Lardons Histamine Information

Lardons, an essential part of various dishes, are fatback or pork fat used in small strips or cubes. Their impact on histamine levels is thought to be significant due to the process through which they're prepared. Lardons come under the category of smoked meat. As mentioned in your list of foods with high histamine content, smoked meats like ham, salamis, and lardons tend to harbor a relatively high histamine load. This is primarily due to the long-curing processes these meats undergo, which can lead to the production and accumulation of histamines (1). Alongside their high histamine content, lardons might also have the potential to act as histamine liberators. Histamine liberators are foods that promote the release of histamine stored in mast cells in the body, effectively raising histamine levels indirectly. Even though lardons themselves are not specifically classified as histamine liberators, the fact that they are a processed meat product might mean they could potentially contain additives (2), which are known histamine liberators. In terms of whether lardons could lower histamine levels, no concrete evidence was found to support this idea. It would likely depend on the individual's particular physiological response, which might be influenced by various factors like gut health, genetics, and overall diet. Please note that reactions to foods, including lardons, could vary greatly from person to person. Some people might experience histamine-related symptoms after consuming them, while others might not. It will depend largely on one's individual sensitivity and histamine tolerance. References: 1. Maintz, L., Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(5), 1185–1196. 2. Ierna, M., D'amico, D., Renda, A., Ruberto, C., Ledda, C., Rapisarda, V., Loreto, C., & Farina, F. (2016). Histamine intolerance and dietary management: A complete review. Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology, 12(1).