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Are you one of those people who eat at irregular times and often skip a meal? A recent study examined the impact of an irregular eating rhythm on health. The results are terrifying.

US study: Negative consequences of irregular mealtimes

A long working day forces many people to take meals irregularly and as quickly as possible or to skip them altogether. US researchers were able to find out in a study that irregular food intake has a negative effect on the heart and circulatory system. According to the scientists, a widespread disease in particular is favored.

The team led by Nour Makarem from Columbia University came to the conclusion that evening feasting in particular increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, reports. “Here we show that it’s not just about the timing of food intake – it’s also about the daily regularity and the regularity of the weekend and weekday food intake,” Makarem is quoted as saying in a statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). .

The US researchers had examined the eating habits of 116 women aged 20 to 64 years. The study participants kept an electronic food diary for one week in which they recorded what and when they ate. A year later, 99 of the subjects repeated the process. Among other things, the researchers evaluated when the first and last meal took place, what percentage of the daily calorie intake was consumed after 8 p.m., how long the meals lasted, and compared this data with the blood pressure values ​​and the body mass index (BMI ) the participant.

Elevated blood pressure due to late meals – BMI also increases

It was found that sumptuous meals in the evening had a negative impact on blood pressure: According to the portal, for every ten percent increase in calories consumed after 5 p.m., systolic blood pressure increased by almost three points and diastolic blood pressure also rose by more than two points. The long-term blood sugar level HbA1c also rose. The study participants who consumed the majority of their daily calories after 8 p.m. also had an increased risk of storing abdominal fat and their BMI was also more likely to increase in this case. Also striking: the greater the difference in time between meals taken during the week and those taken at the weekend, the more negative the impact on blood pressure and BMI – two factors that have a significant impact on heart health, according to the online portal.

Headaches, itching and gastrointestinal discomfort after a meal could be symptoms of histamine intolerance. More and more people are suffering from it, but the causes and a clear diagnostic procedure have not yet been scientifically clarified. How to recognize histamine intolerance and which foods to avoid.

Histamine intolerance: the cause has not yet been finally clarified

The exact cause of histamine intolerance is still being discussed by experts. There is a high probability that a deficiency or reduced activity of the enzyme that breaks down histamine (DAO) is responsible for this. But how do I actually know if I tolerate histamine or not? A red spot on the skin, often accompanied by itching after eating foods containing histamine, is one of the most obvious symptoms. According to the Swiss interest group histamine intolerance (SIGHI), stabbing headaches, abdominal pain and diarrhea can also be signs.

It is also important to know that an intolerance is not the same phenomenon as an allergy. These intolerances cannot be detected in either a blood test or a skin test. It’s a different story with allergies. If there is a suspicion of histamine intolerance, an allergist or a specialist in the field of nutrition should be consulted, who will then carry out detailed examinations.

A histamine intolerance is diagnosed when a person who suspects this intolerance in themselves deliberately avoids histamine in their diet for a period of time. A “dietary provocation” is then carried out for diagnostic purposes. This means that the person in question includes histamine-containing foods in their diet again. The reaction to this provocation then leads to a final diagnosis.

Foods rich in histamine that should be avoided in case of intolerance

What actually contains histamine? In short: all foods that are subject to microbial ripening. These include, above all, mature cheeses such as Emmental or mountain cheese, as well as raw sausages such as salami or raw ham. There is also a lot of histamine in other foods, such as nuts, spinach, fish preparations, sauerkraut, tomatoes or chocolate. But also foods that contribute to increased histamine release in the body. This includes any alcoholic beverages, as these increase the permeability of the gastrointestinal mucosa.

The treatment of histamine intolerance is currently carried out in two ways: On the one hand, the diet of histamine intolerant people should be adjusted accordingly and foods that trigger the symptoms should be avoided. On the other hand, there are so-called antihistamines, in capsule or tablet form, which can alleviate symptoms in acute cases.