Hive got to get some recipe ideas from The Hive
May 1, 2012 7:42 PM Subscribe
Have you eaten a low histamine diet? What do you eat?
I'm not looking for a list of included and excluded foods. I want to know what your go-to foods and recipes are.
I've heard of The Red Wine Headache cookbook -- but ordering it from the US looks difficult/expensive. They're working on a ebook version and I'm looking forward to that.
I have a doctor and an allergist. I just want food ideas. Easy things for grab and go and make-ahead recipes (I promise not to reheat meat leftovers) that I can cook on the weekend and eat throughout the week (currently I can only think of lentil soups. And I'm doing that.)
I'm in a medication vs hives and angiodema grudge match and am hoping to calm my system with a low histamine diet.
I'm not looking for a list of included and excluded foods. I want to know what your go-to foods and recipes are.
I've heard of The Red Wine Headache cookbook -- but ordering it from the US looks difficult/expensive. They're working on a ebook version and I'm looking forward to that.
I have a doctor and an allergist. I just want food ideas. Easy things for grab and go and make-ahead recipes (I promise not to reheat meat leftovers) that I can cook on the weekend and eat throughout the week (currently I can only think of lentil soups. And I'm doing that.)
I'm in a medication vs hives and angiodema grudge match and am hoping to calm my system with a low histamine diet.
Best answer: Wholegrain pasta with pesto made from pureed artichokes and tahini.
Roasted chickpeas.
Hummus.
Any veggie soup (could be blended for a creamy texture). (Broccoli soup, zucchini soup, potato soup, carrot soup, green pea soup, mixed veggies, etc.).
Rye bread with said pesto.
Quinoa with roasted veggies. (Try roasting cabbage, beet root, sweet potatoes, all kinds of veggies really).
Generally more herbs, arugula and the like to add flavor.
Any nut butter should be okay.
Roasted nuts.
Salad from steamed veggies mixed with herbs and sesame oil.
Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. (Adjust ingredients; you could stuff the rice paper wrappers with lettuce, carrots, herbs, roasted zucchini etc.)
Chickpeas or other beans can be made to falafel or patties.
Here is a nice blog with recipes. And the Red Wine Headache Cookbook has a website where they share a few recipes, in case you didn't see it.
Hope this helps. Hope I didn't miss anything about your diet restrictions.
posted by travelwithcats at 8:54 PM on May 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
Roasted chickpeas.
Hummus.
Any veggie soup (could be blended for a creamy texture). (Broccoli soup, zucchini soup, potato soup, carrot soup, green pea soup, mixed veggies, etc.).
Rye bread with said pesto.
Quinoa with roasted veggies. (Try roasting cabbage, beet root, sweet potatoes, all kinds of veggies really).
Generally more herbs, arugula and the like to add flavor.
Any nut butter should be okay.
Roasted nuts.
Salad from steamed veggies mixed with herbs and sesame oil.
Fresh Vietnamese spring rolls. (Adjust ingredients; you could stuff the rice paper wrappers with lettuce, carrots, herbs, roasted zucchini etc.)
Chickpeas or other beans can be made to falafel or patties.
Here is a nice blog with recipes. And the Red Wine Headache Cookbook has a website where they share a few recipes, in case you didn't see it.
Hope this helps. Hope I didn't miss anything about your diet restrictions.
posted by travelwithcats at 8:54 PM on May 1, 2012 [3 favorites]
I would be very skeptical of this "histamine diet."
Histamine can refer to a very specific small molecule or a range of stuff that has to do with modulating immunity, re-antihistamine allergy/respiratory-infection medications.
The exceptionally broad and maybe-unintentional misunderstanding use and definition of histamine immediately brings up my hackles against hack bogus bs "medicine."
Also, what are your medical limitations, and what are your health goals?
posted by porpoise at 1:48 AM on May 2, 2012
Histamine can refer to a very specific small molecule or a range of stuff that has to do with modulating immunity, re-antihistamine allergy/respiratory-infection medications.
The exceptionally broad and maybe-unintentional misunderstanding use and definition of histamine immediately brings up my hackles against hack bogus bs "medicine."
Also, what are your medical limitations, and what are your health goals?
posted by porpoise at 1:48 AM on May 2, 2012
Response by poster: In no particular order my goals are to:
Get off prednisone and start being nice to my family again
...without being covered in hives or going into anaphylaxis, paying for another ER visit, etc
Have a sense of hope and agency
Stay hydrated
Work full days at work
End this episode
Send my favorite dog back to the humane society to reduce my allergy load (rescue groups in the area haven't come through)
I understand the limits of allergy testing, I understand the hives may be caused by something other than allergies, i also know that the mouth hives and ER visit that followed lunch last week may have been a response I had only because my body is on high alert and not a pre-existing condition. I work in medical research, have four lovely bosses who are medical resaerchers/primary care docs. I have read the literature on histamines (and understand the early nature if that literature). I also have chronic headaches and found an article specifically identifying a relationship between chronic headaches and histamine intolerance.
Having 5 inch hives all over my body with increasingly serious reactions --while on meds --is scary and make it difficult to be nice to my family, work full time and get my doctoral degree. (thanks metafilter for the Pema Chondro (sp?) book suggestion -- I'm aware of the stress connection to hives, too.). I can step back from school, my bosses have been great and my husband is a saint.
It just seems like when I'm in the middle of a giant prolonged histamine response, I shouldnt be stuffing extra histamines into my body.
Besides, aside from the maple sugar candy I'm trying to dream about instead of having chocolate, I'm going to be eating more healthily than I am now.
I appreciate your skepticism. I really do. I'm skeptical. But there's a fine line between skepticism and despair. I'm trying to come down on the other side.
Thank you for the suggestions
posted by vitabellosi at 4:01 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Get off prednisone and start being nice to my family again
...without being covered in hives or going into anaphylaxis, paying for another ER visit, etc
Have a sense of hope and agency
Stay hydrated
Work full days at work
End this episode
Send my favorite dog back to the humane society to reduce my allergy load (rescue groups in the area haven't come through)
I understand the limits of allergy testing, I understand the hives may be caused by something other than allergies, i also know that the mouth hives and ER visit that followed lunch last week may have been a response I had only because my body is on high alert and not a pre-existing condition. I work in medical research, have four lovely bosses who are medical resaerchers/primary care docs. I have read the literature on histamines (and understand the early nature if that literature). I also have chronic headaches and found an article specifically identifying a relationship between chronic headaches and histamine intolerance.
Having 5 inch hives all over my body with increasingly serious reactions --while on meds --is scary and make it difficult to be nice to my family, work full time and get my doctoral degree. (thanks metafilter for the Pema Chondro (sp?) book suggestion -- I'm aware of the stress connection to hives, too.). I can step back from school, my bosses have been great and my husband is a saint.
It just seems like when I'm in the middle of a giant prolonged histamine response, I shouldnt be stuffing extra histamines into my body.
Besides, aside from the maple sugar candy I'm trying to dream about instead of having chocolate, I'm going to be eating more healthily than I am now.
I appreciate your skepticism. I really do. I'm skeptical. But there's a fine line between skepticism and despair. I'm trying to come down on the other side.
Thank you for the suggestions
posted by vitabellosi at 4:01 AM on May 2, 2012 [1 favorite]
Sounds like you are more knowledgeable than I am. :-) I hope that you check drastic changes in diet / meds with your docs though.
It sucks when you feel like anything you eat makes you feel sick, so I guess it is always a good idea to restrict the diet (for a short time) and reintroduce certain food items one at a time. Having a sort of food diary helps to track progress/flare ups over time. Basically any food could be the trigger.
So please take my food suggestions lightly and try what works for you. Although nuts are considered low in histamine, they are among the most common allergens. And I would avoid processed food for a while, additives or anything artificially produced. It is hard in regard to eating out or buying meals on the go, but there is no way to make sure there is no cross contamination. Most restaurants don't cater to allergic people only.
In my own humble experience: Even when tested for allergies, there is a fine line between intolerance and allergy. Sometimes it is not measurable with your standard allergy test, but the body still reacts to it. It's frustrating. Although anaphylaxis is severe and seems to point to allergy vs intolerance.
Re staying hydrated: What helped me was a silly trick. Counting sips. At first it felt weird to drink more than I used to but I got easier with time. 15 sips, 20 sips, 30 sips at a time? More! It's a bit like a game and helps feel like reaching a goal once you can drink as many sips as you planned. And put water bottles everywhere. On the bedside table, desk, couch table, in the fridge, your bag. It helps to drink more, even if it is just 5 more sips. If you find that you don't react to say cucumber, watermelon or mint, you could put some in your water for added flavor. For me drinking water really helps with headaches, but I don't have them very often. So YMMV.
Re dog: maybe someone could foster the dog for a while? If your body reacts to dogs, you would need to get rid of the dog dander in your house as well. Would it help if you stayed in a pet free home temporarily?
And don't be too harsh on yourself, being nice when sick/everything itches/hurts is truly not easy.
IANAMD. This is not medical advice. This is a complex issue and I wish you the best.
posted by travelwithcats at 6:29 AM on May 2, 2012
It sucks when you feel like anything you eat makes you feel sick, so I guess it is always a good idea to restrict the diet (for a short time) and reintroduce certain food items one at a time. Having a sort of food diary helps to track progress/flare ups over time. Basically any food could be the trigger.
So please take my food suggestions lightly and try what works for you. Although nuts are considered low in histamine, they are among the most common allergens. And I would avoid processed food for a while, additives or anything artificially produced. It is hard in regard to eating out or buying meals on the go, but there is no way to make sure there is no cross contamination. Most restaurants don't cater to allergic people only.
In my own humble experience: Even when tested for allergies, there is a fine line between intolerance and allergy. Sometimes it is not measurable with your standard allergy test, but the body still reacts to it. It's frustrating. Although anaphylaxis is severe and seems to point to allergy vs intolerance.
Re staying hydrated: What helped me was a silly trick. Counting sips. At first it felt weird to drink more than I used to but I got easier with time. 15 sips, 20 sips, 30 sips at a time? More! It's a bit like a game and helps feel like reaching a goal once you can drink as many sips as you planned. And put water bottles everywhere. On the bedside table, desk, couch table, in the fridge, your bag. It helps to drink more, even if it is just 5 more sips. If you find that you don't react to say cucumber, watermelon or mint, you could put some in your water for added flavor. For me drinking water really helps with headaches, but I don't have them very often. So YMMV.
Re dog: maybe someone could foster the dog for a while? If your body reacts to dogs, you would need to get rid of the dog dander in your house as well. Would it help if you stayed in a pet free home temporarily?
And don't be too harsh on yourself, being nice when sick/everything itches/hurts is truly not easy.
IANAMD. This is not medical advice. This is a complex issue and I wish you the best.
posted by travelwithcats at 6:29 AM on May 2, 2012
Just on the off chance that this might be useful information, regarding your hives - have you or had you been taking anti-biotics? I had the most dreadful breakout from hives three times and it turned out that I am allergic to sulfa drugs. (I also get severe asthma from some dried fruits from the sulfites and some red wine).
Good luck
posted by gt2 at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2012
Good luck
posted by gt2 at 6:51 AM on May 2, 2012
I did amazingly well on a diet informed by Food is Your Best Medicine I worked with a nutritionist who built on Dr. Bieler's work (I think the original version of this book was written in the 20's or 30's so some of the suggestions/language is outdated).
She started me off on a week of just "Bieler broth" which is a veggie "soup" that can be taken hot or cold--it is supposed to give your body time to rest and "reset". Then you add foods in gradually. The version I have used is a mix of zucchini and green beans (1lb each) and a whole bunch of parsley (very cleansing!) boiled together in just enough water to cover--then blended until smooth. Drink whenever you are hungry. I make up one batch at a time and keep refrigerated--it ferments if you keep it more than a day or two.
Good luck, sounds like you are having a miserable time of it.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:57 AM on May 2, 2012
She started me off on a week of just "Bieler broth" which is a veggie "soup" that can be taken hot or cold--it is supposed to give your body time to rest and "reset". Then you add foods in gradually. The version I have used is a mix of zucchini and green beans (1lb each) and a whole bunch of parsley (very cleansing!) boiled together in just enough water to cover--then blended until smooth. Drink whenever you are hungry. I make up one batch at a time and keep refrigerated--it ferments if you keep it more than a day or two.
Good luck, sounds like you are having a miserable time of it.
posted by agatha_magatha at 9:57 AM on May 2, 2012
Response by poster: travelwithcats -- I appreciate your comments. I agree that separating out allergies and intolerances is going to be tricky. I'll be talking to all of my docs about the steps I'm taking -- I've got follow up appointments scheduled. I can't get full allergy testing until I'm off the antihistamines and understand why allergy testing doesn't always lead to clear directions on what to do next (they're not sensitive tests, they don't pick up food intolerances, lots of false negatives).
I'm alert to the common food allergies that would be allowed on the low histamine list. And I'll be watching additives. Mr. Vitabellosi and I were already trying to eat out less and cook from scratch more, limiting meat and cooking from a vegan cookbook often anyway. I'm thankful we've already carved out weekend time to cook large batches of food for the week.
I will reintroduce foods to test it out. I agree about the water -- I have techniques that work well when I'm at work. Weekends are more challenging but I'm on it!
I'm trying to find a foster home for the dog. Dog networks haven't panned out yet. My other dog is a schnauzer/poodle who doesn't shed and whom I can bathe frequently. I know he's still a source of allergens. No dogs in my bedroom and I'm limiting physical contact. Hoping to keep him. I live in an area where it's wise to have a barking dog in the house.
gt2 -- I haven't taken antibiotics lately, but I have a coworker who ended her years-long hive drama when she discovered she's allergic to NSAIDs. Since I'm a chronic migraine sufferer, I'd been taking NSAIDs pretty much weekly for awhile. I'm off those now -- and haven't had any headaches in the past 3 weeks -- coinciding with my uptake in antihistamine use.
As I write this, I got my labs back. Positive for hazelnut and almonds, not for egg or soybeans. They've asked me to eat no nuts, because of cross-contamination in processing plants. I'll do that!
posted by vitabellosi at 10:50 AM on May 2, 2012
I'm alert to the common food allergies that would be allowed on the low histamine list. And I'll be watching additives. Mr. Vitabellosi and I were already trying to eat out less and cook from scratch more, limiting meat and cooking from a vegan cookbook often anyway. I'm thankful we've already carved out weekend time to cook large batches of food for the week.
I will reintroduce foods to test it out. I agree about the water -- I have techniques that work well when I'm at work. Weekends are more challenging but I'm on it!
I'm trying to find a foster home for the dog. Dog networks haven't panned out yet. My other dog is a schnauzer/poodle who doesn't shed and whom I can bathe frequently. I know he's still a source of allergens. No dogs in my bedroom and I'm limiting physical contact. Hoping to keep him. I live in an area where it's wise to have a barking dog in the house.
gt2 -- I haven't taken antibiotics lately, but I have a coworker who ended her years-long hive drama when she discovered she's allergic to NSAIDs. Since I'm a chronic migraine sufferer, I'd been taking NSAIDs pretty much weekly for awhile. I'm off those now -- and haven't had any headaches in the past 3 weeks -- coinciding with my uptake in antihistamine use.
As I write this, I got my labs back. Positive for hazelnut and almonds, not for egg or soybeans. They've asked me to eat no nuts, because of cross-contamination in processing plants. I'll do that!
posted by vitabellosi at 10:50 AM on May 2, 2012
If you haven't seen this already, recipes for people on the "Failsafe Diet" might help you.
posted by xo at 11:52 AM on May 2, 2012
posted by xo at 11:52 AM on May 2, 2012
This thread is closed to new comments.
I like the top two recipes here.
posted by batmonkey at 8:37 PM on May 1, 2012