Lassi Histamine Information

Lassi, a traditional Indian yogurt-based drink, is typically made from yogurt, water, and various spices. Its main ingredient, yogurt, is known for its high histamine content. While the fermentation process increases beneficial lactobacillus bacteria, it also increases histamine levels. Therefore, lassi, given its yogurt content, can potentially elevate histamine levels in the body, particularly among individuals with histamine intolerance. It's crucial to note that the impact of lassi on histamine levels can potentially worsen in combination with histamine liberators. Certain substances in food can cause the release of histamine from the body's cells into the blood, even though they don't contain histamine themselves. As such, pairing lassi with histamine liberators, such as cocoa products, nuts, or certain types of fruits like citrus fruits and strawberries, might further increase the histamine levels. On the other hand, not all components of lassi will contribute to an increase in histamine levels. For instance, water and most types of spices commonly used in lassi are generally not known to have high histamine content or to stimulate histamine release. Thus, their impact could potentially mitigate the overall effect of lassi on histamine levels. Currently, there is no concrete research that directly looks into whether lassi can lower histamine levels. Therefore, it is difficult to make a definitive statement in this regard. However, given the high histamine content of its main ingredient and potential enhancement from histamine liberators, it is reasonable to infer that consuming lassi could likely contribute to raised histamine levels rather than reducing them. Further studies are needed to explore this topic in detail and to examine the unique biochemical properties of lassi and its individual components concerning histamine levels. References: 1. Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007 May;85(5):1185-96. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1185. Review. PubMed PMID: 17490952. 2. https://www.histamineintolerance.org.uk/about/dr-janice-joneja/the-immune-system-in-overdrive/