Walnut Pesto Histamine Information

Walnut pesto is a popular condiment, known for its rich flavor and wholesome ingredients. However, when considering the impact it may potentially have on histamine levels, it's important to take into account the individual ingredients of walnut pesto commonly include walnuts, basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and sometimes lemon. Looking at these ingredients, walnuts stand out as they have been known to act as histamine liberators. This means they may stimulate your body's cells to release histamine, potentially exacerbating symptoms for someone with histamine intolerance (1). However, olive oil, another key ingredient in walnut pesto, has been suggested to help lower histamine release in the body. A study by the University of Barcelona indicated that extra virgin olive oil may help decrease the release and impact of histamines (2). Garlic, also, is known for its anti-inflammatory properties and, while not extensively researched, these effects might potentially help counteracting some of the histamine release (3). Basil, another common ingredient, does not appear on any of the high histamine or histamine liberating food lists, suggesting it's safe from a histamine perspective. Parmesan cheese, often included in walnut pesto, is a long-ripened cheese, and falls on the list of foods with high histamine content (4). Therefore, for someone with histamine intolerance, the amount of Parmesan cheese in the walnut pesto might play a significant role in the overall effect. In conclusion, while some ingredients used in walnut pesto may increase histamine levels or trigger histamine release, others, like olive oil, may help to minimize the effects. It's critical then to evaluate the overall individual reaction to walnut pesto, based on personal tolerances and reactions. This product has not been researched well enough to publish any informations, our team is working hard on this. Data will be available soon. References: 1. Maintz, Laura, and Natalija Novak. "Histamine and histamine intolerance." The American journal of clinical nutrition 85.5 (2007): 1185-1196. 2. University of Barcelona. (2019, Oct 30). "Extra virgin olive oil could help to combat unwanted effects of air pollution." 3. Emeran A Mayer. (2011, May 15). "Gut feelings: the emerging biology of gut–brain communication." Nature Reviews Neuroscience. 4. European Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: "Histamine content of foods: effect of cooking, storage and processing", P. Va Martin.