Histamine Overload: Why Popping Antihistamines Won’t Solve Your Problem (and Might Make It Worse!!)
So, here’s the deal: If you’re relying on daily antihistamines to keep your allergies in check, we’ve got a bigger issue. Sure, they’re great for short-term relief, but they’re not getting to the ROOT CAUSE of your histamine overload—and in the long run, they could actually mess with your body’s natural processes. One major player in all of this? The HDC enzyme (aka Histidine Decarboxylase). Let’s talk about what it does and why a pill-a-day approach isn’t cutting it.
What’s the HDC Enzyme All About?
Histidine Decarboxylase (HDC) is like the ringleader of histamine production. It takes the amino acid histidine and converts it into histamine. And guess what? Without this enzyme, your body wouldn’t even be able to produce histamine. While that might sound great to allergy sufferers, histamine is actually central to a ton of processes—especially inflammation. It’s responsible for those oh-so-fun allergic reactions like sneezing, itching, and swelling.
The Problem: Excess Histamine:
For some of us, HDC goes into overdrive, producing way more histamine than necessary. Whether it’s because of genetic polymorphisms or other factors, people with an overactive HDC enzyme end up dealing with intense allergic reactions—and sometimes even conditions like asthma or eczema. Fun, right?
Why Antihistamines Aren’t the Magic Bullet:
Sure, antihistamines block histamine from binding to its receptors, which can help with those sneezing fits and itchy eyes, but they’re just a band-aid. They do *nothing* to stop your body from actually **producing** all that excess histamine in the first place. Over time, your body can start depending on them, and this can cause even more imbalances down the road, including things like drowsiness, digestive issues, or even affecting your brain’s ability to clear out histamine. So yeah, not a long-term win.
How to Tackle Histamine from the Source:
Instead of popping antihistamines every day, it’s time to dig into what’s really going on—why your body is churning out all this histamine. Here’s what you need to do:
1. Address HDC’s Role in Histamine Production:
Understanding that HDC is the only enzyme responsible for converting histidine into histamine helps us see why some folks are more prone to severe allergic reactions. If your HDC is overactive, you’re going to experience stronger symptoms like bronchoconstriction (thanks, asthma!) and all-around more inflammation.
2. Look Beyond Your Genes:
If you’ve got a genetic variation in the HDC gene or your MTHFR gene. YES, it could be a factor in your histamine overload. But don’t worry—it’s not your destiny. Factors like your diet, stress levels, and gut health also play huge roles in regulating histamine levels. Just because you’ve got the gene doesn’t mean you’re stuck suffering. Get your MTHFR gene tested! Dr. J has a great you can order and it will get you some answers.
3. Optimize Gut Health:
Histamine is metabolized in the gut, so if your digestive system isn’t functioning well, you’ll have a hard time clearing out that excess histamine. Adding a **DAO enzyme** (Diamine Oxidase) supplement can help break down histamine in your gut if you’ve got a DAO gene variation. But more importantly, focus on healing your gut by eating anti-inflammatory foods and ditching the processed junk!
4. Support Histamine Breakdown Naturally:
There are better ways to reduce histamine levels naturally. Nutrients like quercetin, vitamin C, and SAMe can help regulate histamine production. Plus, loading up on antihistamine foods (think: apples, onions, and berries) while cutting out histamine-rich foods like fermented products (sorry, kombucha lovers!) can make a big difference.
The Bottom Line:
If histamine overload is wrecking your life, a daily antihistamine might give you temporary relief, but it’s not fixing the problem. To really get on top of it, you’ve got to look at what’s causing that excess histamine in the first place—whether it’s your HDC enzyme, your gut health, your MTHFT gene or something else entirely. Take the functional approach and get to the root of the issue so you can stop histamine from running the show.
Need help figuring out how to reduce histamine naturally? Schedule with me and we can figure out a game plan for you. If you want a sample anti-histamine diet email me
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