Empanadas Histamine Information

Empanadas, a popular Latin-American street food, are stuffed pastries that are baked or fried. The ingredients used in the stuffing, and the method of preparation greatly influence its impact on the histamine level in our body. If the ingredients used are high in histamine, or histamine liberators, the consumption of empanadas could lead to increased histamine levels. Conversely, if ingredients used have histamine-lowering properties, it may help reduce histamine levels. Histamine-high ingredients such as tomatoes, vinegar, smoked meat, and cheese often appear in certain varients of empanadas. Tomatoes and vinegar are typically used in the preparing of the stuffing. Smoked meats like ham, and cheeses are also common additions to stuffing. This combination of ingredients would contribute towards raising histamine levels in our body (1). Similarly, some empanadas may include histamine liberators like nuts, citrus fruits, or additives which can indirectly increase histamine levels by promoting its release in the body. For instance, if the dough is made with cocoa or if walnuts are present in the stuffing, they might function as histamine liberators (2,3). Comprehending the reverse effect, ingredients with potential histamine-lowering effects are few and not traditionally used in empanadas. Therefore, unless specially prepared with such ingredients, general consumption of empanadas is unlikely to result in lowered histamine levels. In conclusion, due to their ingredients and preparation method, consumption of empanadas may potentially enhance histamine levels. It is important to note that individual reactions to histamine vary and depend on a person's overall diet, gut health, and individual histamine tolerance (4). References: 1. Maintz, L., Novak, N. (2007) Histamine and histamine intolerance, The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Volume 85, Issue 5, Pages 1185–1196. 2. Joneja, J.M. (2013) The Health Professional’s Guide to Food Allergies and Intolerances, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. 3. Hoffmann, K.M., Herbrechter, R. et al. (2020) Histamine intolerance in children: the influence of the diet, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology, Volume 31, Issue 8, Pages 823–830. 4. Kofler, L., Ulmer, H., et al. (2011) Histamine 50-skin-prick test: a tool to diagnose histamine intolerance, ISRN Allergy, ID 353045.