Histamine and Inflammation – What Are Allergies, Really?

22 Apr Histamine and Inflammation – What Are Allergies, Really?

It’s allergy season.

You cannot stop sneezing, your eyes are itchy and watering, and your throat is scratchy. “It’s just my allergies”, you say as you trumpet into your tissue.

Sound familiar?

Well, it’s not just the pollen; it’s your genes too.

What is Histamine and Inflammation?

Histamine is released by certain white blood cells in response to injury, as well as allergic and inflammatory reactions. The HNMT gene controls histamine levels in the brain and airways. HNMT is the sole enzyme responsible for metabolising histamine in the central nervous system, a process that influences brain function. Additionally, HNMT plays a role in how your airway responds to harmful particles like bacteria or viruses in the respiratory system.

Inflammation is the body’s normal response to injury, illness, and germs or bacteria. This function helps your body heal. For example, a fever lets you know that your inflammatory system is working as it should. However, if inflammation goes on for too long or affects healthy tissue, it can cause harm.

Many foods can assist in fighting inflammation. These include:

• fatty fish such as salmon,
• fresh fruits, leafy greens, and
• certain spices such as turmeric, ginger or garlic.

Although super tasty, some inflammation-causing foods include foods containing:

• trans-fat,
• fried foods,
• foods high in salt, and
• refined carbohydrates like sugar and pastries.

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So Why Do I Get Allergies?

Allergies are a combination of a reaction to Histamine and Inflammation of certain tissues.

• Histamine gets released when exposed to immune allergens or harmful particles and quickly spreads to the surrounding tissues. For proper regulation, this histamine needs to be deactivated, which is HNMT’s function. However, some variants of the gene, as well as other genetic variants such as MTHFR, cause HNMT to struggle with deactivating histamine quickly enough. In addition to this, your inflammatory response gets activated in various ways.

• Inflammation can occur in your skin, respiratory system, or digestive system, depending on the type of harmful particle in your body. This reaction is controlled by the TNF-alpha gene, which also regulates lipid metabolism, coagulation, and insulin resistance. Certain variants are associated with an overactive immune response and susceptibility to inflammatory conditions.

Bet You Didn’t Know…

Did you know that histamine is also present in certain foods? This could mean you’re histamine intolerant. Histamine intolerance refers to:

•  your body being unable to break down accumulated histamine,
• which then results in allergy-type symptoms rearing its head throughout your day.

Some antihistamine foods to include in your diet are:

• watercress,
• garlic,
• onion,
• ginger,
• and apples.

The more you know, right?

Ready to discover what your genes reveal? And receive information on how to manage your allergies better? Explore our DNA tests here to learn more.