Food & NutritionYour Health

Foods High in Histamine

Histamine is an important substance for many major systems in the body, such as neurological, digestive, and immune systems. Just like other components, it is important to ensure its balance so that basic functions can be maintained. While body cells can generate histamine, you can also find this element in several foods. In the following sections, we will show you a list of the top 10 foods high in histamine.

Fermented Foods

Fermented foods, such as sauerkraut, kefir, kimchi, or kombucha, are high in many live microbes and beneficial byproducts from fermentation. And histamine is one of them. During fermentation, certain bacteria produce histamine from histidine amino acids. While a suitable level is necessary for many body functions, consuming too many fermented foods can mess up the guts and lead to several digestive issues like bloating, inflammation, or nausea. In people with histamine intolerance, their bodies are not able to metabolize histamine in these foods. As a result, the element builds up gradually and affects your health. That is why you should avoid or limit the consumption of fermented foods to reduce the risk. [1]