Sure you’ve heard of histamine and antihistamines, these substances are directly related to allergies and their treatment, but what you probably don’t know is what their exact function is or why it is able to produce reactions to certain foods, plants or elements.
So in this article, let’s talk about what histamine really is and its functions within our body, plus you’ll also discover your relationship to allergies and how they influence your appearance.
- Histamine is a molecule that performs a double communication function in our body.
- Depending on where it is it can act both as a hormone and as a neurotransmitter.
- So its function is to regulate some of our biological functions.
- In addition to allowing certain cells to transmit information between them.
On the other hand, it plays a key role in regulating the immune system. In addition, it regulates functions of the digestive system, such as the creation of stomach acid in the stomach. It also plays a key role in regulating our vital rhythms.
Thus, thanks to this neurotransmitter, our sleep rhythms remain more or less stable and ultimately also relate to certain parts of the human sexual response.
Unlike many other hormones, histamine cannot be synthesized directly in the body. On the contrary, it is necessary to obtain it from another substance, histidine. This molecule is one of the essential amino acids; that is, it is an element that our body does not produce and that must be obtained by what we eat.
Therefore, food plays a fundamental role in the production of histamine in our body, a diet high in protein is essential to maintain adequate levels of this substance, so a person whose diet is poor in this macronutrient may suffer more allergies than normal. according to some research on the subject.
Once we ingest enough histidine, our body produces histamine through a process called decroxylation, which occurs in certain components of the immune system: mast cells and basophils; In addition, certain parts of our brain are also able to produce this substance, due to its importance as a neurotransmitter.
Hormones and neurotransmitters must be absorbed by certain elements of our body for them to have an effect on it. The recipients are responsible for this; and in the case of histamine, up to four different types were discovered, which are distributed throughout the body and each of them causes different effects on our body.
Thus, for example, some are located in the digestive system, while others are found in the bronchi or brain; researchers only recently discovered the last of the four types, so we may be able to detect new ways in which this hormone affects our body in the coming decades.
In conclusion, let’s look at some of the main ways in which this substance creates changes in our bodies.
The main function of histamine is to generate inflammation in the body, this response helps our body isolate external and problematic agents to be able to fight them better, however, this is also the reason why, when this hormone does not work properly, allergic reactions occur. in the body.
Inflammation is caused by vasodilation. This increases the volume of blood in the infected area with the external component.
On the other hand, histamine also attracts white blood cells in the same area causing inflammation, heat, itching and redness, however, these are only side effects that we must endure for our health to be protected.
This hormone also has the opposite effect of melatonin on the body; that is, it is responsible for regulating activation and wakefulness in the body. In fact, most drugs for the treatment of hypersomnia (excessive sleep) are responsible for activating the same receptors as this substance.
Finally, histamine also plays a very important role in controlling sexual response; Above all, it has a lot to do with orgasm: several studies have shown that a deficiency of this hormone can cause anorgasmia; on the contrary, an excess of this substance tends to cause premature ejaculation in humans.
As you can see, histamine is a fundamental substance for the well-being of our body, so eating a balanced diet and maintaining healthy habits that favor your production is important to take good care of your health.