The Histamine Question
Some people experience red wine
headaches and there seems to be two main causes:
· Excessive consumption
· Histamine content
The first of these is easy to
remedy. Simply modify and moderate the quantity that you consume.
The second is more complex.
Histamines are a physiologically active amine, C5H9N3,
found in plant and animal tissue and released as part of an allergic reaction in
people. It stimulates gastric secretion and causes dilation of capillaries,
constriction of bronchial smooth muscle, and decreased blood pressure. In short
it makes us feel poorly.
Studies of histamine levels in of red wine, white wines, champagnes and beers
showed levels ranged up to 120 micrograms/l in white wines; 670 micrograms/l in
champagnes; 3800 micrograms/l in red wines; and 305 micrograms/l in beers.
Histamine appears to be causing the wine intolerance.
The histamines in red wines
come from two sources:
1. The grape skins
2. New oak barrels
and oak products
Both are not avoidable if you
wish to enjoy a quality red wine or are they?
“Does the content of
histamines in red wines diminish with time?” Geoffrey raised this question
due to not experiencing headaches with aged reds. There is an old saying "that
if you drink quality aged red wines you will not get a hangover" Well there is
both fact and fiction here and I will attempt an answer further down.
I am sorry to say that there
are no studies that I could find to suggest that the levels of histamines
diminish with time or decrease with the
aging of red wines. However when one considers that the histamines are
associated with grape and oak tannins and pigments (colours) and these compounds
are prominent components of the sediments and crusts in aged wines then it would
seem possible that the histamines could well be locked up in these deposits thus
reducing the levels of free histamines in the wine with time. I will continue to research
this subject and hope that I will be able to give a more definitive answer in
the future.
Sulphur will also leave the
wine over time thus an aged red wine has become devoid of 2 prominent allergens,
sulphur & histamines, so it stands to reason that you will feel better after
drinking several aged red wines rather than young ones.
To Reduce the Effects:
Don’ts
· If you have a
histamine reaction you should never drink any wine that they can't see through.
The pigments are associated with the problem and are just the thing that causes
migraines for some people.
· Avoid any wine that
was fermented or aged in new oak barrels. A sweet vanilla fragrance is a warning
sign. Vanillin is a compound found in the oak.
· Do not avoid water.
Drinking water in between the consumption of alcohol. Commonly try to consume
twice the wine content in water throughout your occasion.
· Food. Please eat
something while consuming alcohol.
Avoid excessive alcohol consumption.
If you
wish to take an antihistamine or other drug you should first consult a medical
practitioner.
Taste
award winning local wines today at ILNAM Estate
ILNAM Estate is
a unique tourist attraction as we are the only winery on
the Tweed. ILNAM Estate Winery is located just 20 minutes from the Gold Coast
Airport, 40 minutes from Surfers Paradise and only 1 hour 20 minutes from
Brisbane.
ILNAM ESTATE WINERY- 750 Carool Road,
Carool NSW- Ph (07) 5590 7703
