A low-histamine diet has benefits for many people, given its reliance on fresh, natural foods. However, it also directly applies to tick-borne disease patients suffering from Borrelia burgdorferi and other co-infections. Read this article to learn more about the benefits of this diet.
Note: Food allergies are unique to each individual, so it’s important that you work closely with your doctor or a registered dietitian to design a balanced plan that works for you.
Histamine is a chemical, known as a biogenic amine. It plays a role in several of the body’s major systems, including the immune, digestive, and neurological systems.
Histamine-rich foods can trigger headaches, skin irritation, or diarrhea. Having a tick-borne infection can increase the chance of developing histamine sensitivity. This is because Borrelia burgdorferi and other co-infections can cause mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS).
Mast cells are the immune cells that release histamine, promote inflammation, and can lead to the development of a variety of gastrointestinal disorders. Histamine intolerance is a direct subset of MCAS symptoms. It is a response by the body resulting from an imbalance between accumulated histamine and the inability to break it down.
A low-histamine diet eliminates all foods that contain histamine in order to address symptoms.
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Going on a low-histamine diet may help to alleviate MCAS symptoms. It may also be worth considering adopting antihistamines into your treatment regime should the diet change not provide enough relief. Always consult with a doctor before adding anything to your existing diet or treatment plan.
It can help serve as a diagnostic tool when conducted as a part of an elimination diet. By eliminating foods and slowly adding them back in, you can see which specific ones are triggers.
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