The Best Guide for the South Sunderland Area

The Christmas Present that No-One Wants

Author: Joanne Oxenham

Published: 22nd December 2009 15:00

The hidden danger that lurks in your Christmas food and drink....

How would you feel if your Christmas started with this?

......headaches, diarrhoea, rashes and a sudden drop in blood pressure !

Unfortunately, the facts are:

• An increasing proportion of the European population being identified as Histamine Intolerance ( or HIT  ) sufferers - but a dire lack of diagnosis and information in the UK
• A bad reaction to a little red wine can indicate HIT
• HIT symptoms mimic allergy symptoms
• Headaches, diarrhoea, rashes and a sudden drop in blood pressure are common symptoms.
• Stress, high histamine-level foods and alcohol can all trigger symptoms

 

Christmas is when we finally have time to do what we want - eat, drink and be merry - at least that's the plan. But some of us may not be so merry and bright, spending part of it in bed or in the bathroom, especially after parties even if we haven't over-indulged. Many will experience quite severe consequences from just one glass of red wine, not to mention the mince pies and the Stilton or eating up the leftovers.

This may indicate a condition called histamine intolerance (HIT), recognised as a growing problem on mainland Europe, but barely known, under-diagnosed and under-publicised in the UK, with sufferers sometimes being given the very treatment that makes it worse.

Its effects are very uncomfortable and can show up as symptoms that look intriguingly like an allergy. Why? The answer is simple. The common culprit is histamine. But the difference between allergy and HIT is significant. In allergies the immune system is involved; HIT is the lack of an enzyme called diamine oxidase (DAO). Headaches, diarrhoea, rashes and a sudden drop in blood pressure are common symptoms.

HIT is complex but is mainly caused by problems digesting histamine-rich foods. In other words, if our DAO enzyme doesn't do its job properly then histamine levels skyrocket and make us feel very ill. Some sufferers may have had this for a long time and those with predominant symptoms of diarrhoea are likely to have been misdiagnosed with Irritatable Bowel Syndrome.

Problem foods include matured cheeses, cured meats, processed/tinned foods, any fermented foods, tomatoes, spinach, aubergines, chocolate, nuts, citrus fruits, wheat germ, some spices and alcohol, especially red wine and microbe-contaminated foods like tuna, mackerel and sausage. In other words, typical Christmas fare !

This doesn't mean suffererers facing a Christmas like Scrooge. Most people can enjoy histamine-rich foods and wine in reasonable quantities and feel perfectly fine the next day. However, a few will feel incredibly miserable and Christmas as a festive season will be pretty much over. Adding insult to injury, they will probably be told it's just ‘a hangover'. Looking on the bright side, it may give them valuable insight into what is causing the problem.

Christmas, although it is supposed to be a time to relax, means a lot of stress for many of us. Stress or emotional upset is also known to be a trigger of symptoms. So relax, enjoy, drink moderately and eat fresh foods. The majority of HIT sufferers, research shows, are women in their 40s - thus the ones who take the brunt of Christmas festivities and all the stress involved.

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Read our special feature on Stress Management here

Those who believe they may have a degree of histamine intolerance should consult with their GP. If this brings no results because they are unaware of the condition, call the Allergy UK Helpline. 01322 619898 they are fully trained on this condition and can tell you how to get help.

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