Did you know that histamine affects not only allergies but also ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders)?
People within the ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorders) often present various gastrointestinal manifestations and other body-related issues. The activities that occur in the intestine directly affect brain function, and many times these effects are caused by an increase in a substance called histamine.
What is histamine and what is its function?
Histamine is a very important substance in the body. When it is present in adequate proportions, it has several functions:
- It can regulate immune system activity and plays a key role in allergic inflammatory reactions mediated by the IgE antibody. Common antihistamines block the receptors on mast cells to prevent histamine release.
- It acts in the digestive system by stimulating the production of hydrochloric acid for food digestion in the stomach. Popular antacids, specifically proton pump inhibitors, bind to the parietal cells of the stomach to reduce acid secretion.
- It is also found in the nervous system, acting as a neurotransmitter that regulates the sleep-wake cycle, which is why antihistamines often cause drowsiness.
However, if this vital substance increases excessively, your child may experience a severe inflammatory process. If your child shows many allergies, intolerances and/or food sensitivities, severe intestinal problems such as abdominal distension, frequent diarrhea, stomach pain, severe headaches, or even sleep disturbances, among others, we recommend evaluating histamine levels — they are likely elevated and reacting within the body.
What causes excess histamine in the body?
Excess histamine can occur due to:
- Exposure to harmful foods, infections, and other environmental toxins that activate histamine production as part of an inflammatory response.
- Alterations in mast cells (immune cells) that lead to higher histamine secretion.
- A genetic alteration in an enzyme called HNMT (Histamine N-Methyltransferase), responsible for methylating histamine into its active form.
- A deficiency in a digestive enzyme called DAO (Diamine Oxidase), which breaks down histamines.
- Excessive consumption of foods high in histamine.
If your child is following an appropriate nutritional plan but you still do not notice the desired improvements, it is important to identify other causes, such as high histamine levels, to continue addressing the root of the problem.
Frequently, many of our clients have shown reduced DAO enzyme activity. For that reason, in children with ASD and elevated histamine, our NutriWhite Ambassadors Team for children with autism designed a 3R Nutritional Immunonutrition Protocol to specifically treat these symptoms.
The First R: Remove
- Remove enemy foods — those proven to cause immune reactions, inflammation, leaky gut, and leaky brain in children with ASD. These generally include:
- Gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats, and even corn and rice)
- Casein (all dairy)
- Sugars and sweeteners, additives, preservatives, colorants, soy, yeast, large ocean fish, and any other food that causes sensitivity, allergy, or intolerance.
The goal is to fully personalize the diet.
- Remove, as much as possible, foods rich in histamine, those that stimulate its production, or that block DAO enzyme activity. Examples include:
- Vegetables: eggplant, spinach, fermented cabbage or sauerkraut, mushrooms, tomatoes.
- Fruits: pineapple, strawberry, orange, kiwi.
- Proteins: processed and canned meats.
- Others: fermented foods, nuts, apple cider vinegar, cinnamon, vanilla, mint, fermented beverages, chicken bone broth cooked for more than 3 hours.
The Second R: Replace
- Replace with friendly foods that your child tolerates well, that do not damage the intestinal barrier or overstimulate the immune system — meaning, they do not trigger food sensitivities or allergies. Generally, include organic foods: vegetables, healthy fats, proteins, and carbohydrates (starchy vegetables, tubers, legumes, and fruits).
- Replace with low-histamine foods, such as:
- Vegetables: cucumber, Swiss chard, carrot, chayote, etc.
- Fruits: mango, melon, watermelon, etc.
- Proteins: natural, organic, non-fermented sources.
- Support the body with supplements containing the DAO enzyme to help process and metabolize histamine from food.
- Replace with supplements that reactivate the methylation cycle.
The Third R: Recover
By removing enemy foods and replacing them with friendly ones, histamine levels in the blood will decrease, inflammation will subside, and severe intestinal and other related symptoms will improve.
This type of protocol should be maintained for at least 3 to 4 months to observe results in your child.
We must focus primarily on healing your child’s gut through immunonutrition to ultimately heal the brain and restore overall health.
References:
·Dra. Lenys González, MANIFESTACIONES GASTROINTESTINALES EN TRASTORNOS DEL ESPECTRO AUTISTA, Linca ORG. SF.
·Yasmina Ykelenstam, Hitamine Intolerance Symptoms, web site: healinghistamine.com
·Yasmina Ykelenstam, Autism Spectrum Disorders Linked To Mast Cell Activation, web site: healinghistamine.com
NutriWhite Editorial Team
