Meatballs Histamine Information

The impact of eating meatballs on histamine levels can vary significantly depending on its ingredients. The most common components in meatballs, such as ground beef or pork, don't fall directly into the categories of high histamine foods, histamine liberators, or foods/substances that delay histamine breakdown. However, some versions of meatballs may contain ingredients like tomato-based sauces, potentially increasing the histamine content. Tomatoes and tomato-based products are known for their high histamine levels[^1^]. If spices or seasonings are added to the meatball mixture, these could possibly serve as histamine liberators. Noteworthy spices would include nutmeg, which falls under the foods that may delay the breakdown of histamine[^2^]. Sometimes, meatballs are served with alcoholic beverages such as red wine or flavored with vinegar or other condiments. These are high in histamine[^3^]. Therefore, the histamine content of a meatball meal could increase depending on the additives or accompaniments used. As for lowering histamine levels, there are no typical ingredients in meatballs that are known for this. In conclusion, though the meat in meatballs isn't inherently high in histamine, additional ingredients and servings could increase the histamine content. [^1^]: Maintz, L., & Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 85(5), 1185-1196. [^2^]: Joneja, J. M. V., & Carmona-Silva, C. (2001). Outcome of a histamine-restricted diet based on chart audit. Journal of Nutritional & Environmental Medicine, 11(4), 249-262. [^3^]: Sattler, J., Häfner, D., Klotter, H. J., Lorenz, W., & Wagner, P. K. (1988). Food-induced histaminosis as an epidemiological problem: plasma histamine elevation and haemodynamic alterations after oral histamine administration and blockade of diamine oxidase (DAO). Agents and actions, 23(3-4), 361-365.