Moussaka Histamine Information

Moussaka, a traditional Greek dish, includes a variety of ingredients, each impacting histamine levels in different ways. The main components usually include eggplant, ground meat (typically beef or lamb), Bechamel sauce, onions, potatoes, and various spices. Starting with eggplant, a widely recognized histamine-liberator, its consumption can trigger histamine release in the body. Also, ground meat, if not fresh, is known to accumulate histamine over time, especially if it's stored at room temperature. The Bechamel sauce, typically made using a dairy base, may lead to elevated histamine levels, as aged or fermented dairy products are known for their high histamine content. Furthermore, as onions are associated with histamine release, they contribute to the overall histamine impact of eating Moussaka[^1^]. However, some ingredients can somewhat counterbalance the histamine impact. Take potatoes, for example. High in vitamin C, they assist the diamine oxidase enzyme in metabolizing histamine, leading to a decrease in histamine levels[^2^]. In conclusion, Moussaka, - when mainly comprised of eggplant, certain types of ground meat, dairy-based Bechamel sauce, and onions – can potentially increase histamine levels due to the established histamine-releasing properties of these ingredients. However, the specific effects vary from person to person and depend significantly on individual tolerance levels and preparation methods of the dish. Continued research is necessary for a more concrete understanding of histamine levels related to solitary food items and their preparation. [^1^]: Maintz L, Novak N. Histamine and histamine intolerance. Am J Clin Nutr. 2007;85(5):1185-1196. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17490952 [^2^]: Comas-Basté O, Sánchez-Pérez S, Veciana-Nogués MT, Latorre-Moratalla M, Vidal-Carou MC. Histamine intolerance: The current state of the art. Biomolecules. 2020;10(8):1181. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7462232/