Nettle Soup Histamine Information

Nettle Soup, due to the primary ingredient – stinging nettles, might have an impact on the body's histamine level. Stinging nettles are classified as low-histamine food and, intriguingly, might have the capacity to actually lower histamine levels. Commonly known for their antihistamine properties, nettles are considered a natural histamine blocker and are often used in treating allergies. Studies show that they can inhibit the body's ability to produce histamine, potentially reducing the amount circulating in the body, thus suggesting that nettle soup could potentially decrease histamine levels (1). However, when considering the overall impacts of consuming Nettle Soup on the body's histamine levels, we must consider any added ingredients of the soup aside from nettles. For instance, if certain high histamine or histamine-liberating foods like tomatoes, vinegar, or yeast-based items are incorporated into the recipe, it could potentially offset the relative low histamine nature or the antihistaminic beneficial effect of nettles (2). On the other hand, foods containing ingredients that delay the breakdown of histamine could prolong the presence of histamine, if consumed in conjunction with the soup. This includes ingredients like pineapple, nuts, and cocoa products, among others. Moreover, while some foods might not have high histamine content, they could be histamine liberators potentially promoting the body's release of histamine. Foods rich in cocoa, certain types of fruits, nuts again, and other additives might fall into this category. Hence, the overall impact of nettle soup on the body's histamine level is dependent on the additional ingredients of the soup or the food you consume it with, which may amplify, mitigate, or neutralize the low histamine or antihistamine characteristics of nettles. References: (1) Roschek B Jr, Fink RC, McMichael M, Alberte RS. "Nettle extract (Urtica dioica) affects key receptors and enzymes associated with allergic rhinitis." Phytotherapy Research, 2009. (2) Maintz L, Novak N. "Histamine and histamine intolerance." The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. 2007.