Full-bodied, decadent red wine is a popular pairing for the Christmas dinner. While many are partial to a few glasses during the festive period, a nutritionist has revealed the reason why many may be left with a painful headache after just one glass of the red stuff.
Red wine headaches can happen within 30 minutes of consuming the beverage, and new research has outlined the health problem that could be to blame. Dr Ellie Pierson, a Scientific Manager at food intolerance test specialist, YorkTest, explained the tricky ingredient hidden in every bottle is histamine.
Dr Pierson said: “Histamine is a chemical which occurs naturally in some foods. If after eating or drinking, you tend to notice swelling, rashes, sneezing or sickness within 30 minutes, be mindful it could be a histamine intolerance.”
While all alcohol contains histamine and sulphites, red wines and beer can be especially heavy in the chemical. The good news is that there are some boozy options for those with histamine intolerance that still want to enjoy a tipple.
Dr Pierson recommended considering tequila, rum, vodka, or gin. She said: “Clear spirits are generally lower in histamine and when mixed with soft drinks, the histamine content is diluted.”
The bad news is, however, that alcohol might not be the only culprit driving histamine intolerance symptoms in your Christmas dinner.
According to the doctor, foods such as chocolate, mayonnaise, and mature cheeses are also packed with the chemical.
Dr Pierson said: “To lower the risk of triggering this intolerance, managing your diet is crucial.”
The expert advised that this can be done by swapping out certain foods from your diet:
- Cut back on processed foods: Opt for freshly cooked meats rather than processed foods or aged meats such as salami. These types of meats have been found to have higher levels of histamines.
- Eat more fresh fruit and veg: Leafy greens, root vegetables, bananas, strawberries, and citrus fruits aren’t all just low in histamine but have many added vitamins that are beneficial to everyday diet.
- Opting for non-dairy substitutes: Coconut or almond milk is a much better option as dairy can produce a heightened histamine intolerance.
- Try herbal teas: Peppermint, chamomile or rooibos teas may be better as regular tea and green tea are known to have higher amounts of histamine.
Worryingly, many people may be unaware that so many foods have histamine in them and could be causing an allergic reaction.
The doctor added: “This is why it’s so important to keep a food diary to track which foods trigger a reaction as often this type of intolerance is misdiagnosed and is usually mistaken for seasonal or food allergies.
“Around this time of year, we tend to eat and drink more than usual but if you find that you are having a worse reaction than usual, it might be useful to work with a healthcare professional or a dietitian who will be able to help in creating a diet plan around a histamine intolerance.”
