What foods make hives worse
Foods to eat and avoid with chronic idiopathic urticaria
Certain foods may trigger or worsen hives in some people due to the reaction they cause within the body. Avoiding foods high in histamines and pseudoallergens may help.
Chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) is the term for hives that last 6 weeks or more and have no known cause.
This article examines the link between diet and CIU, potential elimination diets that may help, and when to contact a doctor.
Diet may play a role in certain cases of CIU. According to a
Oral or topical antihistamines are the first-line treatment for CIU. Altering diet may be helpful alongside medical treatments.
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Histamine is a compound present in the body.
The immune system releases histamine in response to a threat, such as an infection, or when there is no threat, as in the case of an allergic reaction. Hives can form due to this release.
Certain foods contain higher levels of histamine than others. A low histamine diet includes foods with lower histamine levels and eliminates those with higher levels.
Some research suggests lowering the intake of histamine through the diet may help reduce histamine levels in the body and help manage hives.
A small-scale 2018 study looked at the effects of a low histamine diet on 22 people with chronic hives. The participants were not allowed to eat foods containing high histamine levels for 4 weeks.
The researchers recorded the severity of hives and histamine levels in the blood before and after the diet. They found that the low histamine diet resulted in reduced severity of hives and a significant reduction in histamine levels in the blood.
A low histamine diet may include the following foods:
- eggs
- rice
- millet
- beef
- salad ingredients, such as cucumber, radish, and lettuce
- unfermented soy products, such as soy milk and tofu
- sorghum
- milk
- certain fish, such as sole, cod, and pollack
Anecdotal reports also suggest that fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, and other foods not high in histamine may also be acceptable.
On a low histamine diet, people avoid foods with
- some seafood, such as canned fish and fish with darker meat
- fermented foods, including fermented soy, aged cheeses, and dry sausage
- tomatoes
- eggplant
- spinach
- avocado
Some research suggests that certain foods
- citrus fruits
- papaya
- tomato
- strawberries
- pineapple
- nuts
- chocolate
However, there is currently a lack of human studies to support the idea that foods can trigger the release of histamine.
According to a
A pseudoallergen elimination diet excludes foods that can act as psuedoallergens, such as certain spices, fruits, vegetables, and artificial additives.
Experts are not clear on the exact effects of pseudoallergens within the body, but some believe they may play a role in triggering hives in some people.
The article states that pseudoallergen elimination diets have proved effective in reducing hives and causing complete or partial remission. They may be a potential treatment alongside medication.
If people want to try using an elimination diet for hives, it is important that they speak with a healthcare professional.
Elimination diets
Diet may play a role in helping manage chronic idiopathic urticaria. Elimination diets that cut out pseudoallergens and foods high in histamine may help relieve symptoms.
People may try these diets for a few weeks and then begin to reintroduce foods to see if symptoms return.
It is best to work alongside a healthcare professional when using elimination diets to help avoid nutritional deficiencies.
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Foods That Cause Hives
Foods that cause hives
While there are more than 170 foods that can cause a food allergy, 90% of all cases are triggered by eight foods. Companies are required by law to clearly show on the label if a food item contains any of these potential allergens. If you have an allergy, be sure to discuss your level of risk with your healthcare provider. Some people may be able to consume an allergen if its cooked or baked, but others may not.
Milk
If you have a milk allergy, you also need to avoid other dairy foods, like butter, cheese, ice cream, and yogurt. And because cows milk proteins are similar to those found in milk from other animals like goats and buffalo, you need to be careful when eating foods with those proteins. You may be able to eat foods containing milk if its been baked, like in a cake, but talk to your medical provider about your own risk.
Eggs
If you have an allergy to eggs, both the whites and yolks should be avoided, along with foods made with eggs like mayonnaise, pancakes, and some salad dressings. Similar to milk, baking eggs into a cake or cookies can disrupt the protein, making it less likely to cause an allergy. But discuss your personal risks with your medical provider.
Fish
While any fish could cause an allergy, salmon, tuna, catfish, and cod are common culprits. Fish can be an ingredient in unexpected foods, like Caesar dressing, barbecue sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and kimchi, so make sure to check ingredient lists.
Shellfish
There are actually two kinds of shellfish: crustaceans like shrimp, crab, and lobster, and mollusks, like clams, oysters, and mussels. Crustacean allergies are more common, with shrimp being the top allergen. But your allergist may recommend avoiding all shellfish just to be safe
Peanuts
Peanuts are actually legumes, not nuts, and they are the most common causes of anaphylaxis from food. So while in some people the allergy may cause hives alone, in others it can be combined with throat swelling that makes it difficult to breathe. Many different cuisines use peanuts in their foods, so be sure to mention your allergy before ordering at a restaurant. If you have a peanut allergy, your healthcare provider will likely prescribe epinephrine (an EpiPen) to use in emergencies.
Tree nuts
While there are 18 different types of tree nuts, the top allergens are walnuts, almonds, hazelnuts, pecans, cashew, and pistachio. Being allergic to one tree nut makes it more likely that youre allergic to another, so your provider may recommend avoiding all of them. In addition to foods, tree nut oils can be found in lotions and soaps, so double check before buying a new skin product.
Wheat
A true allergy to wheat is different from Celiac disease, which is an issue with digesting gluten (something found in wheat). With a wheat allergy, youll want to steer clear of breads, cereals, pastas, and other foods made from wheat or wheat flour. It can be found in many foods so be sure to read the ingredients carefully. Wheat can be hard to avoid, but there are many wheat-free grains, like barley, corn, oat, quinoa, and rice, that you can eat instead.
Soy
If youre allergic to soy, you need to avoid whole soybeans (called edamame), tofu, miso, and soy sauce. Soy protein is a common ingredient that can show up in everything from energy bars to canned soup.
Hives (Urticaria)
What are hives?
Hives, or urticaria, are flat red welts that can appear anywhere on the skin and usually itch. Hives often occur as an allergic reaction to something eaten or something that has contacted the skin. Foods, medicines, and plants are common causes, but sun exposure, stress, infections, and autoimmune diseases have also been known to cause hives.
Symptoms include an itchy, stinging pink rash of slightly swollen skin. The rash may wax and wane in severity. Acute hives typically resolve within six weeks, but chronic hives (urticaria) can persist for months or years.
Hives often resolve on their own, especially in children. Otherwise, treatment for acute hives involves oral antihistamine medications to help relieve the itching and stinging. Chronic hives that do not improve with antihistamines may be treated additionally with corticosteroids, antibiotics, and other stronger medicines. A study found that 35% of people with chronic hives, are symptom free within one year, with another 29% having some reduction of symptoms.
You can safely treat this condition on your own as long as you does not develop trouble breathing. Any antihistamine (like Zyrtec, Clarinex, etc) works.
9 Ways to Ease the Itch of Chronic Hives
They're itchy, red, and raised and often appear at the worst possible times. About 20 percent of the population will get them at least once in their lives, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. They're hives. And hives that last more than six weeks are considered chronic (persistent or recurring). For some people, these hives are a result of allergies, but for others there's no discernible cause. Chronic hives with no known cause are called chronic idiopathic urticaria (hives).
The itching associated with these hives, which stems from the release of natural chemicals called histamines by your bodys immune system, can dramatically affect your quality of life. This is among the main findings of a study published in August 2015 in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Still, there's a lot you can do to ease the itch of chronic hives.
