Are Nuts Low in Histamines?

I have been asked this question a few times over the last months at the market. And I did not have an answer. I understood that histamines were part of our body's immune response to perceived allergens, and nothing to do with food.

So, I have done some research. And now I know a bit more!

Histamine is indeed a chemical produced by our immune system that produces an allergic response. That's not all though - histamine is also involved in regulating a whole host of other bodily functions and is a key player in our inflammatory response.

We make histamine ourselves, and also consume it in foods. Some foods are higher in histamine than others, and some also contain compounds that in other ways increase our own histamine production (or limit our ability to break it down).

Histamine intolerance is different from a food allergy. It is when the body is unable to process or break down the histamine in the body. That results in an overdose of histamine in the body and then a classic allergic response. Most people can tolerate even high levels o histamine in foods, but those with a histamine intolerance need to stick to foods that are low in histamine.

People who have a histamine intolerance fairly often have other food sensitivities as well. So any list of low histamine foods is not categorical for every individual. It is however good information to have, and a great place to start. 

Nuts and seeds that are low in histamine are:

1. Almonds
2. Brazil Nuts
3. Hazelnuts
4. Hemp Seeds
5. Macadamias
6. Pecans
7. Pistachios
8. Pumpkin Seeds
9. Sesame Seeds
10. Sunflower Seeds.

The main nuts and seeds with high histamines are cashews and walnuts. 

Sources:

Low Histamine Eats ; Cleveland Clinic ; WebMD ;