Calabrian Chili Histamine Information

Calabrian chilies, known for their vibrant color and unique flavor, are a variety of chili peppers popular in southern Italian cuisine. They are rich in capsaicin, a compound which has shown potential histamine-lowering effects, according to research published in the Journal of Pharmacological Sciences (1). While these peppers themselves do not contain histamine or act as histamine liberators, they contain other compounds that might influence the histamine level in the body. Among these is Vitamin C, which has been found to lower blood histamine levels and inhibit the release of histamines in the body (2). This is corroborated by a study in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition stating that Vitamin C decreases histamine release and increases the detoxification of histamine (3). However, the heat caused by the capsaicin in Calabrian chilies could potentially trigger histamine release in some individuals, as heat is a known trigger for histamine release. This implies that individual reactions to Calabrian chilies may vary based on personal histamine tolerance level and other individual factors (4). In terms of foods, with high histamine content or that delay histamine breakdown or are histamine liberators, Calabrian chilies seem not to fall into any of these categories directly. The primary ingredients- the chilies themselves- don't directly impact histamine levels according to most research. In conclusion, while both capsaicin and Vitamin C in Calabrian chilies have potential histamine-lowering effects, the impact of these chilies on individual histamine levels may still vary. As of today, more research is needed to fully understand the relationship between Calabrian chilies and histamine levels. References: 1. Nilius B, Appendio G. "Spices: The Savory and Beneficial Science of Pungency". Journal of Pharmacological Sciences. 2013. 2. Johnston CS, Martin LJ, Cai X. "Antihistamine effect of supplemental ascorbic acid and neutrophil chemotaxis". Journal of the American College of Nutrition. 1992. 3. "A study of the effects of the antioxidant ascorbic acid on mast cells and histamine release". Nishikimi M, Roa N, Yagi K. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta. 1972. 4. "Heat-induced histamine release in humans". Black AK, Greaves MW, Hensby CN, Plummer NA. Clinical Allergy, 1980.