Have you been annoyed due to hot flashes lately? Perhaps you have also been experiencing fatigue, confusion, and brain fog. If yes, then you’re possibly going through menopause.
The thought of not having to deal with bleeding on a monthly basis does sound like heaven for women, does it not? Sadly, however, the road to getting there is filled with many physical and mental struggles that welcome themselves in the form of menopausal symptoms.
You suddenly find yourself getting tired too often or not having the will to exercise due to low energy levels. While these signs are all common during menopause, did you know that histamine intolerance could also contribute to your menopausal symptoms?
Yes, yes, we know; another factor to make things worse for women during this transitional period! What if we told you that there are ways to bring this under control? So, if you have been asking yourself, “Does histamine intolerance go away after menopause?” then you’ve come to the right place.
In this article, we will be taking you on an insightful discussion regarding histamine intolerance and how it’s linked to menopause. Let’s get into it, shall we?
What is Histamine Intolerance?
Before we get into histamine intolerance, it’s important to understand what histamine is and the role it plays in the human body.
Histamine is a chemical released by the immune system as a response to an allergic reaction or injury. It sends messages to the brain and helps in digestion by triggering the release of stomach acid.
The body usually keeps the levels of histamine in check. It is produced by the cells as required before being released into your bloodstream. Histamine becomes an issue only when there is too much of it, and the body can’t break down the excess histamine, which causes a buildup of it.
Histamine intolerance doesn’t refer to sensitivity to histamine but is rather a sign that a person has developed too much of it. It affects the entire body, and the symptoms show themselves in different ways in different people.
There are similarities between the symptoms of menopause and histamine intolerance, but we will come to that connection in a bit. Let us first list out the signs of histamine intolerance that you should know about:
- Rashes, hives, and itching
- Sleep issues
- Low mood
- Tiredness
- Palpitations
- Asthma or runny or blocked nose
- Abdominal symptoms, including bloating, constipation, pain, or diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Digestive issues
How is Histamine Intolerance Connected to Menopause?
We cannot discuss the connection between menopause and histamine intolerance without getting into the link they have with estrogen dominance.
Estrogen Dominance and Histamine Intolerance
Let us break it down to you in as simple terms as possible so that you can gauge the role of estrogen dominance in relation to menopause and histamine intolerance:
- Estrogen stimulates mast cells to produce more histamine, which can increase the risk of histamine intolerance.
- Women are at a higher risk of developing histamine intolerance than men since they have more estrogen.
- When histamine levels are high, it leads to an increase in estrogen as well, which is why many women face histamine-related problems during their menstrual cycle.
- If the estrogen levels in your body go higher than the progesterone levels, you could experience certain symptoms of histamine intolerance.
- Estrogen dominance essentially refers to a hormonal imbalance due to the elevated levels of estrogen than progesterone. This can occur even if your estrogen levels are normal and if you face hormonal imbalance and low levels of progesterone.
Menopause and Histamine Intolerance
As a woman going through menopause or someone who is about to enter into that transitional phase, you already know that menopause causes a drop in estrogen levels. So, you could be wondering how histamine intolerance can still occur in such a scenario.
Let us explain to you how histamine intolerance is connected to menopause:
- Although there is a drop in estrogen and progesterone levels during menopause, women can still experience estrogen dominance.
- How, you ask? It’s because as long as there is a hormonal imbalance and the progesterone levels in your body are lower than the estrogen levels, estrogen dominance can still occur.
- Progesterone levels drop quicker than estrogen levels, contributing to the cycle of estrogen dominance, which in turn leads to histamine intolerance.
How to Control Histamine Intolerance During Menopause?
Menopause is a natural part of every woman’s life. So, if you’re experiencing histamine intolerance as a menopausal woman, there is no reason to feel disheartened because there are ways to manage it.
Yes, you heard us right. Now let’s explore the solution to this problem and talk about how you can mend your health through simple yet effective methods:
Stay Away from Xenoestrogens
You can think of xenoestrogens are foreign estrogens that have estrogen-like effects despite being different from the estrogen that naturally occurs in the human body. These can often lead to estrogen dominance and histamine intolerance.
Xenoestrogens are usually present in beauty and cleaning products. Therefore, stay away from these and reach for organic and natural products instead.
Develop a Low-Histamine and Anti-Inflammatory Diet
Women who are going through menopause should consume a diet that’s low in histamine, anti-inflammatory, and rich in nutrients. Incorporate the following elements into your diet:
- Leafy greens and vegetables
- Fruits
- Herbs
- Organic meat
- Healthy fats
Avoid inflammatory foods, such as:
- Junk food
- Refined oils
- Processed and canned meat
- Refined sugar
- Food that is highly processed
Manage Sleep and Stress Levels
We can’t overstate the importance of proper sleep and low-stress levels when it comes to dealing with menopausal symptoms, and the same goes for histamine intolerance.
Every woman has a different way of dealing with stress. So, do whatever it takes to stay calm and get the required amount of sleep. Simple things can help, such as:
- Yoga and meditation
- Spending time outdoors
- Drawing a bath to relax your muscles before bedtime
- Repeating positive affirmations to yourself
- Listening to calming music before falling asleep
- Keeping all electronic devices aside before going to bed and indulging in reading instead
Keep Moving Your Body
Did you know that chronic stress could contribute to hormonal imbalance and histamine intolerance? An effective way to deal with this is by moving your body as much as possible. This helps in reducing your stress, boosting your mood, and improving your overall health.
We do realize that working women and moms don’t always have enough time during the day to opt for physical activities, but even small steps in this direction can bring about a huge difference, such as:
- Exercising for about 20 to 30 minutes five days every week
- Playing with your pets or kids at the park
- Stretching your body regularly
- trolling around in an outdoor environment
- Dancing happily to your favorite tunes
- Trying out cardiovascular exercises, such as cycling and swimming
Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy
Hormonal medicines and hormone replacement therapy can increase the estrogen levels in your body along with histamine intolerance. Talk to your doctor and get their opinion about either reducing or getting off hormone replacement therapy and avoiding hormone-based medicines.
Conclusion
Menopause and its different stages come with multiple unpleasant symptoms as it is. We can only imagine how stressful it must be for women to keep it all together while also grappling with the various physical and emotional changes.
In between juggling work, family, and menopausal symptoms, it’s extremely natural to feel exhausted and almost lost. When something like histamine intolerance tops it up, you could be left wondering how to deal with the symptoms.
It’s for this very purpose that we aim to provide you with the best possible suggestions and solutions to make your life a little easier. Go through the methods listed above, and don’t let the symptoms get you down.
Do consult your doctor when the allergy symptoms settle in so they can recommend the necessary steps.
Believe us when we say that you’ve got this!
FAQs
No, histamine intolerance doesn’t indicate sensitivity to histamine.
Histamine intolerance occurs when the body produces too much histamine.
Some of the symptoms of histamine intolerance include diarrhea, constipation, tiredness, and sleep issues.
Yes, high levels of estrogen are linked to histamine intolerance.
There isn’t proof that histamine intolerance goes away after menopause, but it can be controlled in a couple of ways.
References:
- https://www.onstella.com/the-latest/your-body/menopause-and-allergies/#:~:text=Histamine%20intolerance%20happens%20when%20histamine,or%20even%20the%20menopause%20itself
- https://drbeckycampbell.com/menopause-and-histamine-intolerance-connection/
- https://nouveauhealthcare.com/blogs/news/histamine-and-menopause-4-simple-steps-to-reduce-histamine
