Histamine Intolerance - Could this be a Cause?

Hey all.

So in researching something else, I came across a "condition" known as "Histamine Intolerance". And I'm wondering if this might be a thing for many of us as it seems to be linked to vertigo and tinnitus (among many other symptoms). And let's be honest - many doctors prescribe antihistamines to us OR they are giving us Betahistine (Serc) or similar which are histamine analogs (look like histamine - I wonder if it's to shut down our own production?). Either way, it seems like medically, drugs being prescribed have something to do with histamine metabolism or accumulation in our bodies, so it makes sense to try to reduce the histamine load from our diets to see if this improves our symptoms.

Here's the idea: foods you are eating either contain histamine or trigger a release of histamine in your body or you are deficient in DAO which is the enzyme that breaks down histamine. All contribute to having too much in your body which promotes inflammation and all sorts of allergy symptoms.

I started down this path after thinking about the last two vertigo attacks that I had. I was doing everything else "perfectly" (the low salt, all the supplements, blah blah) yet I still had the attacks. And what was clear is that I had inadvertently eaten something that for me triggers cold sores (lemon juice and some other acidic things). So I figured that just kicked up the Herpes virus and off we went with the vertigo. But now when I think about those foods, they are all BIG causes of a histamine blast in your body (which in turn could trigger the vertigo with our without the cold sore which I did not get in fact). And then when I think about other times when I got vertigo and possible triggers there could be some correlation again. For example, twice I got attacks following eating sushi. Well we all know soy sauce has lots of salt. But it is also a fermented food which contains a lot of histamine. So double whammy!

I have known for many years that eating certain foods (citrus, pineapple, eggplant, strawberries, vinegars, ketchup & tomato sauce, kiwi) causes my mouth to tingle immediately and can make it red. I would also get wicked heartburn with these things.... now I realize these are all high histamine foods (either containing histamine themselves or triggering its release).

Anyway, it's looking to me like there may be some merit in this. Feel free to investigate yourselves and see if a 3-4 week "elimination diet" of removing the offensive foods helps you. You can just do a search on "Histamine Intolerance" or "Low Histamine Diet"..... I hope some of you find this useful!

 

So yes, I have HSV, I have no doubt of that. And I'm doing the JOH regimen. Yes, perhaps saying "cause" is misleading as I do also agree that there is no one "cause" for this disease.

But what I am suggesting is that while some people get relief from antivirals - that is not enough for many. While others get relief from just a low salt diet - that is definitely not enough for many. I just wanted to point out to folks that they should look into having a histamine overload in their bodies and if they agree this might be a thing, that they educate themselves on what foods are high in histamine because many such foods are "healthy" but would be terrible for someone with high loads. Fermented foods, spinach, bananas, avocado, beans, citrus fruits for example. "Healthy"? Supposedly. But also trigger histamine release (therefore by definition, inflammation). So I believe that for some, it might be the missing link when you 're not quite getting there with the antivirals, etc. This might help get you over the finish line.

If anyone has had issues with seasonal allergies, chronic migraines, or with skin ailments (hives, eczema, etc) or like me, with the obvious tingling/red mouth after eating certain foods.... it's a definite possibility worth checking out.

And with so many of us feeling no control over "the beast", I am hoping this may help at least someone find they do have some control as they can be more careful with their diet. Worth a shot!

Interestingly enough, those motion sickness meds? Are all antihistamines. So science has understood for years the connection between histamine and feeling "yech".