The world around us leads the charge in what we eat, which becomes a problem when our food supply starts to send us crazy signals about what is normal, as previously mentioned. Here Sarah Cownley, FoodsForBetterHealth.com, reflects on antihistamine foods to fight inflammation:

 

“When people hear the word histamine, they generally think of seasonal allergies, runny nose, sneezing and coughing. Health professionals are discovering more about this organic compound and its impact on the body, and finding that much has previously been undiagnosed and widely overlooked.

One of the best ways to fight against histamine intolerance and help reduce any inflammation in the body is to consume antihistamine foods. Foods to fight inflammation can help reduce many signs and symptoms of histamine intolerance and help the body fight off any inflammation.

What Is Histamine?

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Histamine is a chemical that is involved in the immune system, the central nervous system, and is also used for proper digestion. As a neurotransmitter, it sends important messages from the body to the brain.

Histamine’s role in the body is to cause an immediate inflammatory response to serve as a red flag in your immune system, notifying the body of any potential attackers. A histamine response causes blood vessels to swell or dilate so that the white blood cells can quickly find and attack the infection or problem.

The histamine buildup is what gives symptoms of a headache, itchiness, or leaves you feeling flushed. This is a natural part of the body’s immune defense, but if histamine is not broken down properly, that is when histamine intolerance occurs.

Because histamine travels through the bloodstream, histamine can affect the gut, skin, brain, lungs, and entire cardiovascular system, contributing to a wide range of problems that make it difficult to diagnose. Some problems could include, headaches/migraines, hives, vertigo or dizziness, hypertension, tissue swelling, nasal congestion, and many other complaints.

How Antihistamine Foods Sources Help Fight Inflammation?

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When the body feels it is under attack, it releases histamine as part of the body’s immune defense. As mentioned previously, if the histamine is not broken down properly, or there are too many mast cells, the cells that release histamine or mast cells release too much, histamine intolerance occurs, and the body may react with inflammation. The best way to combat inflammation caused by histamine intolerance is to consume antihistamine foods.

Just like over the counter antihistamines, foods that fight inflammation block histamine activity and help stop the allergic reaction, slowing down histamine production. When the correct foods are ingested, the specific antihistamine properties in the food work as a natural antihistamine and are put to work to combat the inflammation, therefore lowering the symptoms associated with the response.

For some, it may be an outbreak of eczema, while others may experience chest pain and a racing heart. All these conditions can be traced back to inflammation caused by high histamine levels in the body.

Foods that contain high levels of quercetin, which is an antioxidant found naturally in produce, are known to reduce inflammatory response caused by histamines. Vitamin C is also another natural antihistamine that is present in many fruits and vegetables. When looking at what antihistamines do, simply put, they prevent histamines from attaching to your cells and causing symptoms.

Antihistamine Foods to Fight Inflammation

1. Apples

Rich in histamine-lowering quercetin, this fruit can stop the development of allergies that would have eventually led to inflammation in the body.

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2. Thyme

This herb has been shown to inhibit anaphylaxis, a histamine response in the body, as well as displaying anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties.

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3. Watercress

Considered one of the most nutrient-dense plants, watercress was shown in one study to inhibit 60% of all histamines released from mast cells.

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4. Onions

Incredibly nutritious and an important prebiotic, onions have been shown to release and stabilize mast cells, and even lower histamine levels in blood plasma.

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5. Parsley

This popular food garnish can repair damage to the mucosal lining of the stomach, is anti-inflammatory, and can repair liver damage. It also prevents histamine release when the body feels under a histamine attack.

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6. Broccoli

A good source of vitamin C, broccoli is an easy-to-find antihistamine and is a perfect solution for treating stuffy nose and other symptoms of allergies brought on by inflammation.

It is a true superfood and is a particularly rich source of the flavonoid kaempferol, which is why it is such a potent anti-inflammatory.

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7. Peaches

This sweet, juicy fruit has been proven to inhibit mast cells derived from allergic inflammation. Stopping the histamine response in cells is the first line of defense in stopping inflammation in the body.”

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Read More … Article Source: https://www.foodsforbetterhealth.com/top-20-antihistamine-foods-that-help-fight-inflammation-28555

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