Are Potatoes High in Histamine?
Potatoes themselves aren’t very high in histamine, in that they don’t seem to contribute to having an intolerant reaction after eating them. That being said, everyone is unique and not all potatoes are created equal!
While some potatoes may be fine to eat without reacting, some will and that’s not only because of the type of potato. A lot of the time, it seems the biggest contributor to reactions is how the potatoes are cooked or prepared. It seems most potatoes are fine when cooked with low histamine oils and as long as they aren’t fried.
So those mashed potatoes you’re craving for dinner will be fine, just as long as you don’t overindulge or cook them with high histamine ingredients.
Nutrition of Potatoes
The following information is pulled from Healthline regarding the nutrition of potatoes.
Below are the calories and other basic nutritional information of a medium-baked potato (6 oz.).
- Calories: 161
- Fat: 0.2 grams
- Protein: 4.3 grams
- Carbs: 36.6 grams
- Fiber: 3.8 grams
- Vitamin C: 28% of the RDI
- Vitamin B6: 27% of the RDI
- Potassium: 26% of the RDI
- Manganese: 19% of the RDI
- Magnesium: 12% of the RDI
- Phosphorus: 12% of the RDI
- Niacin: 12% of the RDI
- Folate: 12% of the RDI
As you can see, there are quite a few nutritional advantages to eating potatoes as they have quite a few vitamins and minerals that are beneficial to your overall health. They are a high-carb food, but they aren’t meant to be eaten in large quantities so it shouldn’t be a problem.
Not everything about potatoes is good though.
Advantages and Disadvantages of Eating Potatoes
Continuing from the early advantages of potatoes, they are high in antioxidants. That simply means that potatoes contain chemicals that help neutralize free radicals, harmful molecules that can cause serious health issues such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
Another benefit is they are naturally gluten-free and are very filling. Gluten is a widely avoided chemical in dieting, even so for those without celiac disease. This makes it a great addition to one of the most common restrictive diets.
Not all things are great about potatoes though, despite being low in histamine and gluten-free.
One such disadvantage is that potatoes are classified as a high glycemic food as they can quickly raise blood sugar levels. This makes it food to keep an eye on when you’re diabetic or suffer from not having balanced blood sugar levels.
I also mentioned earlier that they are high in carbs. This means it’s another part of this great vegetable that needs to be monitored when planning to have it in a meal.
Are Red Potatoes High in Histamine
Red potatoes fall into the same category as other potatoes in that they are considered a low histamine food. The same rules apply, however, that if they are prepared with high histamine ingredients or fried, they will have higher levels of histamine production associated with eating them.
Are White Potatoes High in Histamine
Quite unsurprisingly, white potatoes are also a low histamine food and can be consumed safely in smaller portions. Keep in mind that they are also prepared safely with any ingredients or cooking types that may raise their histamine levels.
Are Baked Potatoes High in Histamine
Potatoes themselves are low in histamine, but the cooking method can affect the histamine levels of food. Currently, I was unable to find any information on baking a potato and its histamine level. There was only research on frying, grilling, and boiling, where frying and grilling alone were identified to have raised histamine levels in the food being cooked.
Keep track yourself!
Everyone is different and will respond differently to certain histamine levels within the food they eat. The only way to know for certain how you’ll react is to experiment. That doesn’t mean downing a bunch of potatoes and seeing how you feel. You should speak to a doctor or dietician and consult with them on how to go about eliminating high histamine foods or foods you react to.
Summary
Potatoes are low in histamine by themselves. However, they can be cooked or prepared with ingredients that may raise histamine levels. The best thing you can do is monitor what’s being cooked with the potatoes and limit your portion sizes.
