In brief
A food intolerance in which the body does not have the right type or amount of enzymes to handle histamine, a natural chemical in some foods.
- Many advertised tests that claim to diagnose food intolerances do not have enough proof to know if they are reliable, according to healthdirect.
- Food allergies involve the immune system, and a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis) is a medical emergency. Call triple zero (000).
How it works
Histamines are natural chemicals in foods such as pineapple, banana, citrus fruits and avocado. Lactose and histamine intolerances happen when your body does not have the right type or amount of enzymes. Unlike food allergies, food intolerances do not involve the immune system.
Food intolerance can cause constipation, diarrhoea, bloating, gas, nausea, stomach aches, migraines and fatigue, hours or days after eating. There are no specific diagnostic tests, so a doctor or dietitian can guide you through an exclusion diet and then gradually reintroduce foods.
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Histamine intolerance is linked with
- Reactions to food Emerging
Histamine intolerance happens when the body does not have the right type or amount of enzymes, and it can cause symptoms hours or days after eating.
Source: healthdirect Australia, Food intolerance and testing
Sources
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Summarised from healthdirect. Sources read on 13 and 16 October 2026. General education only, not medical advice. Spotted a mistake? Please tell us through the HuBu-Intel contact page.