Sweet and Sour Pork Histamine Information

Sweet and Sour Pork, a popular Chinese dish, contains pork, pineapple, peppers, and a sweet and sour sauce typically made of vinegar, sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce. Starting with pork, it’s worth noting that fresh pork is not considered a high histamine food. According to the Swiss interest group for histamine intolerance (SIGH), fresh meat like pork has negligible histamine content. However, it could potentially provoke histamine release in some people. Pineapple, on the other hand, has a dual effect on histamine levels. While it contains an enzyme called bromelain that is known to help break down histamines and thus lowering the histamine levels ("Pineapple, Appreciated for Its Bromelain Content," 2019), it may also slow down the breakdown of histamine and promote its release. Peppers also have minimal impact on histamine levels. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, bell peppers aren't high in histamine or known to prompt its release. The sweet and sour sauce, however, may present a higher histamine issue. Vinegar is a high-histamine content food. Additionally, ketchup often contains tomatoes and vinegar, both known high histamine items. In conclusion, eating sweet and sour pork might contribute to increased histamine levels largely due to the ingredients in the sauce. However, the effect can vary significantly depending on individual sensitivity and histamine tolerance. Sources: - Swiss interest group for histamine intolerance (SIGH) - "Pineapple, Appreciated for Its Bromalain Content." Koppert Cress, www.koppertcress.com/en/news-3548/pineapple-appreciated-for-its-bromelain-content. - American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: https://www.aocd.org/page/Histamine - "Coping with Histamine Intolerance." Gastrolab, gastrolab.wordpress.com/2019/03/11/coping-with-histamine-intolerance/.