Wissenswertes

Paprika and histamine

Bell peppers are a great alternative for anyone who can't tolerate tomatoes. They can be made into a delicious purée, and are also a real treat grilled, boiled, or steamed. Learn more about this versatile vegetable here!

Bell peppers and histamine: Are bell peppers suitable for a low-histamine diet?

Bell peppers, along with their close relatives pepperoni and chili peppers, are a very popular vegetable. They are frequently used in stuffed dishes or in salads. Originally from South and Central America , today Mexico and China are among the leading growing regions. In Germany, the majority of bell peppers are sourced from Spain and the Netherlands, with only a small portion coming from Germany itself. Bell peppers are naturally low in histamine , making them suitable for a low-histamine diet. They also serve as a good alternative to other vegetables high in histamine.

Paprika contains histamine

Paprika tolerance

There are foods that contain histamine and others that produce histamine through the bacterial breakdown of histidine, thus acting as histamine liberators. Like all other amino acids, histamine is a building block of proteins. However, bacteria require proteins as a basis for the production of the biogenic amine histamine. Since bell peppers contain only about 1 to 2 grams of protein per 100 grams , they do not provide a suitable breeding ground for bacteria . The situation is different, for example, with cheese or salami.


Red bell peppers versus green bell peppers: How much histamine do they contain?

For a low-histamine diet , red, yellow, and orange bell peppers are suitable . Green bell peppers, on the other hand, are high in histamine. To keep the histamine content of bell peppers low, it's important that the vegetables are fresh and haven't been refrigerated for a long time. When it comes to seasoning , sweet paprika is better than hot paprika. What about paprika chips and their histamine content? Due to their spiciness and the often-added additives, they are not particularly well-tolerated on a low-histamine diet.

Paprika intolerance

Bell peppers contain no histamine, but rather salicylic acid and capsaicin . Histamine is found in the pepper skin . People with salicylate intolerance therefore cannot tolerate paprika seasoning at all, and raw bell peppers even less so. The vegetable is best tolerated when cooked . If you have a salicylate intolerance, it is advisable to peel the bell peppers .


Capsaicin, also found in bell peppers, can cause discomfort even in healthy individuals. This naturally occurring alkaloid triggers a burning or hot sensation in mammals by reacting to certain receptors. Nausea or belching are possible in cases of intolerance. Raw bell peppers have a higher capsaicin content than those sautéed in oil. This is because the alkaloid can only be reduced by oil and sustained, low heat. Orange and yellow bell peppers are also generally better tolerated.

Paprika as a substitute product

Tomatoes are probably the most popular vegetable in Germany. Unfortunately, they are not suitable for a low-histamine diet. Bell peppers and bell pepper paste are good substitutes for tomatoes and tomato paste. Not only the color, but also the consistency is very similar to tomatoes. Bell pepper paste is perfect for sauces, soups, pizza, or casseroles .

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