Having initially thought (way back) that I had a problem with salicylates I am noticing more & more that all the problems I have with foods etc do seem to come back to histamine being at the centre of the issues, as after taking Histacalm for weeks - high in quercetin - I was having much less problems...

I am now convinced the problems was never salicylates, as I am eating (even red) apples (with the skin on) with no problems and ground almonds... I have started really avoiding chocolate and anything else I know to be high in histamines (which is concurrent with the Explorer diet anyway) and things are settling down, even though I have temporarily run out of quercitin...

So in researching all the foods etc that trigger this reaction for me, I am keen to learn more... For example I am avoiding cocoa, so am looking for a better hot beverage... I need a coffee/cocoa substitute as tea just does not satisfy on really cold days... Does anyone know if a pure dandelion root "coffee" is ok? Ta

Hi Possum,
I don't know about dandelion but I've seen carob listed in low histamine recipes. Maybe a cup of hot carob instead of hot cocoa.

At this site: http://foodallergies.about.com/od/commomfoodallergies/p/histamineintol.htm  it says that some supplements that doctors recommend are high doses of vitamin C and vitamin B6 (which can stimulate the activity of DAO in the body)along with a histamine-free diet. Another site also mentioned that DAO is a vitamin B6 dependent enzyme so B6 seems to be fairly important.

Thanks (once again) Karen for your thoughts/suggestions... I might well have to give the carob another go... It is an Explorer diamond & my body did seem to crave it (& ghee) about 18 months back Typical of me, I overdid it at that stage, so couldn't face either again... Then (possibly while reacting to something else) I got worried, since carob is related to the soy family, & being that I am very allergic to soy, I gave it a miss after that for both reasons??!!
Hmmm... now I am craving carob Oh & cheers re the suggestion of Vitamin C & B6 - I had started those again & they do seem to be helping... in spite of me running out of quercitin?!