhibit DAO actions.
Even years later I am still always mindful of eating leftover food in fridge, etc, but eat a fairly 'normal' healthy diet, although have remained largely g/f with few grains, and drink gin instead of wine!
Everything you are suffering can be attributed to long term inadequate thyroid hormone levels and long term excess histamine levels can be very damaging. I know at times it feels as if you can't eat anything without a negative reaction but quelling the immune responses including those causing the hypothyroidism, helped me enormously and is actually a journey for life.
thank you Radd I have been following a strict gluten free, low dairy and low histamine diet since august 2021 Im just trying to investigate these symptoms a bit more before my immunology appointment. I agree I personally would far rather limit my diet than take medications and eat freely its definitely a learning curve
Sally1253,
But it's not just about limiting your diet but addressing the whole picture in a holistic fashion. I disagree with the thought that Hashi & H.I. are two completely separate issues (although could be in some people).
For instance have you healed any gut issues such SIBO or parasites? There is huge connections between excess histamine release and leaky gut, as the leaky gut inflammation releases inflammatory cytokines that encourage further histamine release even in the absence of histamine laiden or inducing foods.
I had help from a practitioner but still needed to write notes on what protocols I was following and from which sources. Otherwise the whole thing becomes overwhelming. I was also following an anti -candida diet and chelating for amalgam removal. Luckily newly sufficient T3 levels allowed me commitment and resilience to see everything through.
thanks radd i plan on getting a sibo and homocysteine test next as im wondering if my b12 is showing falsely elevated, as I have read it can do and point to both. My folate was 2 and now at 14 but b12 was 880 dropped to 660
I have just had quite a lot to look into as have neurological and cardiac symptoms which were obviously worrying and its just trying to piece together what is hashimotos and what requires separate nhs referral with the current wait times it hasnt been easy to see specialists.
~Indeed Sally - know issues well having had IB, digestive issues for as long as I can remember.
I'm gluten sensitive, dairy creates mucus + gas/bloating as lactose sugar is intolerant to my gut.
Your genetics play a part also.
Take digestive enzymes prx'd as gut biopsy revealed I was missing variety of enzymes to break down certain foods as evident in my stools.
Use mint in all my cooking, slippery elm to soothe gut + pre/probiotic's just to name a few.
Follow FODMAP diet.
Wishing you well with your appointment & hope they can help you ~
Hi
That sounds intense, i do get reactions to high histamine foods- mostly intense itching and tightness of breath. Also coeliac and react badly to toomuch sugar. Goodluck
I'd also recommend DAO supplements as it is impossible to avoid histamines entirely.
thank you everyone x
Hi Sally, I don't know if its similar but just in case...I have Graves disease and 'allergic reactions'
A year after diagnosis of Graves, I started having what I thought was allergic reactions both to food, drinks and other household items, Examples included putting on a lipstick and feeling the nerve endings react over half of my face (it took three days to wear off); drinking a glass of juice and feeling like I was drinking something really bad and having shampoo feel like it was burning my scalp.
I was referred to an allergy consultant who did not think it was allergic reactions. He thought it might be a side effect from my thyroid medication. My GP thought the reactions were neurological.
The allergy consultant recommended I take a daily antihistamine to at least dull the responses to anything I react to. This has worked, When I came off the histamines for a wee while the reactions started again so this time I have stayed on the tablets.
thanks sugarcrave i do take a daily anti histamine but still am unable to eat high histamine but I am reluctant to add more and would rather limit diet Im sorry to hear you have been through this too
Hi Sally, thank you. When I started with the reactions, I thought I was losing the plot. Doing basic tasks like brushing my teeth and washing my hair became incredibly difficult. I choked on juice one day as it tasted of metal to me. I don't know how common it is to have these types of reactions with thyroid illness.
Food sensitivities
Food glorious food.
