Histamine is an in important neurotransmitter and immune messenger molecule. It is involved in processes involving hydrochloric acid secretion for digestion, triaging water reserves to key areas of the body and the inflammatory response. When Does Histamine Become a Problem? Histamine only becomes a problem when we have metabolic disturbances that do not allow us to effectively metabolize histamine properly. When histamine is formed it is broken down by specific enzymes. In the central nervous system, it is metabolized by histamine N-methyltransferase (HMT), while in the digestive tract it is broken down by diamine oxidase (DAO). The experts state that DAO is the major enzyme involved in histamine metabolism. The enzyme converts the histamine into imidazole acetaldehyde which does not trigger any sort of reaction in the body. DAO is responsible for ensuring a steady histamine level required for the balance of numerous chemical reactions taking place in the body. Who Has Histamine Intolerance: According to available research, histamine intolerance manifests in approximately 3% of the population. In up to 20% of these cases the symptoms occur mostly when histamine containing foods are used in combination with DAO inhibitors such as alcohol. Approximately 80% of individuals with histamine intolerance are women and most of them are over 40. The biggest factor involved with histamine intolerance is leaky gut syndrome or related disorders such as Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel, celiac, gluten sensitivity, etc. The second factor is a genetic polymorphism with the DAO enzyme. The 3rd strong risk factor is mold exposure as well as a high toxin load from pesticides, herbicides, heavy metals, alcohol and/or medication usage. In Today’s Episode: In this podcast episode, I go over the truth about histamine intolerance and the best strategies to heal histamine problems naturally. — > To listen to this podcast episode, comment “Podcast” and I will share the link or you can find the latest episode of the Dr Jockers Functional Nutrition podcast on Apple iTunes, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen to podcasts. #histamine #autoimmune #guthealth