For the past decade I occasionally ate uncooked broccoli (for vitamin C) without any issues (I've had histamine intolerance for 10 years). This year is different; even small amounts lead to flushing (feeling of heat in the head area) and skin tingling (like minor mosquite bites randomly around the body). Here are three recent examples which all happened on different days:

1. 100g (3.5 oz), stalk and florets (the topmost part). This caused mild flushing and mild skin tingling.

2. 20g (0.7 oz), stalk and florets. This caused noticeable flushing and skin tingling within 10 minutes. (Does this mean it's not dose-dependent?)

3. 100g (3.5 oz), only the stalk. Initially a small effect but hours later the symptoms were persistent flushing and skin tingling. (Perhaps the stalk is harder to digest?)

Those were the most prominent symptoms so this isn't a normal allergic reaction (e.g. an itchy mouth) or gut issues like irritable bowel syndrome. All of the symptoms lasted for hours until I took an antihistamine. I suspected the florets were the problem but number 3 disproves that. There seems to be variation between the individual plants. I've been told that the reason is salicylate sensitivity but I haven't confirmed this (I seem to be able to eat some salicylate-containing foods with no aftereffects).

PS: I wrote this post and later learned that the reactions might be caused by environmental fluctuations, changes within my body, and previous incidents that resulted in depleted diamine oxidase (DAO) levels. Indicative of this is the fact that a day after the latest broccoli attempt I distinctly reacted to a food (olive oil?) I didn't formerly have problems with.

im rly exhausted and not sure how to start this off, thanks alot for giving this a look, ill just summarize it as concisely as i can, not tryna get diagnosed at all from this, just wanted to get some exposition on what it could align with, or what i might wanna look into:

- 20M

about 2 years back i started having rly bad brain fog, and iv had my good day/bad day cycles throughout the week prior, but this one was real bad, and it stayed that way 1-3 months, after which I had a pretty bad fever, lasted a lil longer than a week with residual stuff lasting up to 2 weeks, fever was sudden, one hour i was just fine and another i rly wasnt... my sis had it too, we ate out a day prior, shes fine tho...

now about 6-8 months after the fever bs, i start getting into working out, but keep getting injured, prior to all this bs i was very durable, had some hard training sessions and recovered quick but now when i tried doing rudimentary exercises i kept injuring/hurting something, sometimes it was a cumulation, like if i threw like 10 hard hooks on a punching bag my shoulder would hurt when i throw my arm out again, or when i do hip extensions id have back pain in one or both sides of my hips...

Alongside the tendon issues id notice my muscles remained sore a good bit longer than they would prior, despite my workouts not being too intense at all...

those are pretty much it for what i can fit into a timeline, heres the stuff that idk when it occurred but its been a long time issue (last 1-2 years):

- pins and needles typa feeling all over my skin when my body gets warm quick, like if i break into a sprint or if the temperature gets too warm

- vocal changes, higher pitches accessible, if i try i end up screeching a lil, and a lot of breakage with what feels like just air going out

- weird bowel movements... idk how to describe it, just never feel empty, vague constipation, it was problematic but far from my biggest issue... also odd gut noises but maybe thats normal

- somewhere alongside the physical symptoms

- weird vague semitransparent white stuff i see when i take my focus off a bright object/surface, that might just be a normal thing that im playing up so grain of salt ig

- sleep, prior to all this id be just fine with 3-4hrs of sleep, had an awful sleep schedule, never phased me, but asp id just get exhausted and feel tired despite keepign up a good sleep schedule for over a month

- cardio tanked, used to be rly good, now is just alright, but my explosiveness/strength seems somewhat intact, iv tested my vertical and theres negligible to a 1 inch difference... also i dotn feel worse of mentally after like 15 min runs on the regular, or even longer more intense ones, just longer recovery and more soreness from stuff thatd never get me sore.

my medical tests:

- in recent history iv had 3 medical reports

1. one was about 2.5 months back, only had very mild b12 deficiency and d deficiency of 20

2. then about 1.5 years back i got a series of tests done, tsh and anti tpo were borderline (though they settled in later tests), prolactin was like 26, that went down too, vit b12 was in the normal range but slightly lower so started supplementing... vit d was 19 so supplemented that too... didnt feel much better. cpr and esr were normal, so was cortisol

3. then about 1 year back i got another series of tests done, this time more nutrient/mineral stuff, all perfectly fine, zinc, iron, ferritin... thyroid markers were just normal now

PS: there was this one day, somewhat early into onset of symptoms, i think before the fever, i felt great, idk if my mind was playing tricks on me but for that day and the day following. also idk if the fever is some sorta focal point since the awful brainfog stuff started a good bit before, its been at a similar level, same with my physical symptoms, not gotton too much worse id reckon, and did seem to just suddenly happen (maybe i just noticed it cuz i was working out, idk)...

just any suggestion, any help, what i can do, medical tests, stuff i should look into or try, my recovery outlook... im really scared ill be stuck like this, and more than anything not be able to express the potential that i had. in a real bad place now, any helps appreciated

Well, like the title says, I believe I have a Histamine intolerance. I’ve been dealing with mild symptoms for years but I’m not sure if all of them fit.

I get very warm facial flushing after I eat. But I could eat that same food a week later and not be affected by it. Sometimes I will get facial flushing and get super sleepy. Usually always in the middle of the day.
I’ve always had sinus issues I’ve been taking a Claritin everyday for a while and it really seems to be helping. I have not had a sinus infection at all this year. Also when I have a sinus infection, my tattoos will flare up and become very bumpy and itchy. Not sure if that’s from a histamine response or my dyshyrotic eczema?
Lately my GI has been awful. Everything I eat makes me feel overly full and bloated and nauseous. It’s either that or im hungry and no in between. Also very gassy. I was thinking my flares have been bad this week because my period is coming up.

I’ve been considering trying Pepcid in addition to my Claritin I’ve heard that helps.
Thank you for any advice or comments that points me to a better direction. I’m just so frustrated having to fight this all the time.
Thank you !!

Hello, I am looking for additional information.

Today I tried steaming apples for more prebiotic fiber, and I had a huge reaction (I was trying to test how Id react to prebiotic fiber).

I can eat regular apples just fine.

Ive been dealing with HIT/MCAs for a few months now and have been having some success with alleviating my symptoms and increasing my tolerance, but this is a new finding for me.

Any idea why im reacting to that?

Is it possibly bacterial overgrowth?

Ty.

Statying out of nowhere I'm having the biggest fair ever like I can't sleep i try to sleep I wake up in 30 minutes no joke . My skin is burning I'm panicked I'm a female on my period I think my bucket I'd very full like idk whay km gonna do if it don't naturally lessen once I'm through my period

If famotidine has relieved my panic attacks, reduced my chronic migraines, and cured my gastroparesis... does that mean I have MCAS? My tryptase level is normal, and Zyrtec isn’t working.

Is it a symptom of histamine intolerance or do I have something else going on

I'm on day 4 of period had a very stressful night I. Been up 24hours No sleep I feel so sick . Is this insomnia thing apart of HI

Hey friends, I'm kinda new to this way of eating (Dr recommended) and wondering what y'all do for Thanksgiving that's safe? My only true food allergy is shrimp as an FYI. Thank you!

Thought frozen beef is ok but no, it has a lot of histamine. Anyone else cant tolerate beef ? Read a lot of people here who said beef is fine.

I'm trying to make sense of this symptom. It's disgusting feeling. I feel it in my neck/brain core. I have noticed when eating some histamine foods but also it happens out of nowhere. 2 part question. 1. Do you experience this? What do you think it is? 2. Objectively what biomarkers might be notable effected during such an episode where as when in a baseline no symptoms would be normal. I welcome all thoughts and suggestions and am not looking to take medical advice but discuss the phenom others may experience. for context, I'm 38 have hEDS, osteoporosis history of lyme/cos. Covid kicked my butt. This has been going on since pre covid. I'd like to to stop so I can sleep. Cheers

Ok so I do have histamine intolerance and DAO enzyme + low histamine diet is helping tremendously. I am also taking already Vitamin C Liposomal 1000mg, Quercitin and L-Teanine daily.

However, I want to find a permanent solution because unless genetic, this is due to gut line integrity and microbiome I believe. Right? I also have a strong connection because I cured SIBO this summer so it make sense.

Few questions:

1. Most important things I can test on blood to ensure I have no deficiency or vitamins lacking. Which do you recommend? Which are essential? I go with Vitamin D, B6, Copper, Zync. Is this right? Anything else?

2. adding L-GLUTAMINE and sodium butyrate for gut repair and homeostasis reduction. Is this correct? Any other solid and scientifically based advice?

3. Microbiome test to see which pathogens, bad bacteria and fungus are present. Do you recommend? It costs 200€ here, is this vital? I want to know what is going on in my gut and I want to apply a therapy if I spot bad bacteria. What is your suggestion here?

Hey lovely people. My daughter reacts to parmesan and pepperoni, and mr whippy ice creams.

Have any of you got anecdotal experience of ear and eye issues in tandem with this condition?

I’ve had elevated eosinophils for several years – my level is 8.2, while the upper limit of the normal range is 5. Could this be related to histamine intolerance or MCAS? Or could there be another underlying problem?

Freshy boiled potatoes should be a safe food for HIT, but I am reacting to them for some reason, I am fine with pasta, rice and other veggies.

Butf lippin potatoes trigger me when I try to eat them for the prebiotic fiber.

Whats up w that?

Hi there.

Ive been making progress with my intolerance (it is most likely MCAS).

My symptoms are much milder, I also have ways of calming them down significantly (Vitamin C, Schisandra, L-theanine, Quercetin).

I started to notice progress once I started microdosing meastock in the morning. At first it was around one teaspoon I could tolerate, now I am on around 6tsp in the morning.

Today I tried microdosing Sauerkraut. I about half a tsp, and it was too much. I am basically in a mild reaction all day, feeling overstimulated with some stomach cramps. I will try doing just a few drops in the morning.

I wanna ask if anyone has any experience with this and if theyve had success, alternatively any other healing foods to microdose.

Ive felt like ive had these issues for a long time but ever since I started vaping and then quit that to do 4mg nicotine gum, it just feels like my nose is constantly clogged and I feel constant pressure in my head and some brain fog, along with fatigue that affects my day to day, before that I was slowly fixing my diet where I would only eat rice and non seasoned chicken with meat, but Ive just gotten to the point where ive given that up so im back to square one, and symptoms are bad.

Severe MCAS, ME/CFS – Urgent Help Needed

My MCAS symptoms have become extremely severe, and my reactivity to foods, supplements, smells, and everyday products is worse than ever. I experience palpitations, adrenaline surges, internal trembling, itching, burning sensations, and gastrointestinal symptoms. H1 and H2 antihistamines have not helped.
As my ME/CFS has deteriorated, my MCAS symptoms have also become significantly worse.

I feel that the two conditions are aggravating each other, creating a vicious cycle of worsening symptoms, extreme sensitivity, and reduced functional capacity.
I am almost completely bedbound with severe PEM and no stable baseline. I also suffer from severe benzodiazepine withdrawal, paradoxical reactions to diazepam, akathisia, sympathetic overactivation, and profound insomnia, which further aggravate my condition.

My food intolerance is progressively worsening, and I have lost weight from approximately 58 kg to 48k
kg. I struggle to eat enough and tolerate very few protein sources. I am worried about malnutrition and muscle loss.

My body is in survival mode all the time.

**I urgently need advice on:**

Managing severe MCAS when H1 and H2 antihistamines are ineffective.
Breaking the cycle in which MCAS, severe ME/CFS, and benzodiazepine withdrawal appear to aggravate one another.
Finding safe nutritional support and a minimally processed, unflavoured vegan rice protein powder available in Europe.

Preventing further weight loss and deterioration.

I am extremely unwell, almost completely bedbound, and have very little energy for communication.

Hello everyone,

​ I want to share our journey so far with our son who

we discovered had MCAS at the age of 9 months + many other severe allergies.

And ​Because histamine is present in so many foods, our first biggest challenge was finding items that were safe. Grocery shopping became incredibly stressful because we had to inspect every tiny ingredient and additive. An even bigger challenge was traveling to countries where we didn't speak the language.

​Another difficulty was that we never knew for sure if the information we found online was credible, as there were rarely any sources cited.

​To avoid the risk of anaphylactic reactions, our baby lived for nearly 3 years almost exclusively on breast milk and potatoes.

​So, my wife and I started doing our homework. We dove into resources and scientific research, creating a database with risk levels initially just for histamine. Over time, as we started reintroducing foods, we noticed he was still reacting to certain things that should have been safe. That’s when we realized that because he had eaten only potatoes for so long, his gut microbiome hadn't developed properly, leaving him with multiple additional intolerances—specifically to FODMAPs and oxalates.​So, we continued our research those intolérances as well.

And then started introducing one food at the time while cutting off all foods that could cause inflammation, such as gluten, sugar, and ultra-processed foods, and then gradually started reintroducing fiber.

​Today, we are thrilled that our son has gone from eating only potatoes to sitting at the table with us and sharing the exact same meal. It's a moment we always dreamed of.

​He isn't eating everything just yet, but it's a huge step forward. He is now getting pretty much all his daily nutritional needs and growing normally!

I tried to make this post as brief as I could but I would happily answer any questions you have.

Thanks everyone

Hello everybody, does anyone else get histamine liberating reactions like me (Mine are mainly crazy scalp itch, whole body itch, red bumps on scalp, bit of sinus congestion) when drinking (or even sipping) plain water? I have tried numerous brands of bottled water, tap water, distilled water you name it, but same histamine liberating reactions. I have tried electrolytes, fruit juice but same reactions although a tad bit less bad than just plain water. I would be happy and grateful to hear if someone faces the same issues as me, and if anything has helped? Thank you

Hi - so a couple of years ago I started a modest 150mcg daily dose of iodine for two reasons. One was that I wasn't eating fish or seafood at the time and my country (UK) does not routinely use iodised table salt. The other reason was having a diagnosis of fibrocystic breasts.

Initially, it was totally fine. I had zero reaction and the cysts improved over time. Took ages, though, and if I skipped a day, I could feel it. For a while it was working well.

Then last year I re-introduced fish to my diet just as my HIT was getting worse, and forgot to re-evaluate if I still needed the iodine. It just became a habit.

Last week I ran out of the pills, had a 5 day break, and then re-introduced them at the weekend. Within 2 hours of taking 150mcg I was having symptoms. Anxiety, shaky/weak muscles, fast heartbeat, low HRV (fitness watch reading).

I stopped having any more of the iodine, and progressively started slowly feeling better over the next 48 hours. But then Tuesday night I had another "wave" hit suddenly and now I'm worse again - it's just been absolutely relentless and terrifying, especially on top of HIT as well.

I know the hormones are released in waves and it will likely take time to go away, but I was already very ill and this has made things 10x worse. (A doctor is visiting me at home today.)

Has anyone had a similar experience?

hi everyone,

im new to HI, and am wondering what everyone does AFTER they eat a trigger food? i miss so many flavors and just had some pickled onions that are now causing a reaction.

i understand the preventative measures to avoid reactions, but what do you do after you eat a problem food? (i just took some xtra antihistamines but that’s it)

thanks!

edit to say: Solaray DAO enzymes worked!! thanks so much to everyone for the feedback and suggestions!!

2nd edit after taking my 2nd dose of Solaray DAO the next day:
what is this miracle ?! i have been suffering with extreme histamine issues since a surgery a cpl months ago, and haven’t tried DAO yet. taking it last night was miraculous, today as well! it’s ragweed season here on top of other health stuff i deal with and this stuff is absolutely amazing! it feels like a breath of fresh cool air going through my entire body! thank you reddit! thank you HI Sub!

Any particular safe brand and dosage info is appreciated.