Alcohol and histamine intolerance
A glass of red wine, a cold beer, a refreshing Aperol Spritz in the evening – for many people, this is a perfectly normal indulgence. Especially at many social occasions, alcohol plays a significant and almost expected role. However, some people experience symptoms afterward, such as a stuffy nose or sweating. Is there, then, a kind of allergy to alcohol? You can find out here what this has to do with histamine intolerance.
Alcohol and histamine (intolerance)
Alcohol in general is, among other things, a histamine liberator. This means that alcohol promotes the release of the body's own histamine without you actively consuming histamine.
Additionally, alcohol acts as a DAO blocker – it blocks the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO), which breaks down histamine. If this enzyme is blocked, the histamine cannot be properly broken down in the intestine and is therefore more likely to enter the bloodstream.
Speaking of the gut: Alcohol also increases the permeability of the intestinal lining – keyword: leaky gut – which, conversely, means that more histamine passes through the intestinal lining into the body. This can lead to constipation, diarrhea, or abdominal pain.
Alcoholic beverages often contain yeast, sulfur, and sulfites, as well as additives or preservatives. These ingredients are frequently problematic for people with histamine intolerance.
Furthermore, alcohol is a liquid. Liquids are absorbed more easily by the body than solid food, and therefore the histamine is also absorbed more quickly.
Finally, one more important point – alcohol dilates blood vessels. This can exacerbate the symptoms.
Symptoms after consuming alcohol
Typical symptoms after drinking alcohol include:
- Headache
- Gastrointestinal problems, diarrhea, nausea
- runny or blocked nose
- Sweating
- Skin redness/red face/flush
- Cardiovascular problems, such as dizziness
Do I have to completely abstain from alcohol?
Our recommendation here is: Yes! We actually recommend limiting alcohol consumption as much as possible, as it has a negative impact on the gastrointestinal tract. Another incredibly important factor is the additional strain on the liver. The liver is responsible for breaking down alcohol in the body. And the liver also contains an enzyme involved in breaking down histamine: histamine N-methyltransferase.
But abstinence isn't actually mandatory. Everyone's body reacts with a different tolerance to histamine and alcohol. This means that if you keep a few things in mind, you can enjoy an alcoholic drink now and then.
Tips for consuming alcohol
We've compiled some tips for you to keep in mind if you don't want to abstain from alcohol:
- If you drink alcohol, pay particular attention to a low-histamine diet before and after.
- Drink plenty of still water (more than you already do), because histamine is water-soluble.
- Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
- Always consume only small amounts of alcohol.
- Since mast cells also play a major role here, you should supply your body with nutrients.
- A liver or intestinal cleanse can generally improve your tolerance. Therefore, it is advisable to undertake regular cleanses, especially if you consume alcohol.
Which alcohol is suitable for someone with histamine intolerance?
Now we would like to give you an overview of which alcoholic drinks are absolute histamine bombs that should be avoided, and which alcohol is more suitable instead.
Alcoholic beverages – high in histamine
- red wine
- Mulled wine
- champagne
- some varieties of white wine
- Apple cider
- Sparkling wine
- Liqueurs: e.g., Baileys, herbal liqueur, Sambuca
- Brandy
- top-fermented beers: e.g., Altbier, Ale, wheat beer, malt beer
- Aged spirits: e.g., absinthe, whisky, dark rum, cognac
- Cocktails and long drinks: e.g., Pina Colada, Cuba Libre, Aperol Spritz, Gin and Tonic
Alcoholic beverages – lower in histamine
- clear spirits: e.g. vodka, gin, white rum, grain spirit, fruit brandy
- bottom-fermented beers: e.g., Pilsner, pale ale
- Low-histamine wines or sparkling wines
There are now several producers of low-histamine sparkling wine or wine. You can try different varieties to see what you like and what suits you. Always be mindful of your individual tolerance level. If your body can tolerate low-histamine wine occasionally, for example, it's certainly a good option for enjoying a glass now and then.
Important: Please note that there is NO such thing as histamine-free alcohol – even if some manufacturers claim otherwise.