The Hormone-Allergies Connection You Need To Know About

Have you heard of histamine? It's a natural hormone produced by mast cells, basophils, and other immune cells in several tissues in our bodies. And while many people think of it as the allergy-inducing chemical, histamine actually has important functions related to digestion, mental function, and female reproduction.

We produce histamine naturally in our bodies and we also consume it though foods like wine, cheese, and fermented vegetables. Foods like citrus, pineapple, and tomatoes don't make contain high levels of this chemical, but they do stimulate histamine release from immune cells. The body metabolizes histamine and gets rid of it through two enzymes, called HNMT and DAO.

So how is histamine connected to our hormones? For starters, if you're a woman, you're more likely to have histamine intolerance to begin with. And if your symptoms are worse at or right before ovulation, or right before your period, your hormones could definitely be to blame.

Interestingly, progesterone (the hormone that balances out estrogen in the body) has the opposite effect on histamine. When progesterone binds to its receptors on mast cells, it inhibits histamine release2. In addition, DAO enzyme levels fluctuate throughout the month and are highest when progesterone is at its peak3. This is all well and good if your hormones are balanced, but if you have low progesterone relative to estrogen, known as estrogen dominance, your body may be more prone to histamine intolerance.

The good new is that reducing your estrogen load can help you reduce histamine intolerance. You can start by reducing outside sources of estrogen from phytoestrogens, such as soy and flaxseed, and birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies. Some environmental toxins can also mimic estrogen, leading to increased allergic reactions5, so it's a good idea to reduce your exposure to BPA, phthalates, parabens, and many others common in skin care products, pesticides, plastics, food additives, and industrial products. Eating cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts on daily basis can also help break down estrogen in your body to reduce your estrogen load.

Reducing stress can also help balance your hormones for healthier histamine levels. This is because stress can lower progesterone levels and allow estrogen and histamine to dominate. If you have hormone or histamine issues, mindfulness-based stress reduction techniques like yoga and meditation are important to incorporate into your routine.

Finally, let's not forget about the role of the gut in getting rid of both estrogen and histamine. Certain types of bad gut bacteria interfere with estrogen detoxification, causing more of it to circulate back into the body and increase estrogen load6. To combat this, make sure you're getting plenty of fiber in your diet to feed beneficial bacteria and keep things moving along.