If you experience histamine intolerance, you may be wondering whether or not an ancestral lifestyle — replete with organ meats and organ meat supplements — is right for you. 

We’re often told, after all, that red meat is off-limits for people who have problems breaking down histamine. But is the solution to histamine intolerance really so simple?

As it turns out . . . no. Beef organs are unlikely to raise histamine levels. They may even improve histamine intolerance! Keep reading to learn more. 

• Histamine intolerance 101
• The best foods for histamine levels

Histamine intolerance 101

First things first: histamine isn’t a bad thing. It’s merely a messenger — a key chemical compound released by the nervous system in order to regulate sleep cycles, immunity, and more. In addition to being produced by the body, histamine is contained in certain foods (yes, including red meat). [1]

Histamine only becomes problematic when internal levels build up. Histamine buildup can cause a slew of undesirable symptoms, including: 

• Fatigue
• Nausea 
• Anxiety 
• Vomiting 
• Sneezing
• Migraines
• Headaches
• Runny nose
• Watery eyes
• Hives/itchiness
• Digestive issues
• Nasal congestion
• High blood pressure

Severe histamine reactons can even trigger heart palpitations and other cardiovascular symptoms. Not good. 

Why does this kind of histamine intolerance occur in the first place? The newest research implies that ‘leaky gut’ is the problem. [2] Leaky gut occurs when the intestinal tract’s normally-tight lining develops weak spots, causing the entire gut to become more permeable. 

While some permeability allows water and vital nutrients to pass through, too much permeability allows irritants to leach into the bloodstream. What kinds of irritants? Yes, you guessed correctly: histamine.

Whether histamine intolerance is genetic, epigenetic, or fully environmental is yet-to-be-discovered. Regardless of what causes histamine problems in the first place, the solutions remain largely the same. Most people who experience said problems adopt a low-histamine diet in order to mitigate their symptoms. That means the following food groups are largely off limits:

• Alcohol
• Caffeine
• Shellfish
• Chocolate 
• Smoked foods
• ‘Natural’ flavourings
• Artificial colours/flavours
• Preservatives like citric acid 
• Additives like xantham gum and carrageenan
• Most pre-made condiments (including ketchup, mustard, and more)
• Processed meats like sausage salami, and mincemeat
• DAO inhibitors

It’s the last two bulletpoints on this list that make people wonder about organ meats. Do organ meats or organ meat supplements fall into the same off-limits category as processed meats? Do they inhibit the DAO enzyme that’s so closely linked to histamine interolancer?

We’re thankful to report that the answer to both questions is a resounding no. Organ meats are actually one of the best food groups out there for those of you who experience histamine problems! Here’s why. 

The best foods for histamine levels

In general, nutrient dense foods reduce whole-body inflammation . . . and reduced inflammation leads to reduced whole-body histamine levels. Bonus points for foods that contain the DAO enzyme (more on this important enzyme later).

The following food groups are particularly advantageous:

• Berries
• Dark leafy greens
• Grass-fed meat (fresher is better)
• Veggies (especially cruciferous ones)
• Salmon and other fatty fish
• Organ meats 

Why beef organs may actually help with histamine levels

But let’s focus on the utility of organ meats and organ meat supplements for now. After all, the other superfoods mentioned on the list above haven’t been nearly as overlooked or underrated by popular culture. 

Beef organs are rich in DAO and other key nutrients that may help regulate endogenous histamine. Let’s take a look at these nutrients one by one. 

DAO 

Also known as diamine oxidase, the DAO enzyme is among your body’s most adept at breaking down histamine. It’s no coincidence that people with histamine intolerance frequently produce less DAO, leading to chronic histamine buildup. 

Improving your body’s kidney health via beef kidney supplementation may increase DAO levels enough to put the brakes on histamine production. One 2-week study of patients with histamine intolerance found that 93% of participants reported significant digestive improvement after taking DAO twice per day. [3]

Our PrimeOrgan™ Supplement contains liver, kidney & heart — all good sources of DAO.  

Vitamin B12

B12 is another key player in the conversion and breakdown of histamine. This B vitamin plays a vital role in the conversion of food-sourced histidine into internal histamine by acting as a cofactor. Improving this conversion rate counterintuitively improves histamine clearance in the long run. 

Iron

Beef organs are among the world’s best sources of iron, with beef liver likely taking the cake as nature’s very best source. (And not just any iron, either, but ultra-absorbable heme iron!)

Iron is best-known for its role in promoting red blood cell formation, but it does much more than that. This earth mineral is also needed for the DAO enzyme to function optimally; without adequate iron, DAO’s action is impaired. This can easily lead to histamine buildup and all of its most common symptoms: sneezing, scratching, itchiness, and more. 

If iron is what you’re after, look no further than our PrimeOrgan™ Organic Grass Fed Beef Liver Supplement. It’s made from 100% pure beef liver and amazingly rich in iron, copper, retinol, and more. 

Zinc and copper

Last but not least, beef organs are rich in zinc and copper. These minerals support overall immune health through a variety of different (but related) mechanisms. Considering that your immune system is responsible for producing histamine in the first place, copper and zinc might be able to address potential histamine problems “upstream,” before they even happen! These minerals may: 

• Support cytokine production
• Support white blood cell production
• Support and stabilise general immune function
• Reduce histamine overproduction (holistically)

If you’ve been looking for a consistent way to get adequate copper and zinc, PrimeOrgan™ Beef Organ Mix and PrimeOrgan™ Organic Grass Fed Beef Liver are both more than up for the task.

Wrapping things up

While it’s true that beef organs are rich in iron, B12, and other immune-supporting nutrients, their ability to improve histamine levels goes far deeper than that. Beef organs get much of their stabilising power from their DAO content! This important enzyme helps your body break down histamine before its levels get high enough for symptoms to surface. You might just be able to say goodbye to itchiness and skin breakouts for good.