Pastitsio Histamine Information

Pastitsio, a popular Greek dish, comprises key ingredients such as pasta, meat (usually beef or lamb), tomatoes, cheese, and béchamel sauce. The impact of eating pastitsio on histamine levels must be understood ingredient by ingredient. Tomatoes, a key component of pastitsio, contain high levels of histamine and may lead to elevated histamine levels upon consumption. In addition, the cheese used in the dish, if long-ripened, can also contribute to increased histamine levels. Meanwhile, meat used in pastitsio, if it's smoked, has a high histamine content. Beef and lamb, however, typically exhibit lower levels, but the method of preparation and preservation can affect their histamine content. The béchamel sauce, made primarily from milk and butter, contains low to moderate levels of histamine, but this level could be influenced by other ingredients added to the sauce, such as nutmeg, a substance known to delay the breakdown of histamine. However, pasta, another central ingredient, is found to have low histamine content. In conclusion, the overall impact of consuming pastitsio needs to be evaluated in context. People with histamine intolerance or sensitivity would potentially experience increased histamine levels after consuming this dish due to the presence of tomatoes, certain types of cheese, and potentially the meat, depending on its exact type and preparation. However, for most individuals, eating pastitsio would not lead to abnormal histamine responses. For those looking to lower their histamine levels, swapping out such ingredients with lower-histamine counterparts would be a viable option. References: - Maintz, L., & Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 85(5), 1185–1196. [Link](https://doi.org/10.1093/ajcn/85.5.1185) - Schnedl, W. J., Lackner, S., Enko, D., Schenk, M., Holasek, S. J., & Mangge, H. (2019). Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: people without celiac disease avoiding gluten—is it due to histamine intolerance? Inflammation Research, 68(4), 279–284. [Link](https://doi.org/10.1007/s00011-019-01213-w) - Test results on histamine level in food and drinks. Food intolerance network. [Link](http://foodintolerances.org/downloads/histamine-content-in-food/)