Histamine Intolerance vs. MCAS – How to Tell the Difference

If you’re dealing with skin flushing, bloating, brain fog, or weird reactions to food, you might be wondering… is it histamine intolerance or MCAS? They’re similar, but not the same.

Here’s how to tell the difference:

➡️ Histamine Intolerance is mostly food-driven. Symptoms usually show up within 15 minutes to 2 hours after eating high-histamine foods and fade once histamine is broken down. Common symptoms include:

• Skin flushing & hives

• Bloating, nausea, reflux

• Migraines & brain fog

• Mild heart palpitations

• Feeling overheated after eating

➡️ MCAS (Mast Cell Activation Syndrome) is more unpredictable. Triggers go beyond food and can include stress, heat, exercise, environmental exposures, and even hormone shifts. Symptoms last longer and can cycle throughout the day, including:

• Histamine intolerance symptoms plus

• Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

• Burning, tingling, or nerve pain

• Temperature intolerance (too hot or too cold)

• Body-wide inflammation or itching

• Feeling “wired but tired” with random anxiety

So if you react to food but also stress, heat, or other triggers, it’s likely both histamine intolerance & MCAS playing a role.

The good news? You can calm the chaos by stabilizing your mast cells, reducing histamine burden, and supporting your nervous system. I’ve been working on this myself and have seen a huge difference.

Want to learn more about how to regulate histamine + mast cell responses naturally? Drop a 🔥 in the comments or DM me for details!

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