Plantain Chips Histamine Information

Plantain chips are a popular snack made from ripe or unripe plantains, salt, and oil. Examining the ingredients used debunks any direct implications on heightened histamine levels. Plantains themselves carry varying histamine content depending on their stage of ripeness, with greener-ones having lower histamine levels while their ripe counterparts may trigger some histamine response. This is due to their sugar content, which breaks down into histamine as they ripen, as would be the case in bananas (a close cousin to plantains) [1]. Oil, unless degraded, has generally neutral effects on histamine levels as pure fats do not inherently contain histamines [2]. Nonetheless, particular cooking oils, like sunflower oil, are linked with a high omega-6 fatty acid level, which could indirectly lead to inflammation and consequentially an intensified histamine reaction [3]. Salt doesn't affect histamine levels but enhances flavors which may contribute to increased intake. This potentially elevates histamine levels if plantain chips are consumed in excess together with other histamine-rich or liberating foods. From the direct components of plantain chips, it can be cautiously deduced that they might not substantially elevate histamine levels unless overly consumed or if the plantains used are significantly ripe. However, firm scientific evidence specifically targeted at plantain chips and histamine levels are yet to be established. [1] Maintz, L., & Novak, N. (2007). Histamine and histamine intolerance. The American journal of clinical nutrition, 85(5), 1185-1196. [2] Komericki, P., Akkilic-Materna, M., Strimitzer, T., & Wöhrl, S. (2011). Histamine intolerance: lack of reproducibility of single symptoms by oral provocation with histamine: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled cross-over study. Wiener klinische Wochenschrift, 123(1-2), 15-20. [3] Saini, R. K., Keum, Y. S., & Daglia, M. (2016). Dietary carotenoids in cancer chemoprevention and chemotherapy: a review of emerging evidence. Pharmacological research, 110, 36-48.