Your Health & The DAO connection : High Histamine and Allergies

As many people have been tested via 23andme for MTHFR, and other, relevant Enzymes and SNP functions, I thought it time again, to share a few tidbits we have found. Working with Sterling Hill and MTHFRSupport is rewarding and fascinating, with new, in-depth information on enzyme function and environmental impacts to them constantly being updated.

One of these, the DAO (Diamine oxidase) snp, works within your GI to breakdown histamines from food(s), thus helping your body to have a healthy response to the foods your are eating, and to process the histamines effectively. If the DAO enzyme function is low, you may well have a high histamine response, or have an allergic reaction to foods you ingest. This can occur relatively quickly, or build up over time.

Now, take this information, and add in the trigger of  pesticides and herbicides used in  crops, which it has been shown, are taken up into the plants via passive diffusion ~ Meaning, you ARE or can be ingesting them when you eat. For more on Endogenous Toxins and enzymes, see the excerpt HERE  from the book "Endogenous Toxins: Targets for Disease Treatment and Prevention, 2 ..., Volume 1"

These  endogenous toxins, may disrupt the DAO enzyme function. If you have a compromised DAO enzyme function, and you are ingesting the herbicides or pesticides, then you have a much greater chance of allergic or histamine response to the food, as your bodies ability to breakdown the histamines has been further blocked. This too can occur from high Oxalates and Impaired GI from other sources as well.

An excerpt from an article here, explains :
"An impaired histamine degradation based on reduced DAO activity, and the resulting histamine excess may cause numerous symptoms mimicking an allergic reaction. The ingestion of histamine-rich food or of alcohol or drugs that release histamine or block DAO may provoke diarrhea, headache, rhinoconjunctival symptoms, asthma, hypotension, arrhythmia, urticaria, pruritus, flushing, and other conditions in patients with histamine intolerance. "

 As well, a book HERE, explains much better than I, how Glyphosates convert to glyoxalate, which it is said,  hinders DAO function.

There are a few things that help DAO work better :

•  Clean 'traditional food' 
•  Reducing pesticide and herbicide exposure 
• Taking a supplemental form of DAO, such as Histame Block EVERY time you eat.
• Sprouting your own, organic Green Pea shoots, and eating 3 times a day (do not heat)
• Heal your GI
• Reduce Oxalate loads

So, I adore the green pea shoot option, big time. Why? Well, you are eating organic vegetables ~ green pea shoots, and naturally upping your DAO, without it costing a fortune. Green Pea Shoots are the only known source at this time, of the enzyme Diamine oxidase. Once your DAO has been compromised, it does not 'get better' or improve regulation or function. So, avoid the trigger(s) above, and eat your green pea shoots daily.Note, if you have dysbiosis, please do not use Green Pea shoots until healed, or as well if you have SIBO.


I hope you found this information useful, and that what was shared today assists you on your path to wellness.

Be Well, Be Happy, Be Healthy!
 Meggan at
SnowDropHerbals