Are apricots considered a low histamine food?

Apricots in Histamine Intolerance Management

Apricots are considered a low-histamine food and can generally be included in a low-histamine diet for individuals with histamine intolerance. 1

Understanding Histamine Intolerance

Histamine intolerance results from an imbalance between accumulated histamine and the body's capacity to degrade it, primarily through the enzyme diamine oxidase (DAO). This is different from IgE-mediated food allergies and can cause various symptoms that mimic allergic reactions 2.

Key points about histamine in foods:

• Histamine content alone cannot predict tolerance - individual responses vary significantly 1
• Freshness matters - even low-histamine foods can develop histamine during storage 1
• Fermented foods universally contain high histamine levels and should be avoided 3

Fresh Fruits in Low-Histamine Diets

Fresh fruits like apricots are generally considered low in histamine and suitable for histamine-intolerant individuals. However, it's important to note:

• Fresh fruits should be consumed when they are ripe but not overripe
• Storage time affects histamine content - fresher is better
• Individual tolerance varies significantly 1

Foods to Avoid on a Low-Histamine Diet

While apricots are generally safe, the following foods should be avoided:

• Fermented foods: Aged cheeses, fermented soy products, processed meats, sauerkraut, kimchi 1
• Alcohol: Especially red wine and champagne 4
• Other high-histamine foods: Spinach, tomatoes, eggplant, and certain fish 3
• Histamine-liberating foods: Some individuals may need to avoid certain citrus fruits and bananas that can trigger histamine release 3

Diagnostic and Management Approach

If histamine intolerance is suspected:

1. Consider a 4-week elimination diet followed by systematic reintroduction to identify personal triggers 1
2. Measurement of urinary histamine metabolites can be helpful in diagnosis 1
3. Rule out other conditions with similar presentations (IgE-mediated allergies, mastocytosis) 1

Treatment options:

• Low-histamine diet (including fresh fruits like apricots) is the gold standard treatment 5
• DAO enzyme supplementation may help some individuals 5
• Antihistamines (preferably 2nd or 3rd generation) can be used as supportive treatment 1, 5

Practical Considerations

• The response to a low-histamine diet is considered confirmation of histamine intolerance 5
• Dietary restrictions should be individualized based on symptom response
• Many low-histamine diets are unnecessarily restrictive - only 32% of commonly excluded foods actually contain high histamine levels 3

Remember that while apricots are generally considered low-histamine, individual responses may vary. Fresh, properly stored apricots are more likely to be well-tolerated than those that have been stored for extended periods.