Histamine Health Coach

10/02/2026

Taking a moment to ground myself before beginning the day.

What do you use to get grounded?

09/30/2026

I had a poor night’s sleep last night, and today I’m feeling out of sorts. I know this feeling—headache, brain fog, and anxiety, with everyday stress feeling a little harder to handle.

Part of living well with histamine intolerance is paying attention to sleep and how I feel when I don’t get enough of it.

It’s raining today, but after breakfast I threw on my raincoat and rain pants and headed outside for a walk. Not ideal weather, but I needed some fresh air.

Now I’m drinking an iced coffee, hoping for a little clarity, and keeping my vibrating eye mask close by for when I need to settle down and give my head a break.

These are a few things I reach for on days like this. I’m also reminding myself to be realistic about what I expect to get done today.

What’s your routine after a poor night’s sleep? What helps you feel a little more like yourself?

09/18/2026

I have tried eating gluten-free, but my digestive issues continued.
One reason? Many gluten-free baked goods rely on xanthan gum to replace some of the structure normally provided by gluten. For some people, it works perfectly well. For me, it doesn’t.

“Gluten-free” tells us what has been removed—not everything that has been added in its place.

In this week’s Can I eat…, I’m looking at xanthan gum, histamine and why a personal food boundary doesn’t need to become a rule for everyone else.

https://histaminehealthcoach.com/articles-%26-episodes/f/can-i-eat-xanthan-gum-if-i-have-histamine-intolerance

09/04/2026

I talk a lot about women and histamine intolerance — and for good reason. I've done podcast episodes about female hormones, pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause.

But what about the men?

I'm thinking about an upcoming podcast episode specifically about men living with histamine intolerance, and before I record it, I'd love to hear from some of you.

If you're a man living with histamine intolerance — diagnosed or suspected — what has your experience been like? What symptoms led you down this road? How long did it take you to figure out what was happening? And is there something you wish people understood about your experience?

You don't need to share personal health information publicly. Feel free to send me a private message or email me at [email protected]

And ladies — if there's a man in your life who might have something to add to this conversation, please pass this along.

08/26/2026

One of my least favorite questions when making dinner plans is, “What can you eat?”

I know it usually comes from a good place. No one wants to choose a restaurant where I’ll be miserable. But the question can make it feel as though the entire decision—and everyone else’s dinner—is now resting on my food restrictions.

The truth is, I can usually find something almost anywhere. I may need to look at the menu ahead of time, ask a few questions, or order something fairly simple, but I can still come.

Sometimes the most helpful thing you can do is include me in the plan and trust me to decide what works for my body.

08/24/2026

I constantly find myself rearranging the pantry and putting things into the appropriate containers.

Yet each time I come home from the grocery store, it seems as though there is no room for anything new.

Where am I supposed to put it all?

Histamine intolerance can feel the same way.

Another food list. Another supplement. Another possible trigger. Another thing you’re told to stop eating.

Meanwhile, the cupboards are already full of the kids, the job, your partner, “I’m tired,” “my head hurts,” “I’m itchy”—and all the information you’ve collected but haven’t figured out what to do with.

Sometimes the answer isn’t more information.

It’s having enough room to make sense of what you already know.

If your cupboards feel full, comment PANTRY or send me a message. I can help you sort through the information and decide what you actually need.

08/18/2026

Ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise may look fairly straightforward sitting on the picnic table. The ingredient statements can tell a different story.

That doesn’t mean you automatically need to skip the condiments. It means it may be worth checking what is actually in the bottle, how long it has been open, and whether there is a simpler option you already know works for you.

I put together this quick checklist to use before your next cookout.

For a closer look at ketchup, mustard, mayonnaise, and histamine intolerance, read the full blog here: https://histaminehealthcoach.com/articles-%26-episodes/f/can-i-eat-condiments-if-i-have-histamine-intolerance

08/06/2026

Earlier this week, I raised my camera to my left eye at Anderson Japanese Gardens and discovered that part of the viewfinder was obstructed by the vision loss from my NAION diagnosis.
I was completely thrown off.

I had thought about what the change in my vision might mean for watercolor painting and drawing perspective, but somehow, I had never considered what it would mean for my photography.
So, I took my camera to the Chicago Botanic Garden to find out whether I could still get the shot.

I could.

I may have to work around the obstruction or use the screen attached to the camera when I am uncertain, but I haven’t lost my ability to recognize the light, the composition, or the moment I want to capture.

It reminded me that living well with histamine intolerance often requires the same kind of adjustment. The view may change, and something that once felt simple may require a different tool or approach, but that does not mean we automatically have to give up the things that matter to us.

This month’s Monthly Pause is about learning to reframe...

Earlier this week, my husband and I drove to Rockford to visit Anderson Japanese Gardens. I hadn’t touched my camera in a few months, but I charged the battery before we left and carried it into the garden with me.

07/28/2026

I have never met two women whose histamine intolerance looked exactly alike.

Symptoms, triggers, food tolerance, stress, sleep, and daily routines can all play a part—which is why generic plans often leave women trying to piece everything together on their own.

Living Well with Histamine Intolerance is private coaching built around what is happening in your body and your life.

We’ll begin in September, and women who enroll by August 1 will receive 25% off the three-month package, plus an additional month of support through December.

If you’re ready to learn more, comment **NEXT**, and I’ll personally respond.

07/27/2026

If you take a DAO supplement, what exactly are you replacing?
Most supplements are fairly easy to understand. You take vitamin D because your level is low. You take iron because you need more iron. But DAO supplements are different. They aren’t replacing a nutrient missing from your diet.

DAO—diamine oxidase—is one of the enzymes your body uses to break down histamine, particularly the histamine you consume through food. A DAO supplement may provide temporary support with that process around meals.

And that may be helpful for some people. I just don’t want the tool to become the entire plan.

Taking DAO doesn’t necessarily explain why your body is having difficulty breaking down histamine. There may still be questions about belly health, medications, nutrient status, hormones, inflammation, or the overall amount of histamine your body is managing.

I first talked about DAO in Episode 7, The Real Reason Certain Foods Make You Miserable. If DAO has become part of your histamine conversation—or you missed the episode the first time—you can listen here:

Discover how the enzyme Diamine Oxidase (DAO) affects histamine intolerance and why it might be the missing piece in understanding your symptoms.• DAO is an extracellular digestive enzyme that breaks down histamine from food and drinks• DAO defici...