Histamine intolerance (signs and how to fix it)

So many people think histamine issues are just about hives or allergies…
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But if you've ever experienced unexplained skin rashes, constant bloating, random headaches, or even insomnia that seems to come out of nowhere...

You might actually have histamine intolerance.

And here's what's wild...

Most cases of histamine intolerance aren't actually about histamine at all.

The real culprit seems to lie in specific deficiencies that impair your ability to BREAK DOWN histamine.

You see, your body has an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO) that's responsible for this.

When you don't have enough DAO, histamine builds up in your system...

And that's when all hell breaks loose.

Skin issues like eczema and hives…

GI problems - gas, bloating, diarrhea, abdominal pain...

Respiratory symptoms like a runny nose or congestion...

Headaches and migraines…

Heart palpitations…

Anxiety and brain fog…

Painful periods for women.

As you can see, the symptoms are incredibly broad!

Now, DAO is a copper-dependent enzyme.

It appears without adequate copper, your body may not be able to produce enough DAO to break down histamine properly (PMID: 38674909).

However, copper deficiency isn't the only piece of this puzzle...

Your gut might play a bigger role than once thought and may be worsened by histamine-producing bacteria, molds, or yeasts (PMID: 35565742)

When you have bacterial overgrowth like SIBO, candida overgrowth, or mold exposure...

These microbes can trigger immune responses - including mast cell activation - that may increase histamine levels.
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This is why people with gut issues often struggle with foods they used to tolerate just fine.

So, it's not the food itself - rather, it's the broken gut producing histamine or the lack of DAO to break it down.

The good news is, histamine intolerance does not have to be a life sentence…

Here’s what I recommend you - or anyone you know with histamine issues - should do:

First, heal the ROOT CAUSE inside your gut.

#1 Eliminate gut irritants
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Certain plant foods that can damage gut lining making histamine issue worse - think leaves, stems, seeds, nuts, grains, legumes and nightshades.
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​#2 Avoid high histamine foods:
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- Cured or processed meats (like salami, pepperoni and bacon)
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- Aged cheeses

- Fermented foods

- Alcohol

- Vinegar

- Leftovers (histamine accumulates as food sits)
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You’ll also want to be cautious of histamine-liberating foods that can trigger symptoms:
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- Strawberries, bananas, citrus, papaya, pineapple

- Tomatoes, eggplant, spinach, avocado

- Chocolate

- Egg whites

This doesn't mean you can never eat these foods again...

But while you're healing your gut and building up your DAO activity, it's smart to minimize them.
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​And here’s one most people miss…

Most meat you buy at the grocery store has been aged for weeks.

Beef is typically aged 21+ days for tenderness.

The problem? Bacteria produce histamine as meat ages.

So even "healthy" grass-fed beef can be problematic if it's been sitting for weeks.

Find a local farmer or rancher who can provide ultra-fresh meat that's been frozen immediately after harvest.

Smaller animals like chicken, rabbit, turkey, and lamb tend to be better tolerated since they don't need to be hung as long.

#3 Address infections or overgrowth.
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Work with a functional medicine practitioner to test for and treat SIBO, candida, parasites, and mold exposure (the potential hidden drivers)

Then, support your gut with animal-based foods.

Bone broth made fresh in a pressure cooker for 2 hours max to avoid histamine buildup.
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Raw milk, if you can tolerate it (incredible for gut diversity).

Your body also needs several key cofactors for proper DAO function including copper, B6, Vitamin C, Zinc and magnesium.

Now, where do you find all of these nutrients in their most bioavailable forms?

You guessed it - animal foods.

And guess what organ is one of the best sources of bioavailable copper on the planet?

Liver! (Nose-to-tail for the win, yet again.)

Kidney is also a secret weapon for histamine issues…

It’s one of the richest sources of the DAO enzyme in nature.

In fact, most DAO supplements on the market are actually made from pork kidney extract and don’t work very well because the enzyme is unstable and gets destroyed during processing (PMID: 32090335)

That’s why eating fresh grass-fed beef kidney is so powerful.

You're getting the actual DAO enzyme, plus all the cofactors (copper, B6, zinc, etc.) needed to support your body's own DAO production.

But if there’s one organ less palatable than liver for most people…

It’s kidney (unless you really know how to cook it right).

This is where Heart & Soil’s Histamine & Immune can be a great option.

It contains grass-fed & finished Kidney for DAO, plus thymus, lung, spleen and liver for complete nutritional support to combat this frustrating condition.

And if you want more comprehensive support, I highly recommend checking out their Histamine Intolerance Stack, which comes with grass-fed colostrum too (incredible for gut healing!).

Bottom line…

If you're dealing with random symptoms that doctors can't explain...

Brain fog, skin issues, GI problems, insomnia, migraines...

Consider the possibility that you have histamine intolerance.

And understand that the solution isn't just avoiding histamine forever...

It's about giving your body what it needs to actually PROCESS histamine properly.

Welcome to the Remembering 🏹

Paul

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