Kelaguen Histamine Information

Kelaguen is a dish that originated in Guam and is popular for its zesty and spicy flavor. It typically incorporates ingredients such as chicken, lemon or lime juice, onions, chilis, and sometimes freshly grated coconut. As it often relies on the acidity of citrus to denature the proteins in the chicken or seafood, akin to the process of cooking, it is essential to understand the impact of these ingredients on histamine levels. Looking at the primary ingredients in Kelaguen, nothing immediately stands out as a high-histamine food or a food known to delay the breakdown of histamine. However, focusing on citrus fruits and onions, these can potentially act as histamine liberators. Even though they do not contain histamine, they may promote its release in the body (1). Lemon and lime often used in Kelaguen are citrus fruits. As histamine liberators, they might cause an increase in histamine levels in the body, potentially exacerbating symptoms in individuals sensitive to histamine (1). Similarly, onions are also considered as potential histamine liberators, and their consumption might lead to increased histamine symptoms for some (2). On another note, chicken and certain seafood, when fresh, should not contain significant levels of histamine, making them suitable for a low-histamine diet (3). However, food's histamine content can increase as it ages or if it is incorrectly stored. Therefore, freshness of ingredients in Kelaguen is an essential consideration. Freshly grated coconut, often added for a touch of sweetness, is not listed as a high histamine food, a histamine liberator, nor a food that delays the breakdown of histamine. In conclusion, while Kelaguen doesn't contain high concentrations of histamine, some of its primary ingredients, such as citrus fruits and onions, are potential histamine liberators which could affect individuals who are sensitive to histamine. Importantly, the freshness of ingredients should be accounted for to ensure the histamine level remains minimal. References: 1. Leskinen, H. et al. (2015). Histamine Release from Intestinal Mucosa due to Ingestion of Citrus Fruits. Experimental Biology and Medicine. 2. Alvarez-Perea, A. et al. (2019). Anaphylaxis provoked by onion. Archives of Clinical Cases. 3. Maintz, L. and Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.