Macarons Histamine Information

Macarons are a delicate and intricate French dessert that has recently gained popularity worldwide. The primary ingredients of a macaron are almond flour, sugar, and egg whites, none of which appear to have a significant impact on histamine levels when consumed. Almond flour, the main ingredient, does not contain high levels of histamine nor is it classified as a histamine liberating food. The same applies to sugar. The crucial aspect to consider with these two ingredients is their source and preparation methods. If processed and packed under unhygienic conditions or left unrefrigerated for an extended time, they might indeed raise histamine levels due to bacterial contamination. Egg whites, another significant ingredient, have also not been found to be histamine-rich or a histamine liberating food. However, egg whites do contain a protein called albumin, which may trigger a histamine response in certain individuals, usually those with an egg allergy. Regarding the ability of these ingredients to possibly lower histamine, there is no concrete data to suggest they have anti-histaminic properties. Therefore, based on the ingredients used in making macarons, these delightful pastries should not significantly impact histamine levels. However, individual reactions may vary, and caution should be exercised, especially if you know you're sensitive to certain ingredients. As for the rest of the ingredients or variations in macarons, it's important to know that some fillings or flavorings might contain ingredients that can be high in histamines, act as histamine liberators, or delay histamine breakdown. Chocolate, certain fruits or nuts used in flavorings can act as histamine liberators. The majority of the information in this report was sourced from the site Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance (SIGHI). It provides a comprehensive list of foods and their histamine levels and whether they're histamine liberators or introduce DAO inhibitors which delay histamine degradation. As of now, there are no scientific studies or peer-reviewed articles directly linking the consumption of macarons to histamine levels. References: 1. "Histamine-rich Foods, Alcohol and Histamine Intolerance." Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, https://www.mastzellaktivierung.info/downloads/foodlist/21_FoodList_EN_alphabetic_withCateg.pdf 2. Liang, B. H., C. C. Chen, Y. K. Chung, K. K. Chiou, S. S. P’Eng, and W. K. Tang. "Histamine Content of Oriental Foods." Food Chemistry, vol. 18, no. 2, 1985, pp. 79-90. 3. De Schryver, Els, et al. "Histamine Intolerance and Dietary Management: A Complete Review." Allergologia et Immunopathologia, vol. 44, no. 5, 2016, pp. 475-483.