Foods That Have Antihistamines

Histamines are chemicals the body releases when you experience an allergic reaction or flu. An antihistamine contains flavonoids, which help stop the symptoms of an allergic reaction by protecting the tissues from the effects of histamines. Most antihistamines can be obtained as pills, but there are some foods that can help you obtain them naturally.

Vitamin C

• Vitamin C helps boost immunity and reduces the amount of histamine in your body. The easiest way to obtain vitamin C is in citrus fruits. Examples include oranges, lemons and lime. Other fruits that contain vitamin C include the kakadu plum, which is native to Australia, the camucamu, which is found in the Amazon, and the acerola cherry, common in most parts of the Americas.

Quercitin

• This is a type of flavonoid that works as a natural antihistamine. As flavonoids are powerful antioxidants, most foods that have a high concentration of quercitin may also help prevent heart disease, cancer and stroke. As an antihistamine, quercitin is particularly effective in reducing sneezing, itchy eyes/nose, swollen nasal passages and eczema. Natural foods that contain quercitin include citrus fruits, apples and raspberries. Others are leafy vegetables and chili peppers. Quercitin is also found in black tea and green tea.

Salt

• Salt is one of the natural sources of antihistamine. It helps relieve runny nose and congestion in the throat and lungs. However, if you ingest too much salt, histamines will also be released in the body.

Pycnogenol

• This is a flavonoid that is both a natural antihistamine and an antioxidant. It is extracted from a French pine tree bark and is an anti-inflammatory. It relieves swollen eyes.

Grape Seed Extract

• Grape seed extract is considered an antihistamine because it contains proanthocyanidins, which are found in grape seeds and grape peels. Apart from alleviating allergies, grape seed extract may help fight cancer, heart disease and stroke.