Is Coconut Water Low Histamine?

Is coconut water low histamine? If you’re active, you know how important it is to stay hydrated. Although you can drink plain water, sometimes you need a beverage that supplies your body with the electrolytes you lose through sweating.

Coconut water has become a phenomenon in recent years due to its refreshing taste and potential health benefits. It’s a good source of electrolytes, like potassium, that you lose when you sweat.

But if you have histamine intolerance, you may wonder whether coconut water is a safe option for you to sip to rehydrate. Histamine is a natural compound produced by the body as part of the immune response.

The Treatment for Histamine Intolerance Is a Low-Histamine Diet

Histamine plays a crucial role in various bodily functions, such as regulating digestion, regulating sleep-wake cycles, and maintaining proper brain function. However, excessive release or accumulation of histamine can lead to allergy-like symptoms, known as histamine intolerance.

Consuming foods high in histamine or histamine liberators, those that trigger the release of histamine, trigger histamine intolerance symptoms. Common symptoms include headaches, hives, nasal congestion, digestive issues, and skin rashes.

The symptoms of histamine intolerance are highly variable, and it’s a condition that’s underdiagnosed. The treatment is a low-histamine diet to lower histamine and reduce histamine intolerance symptoms.

In this article, we’ll delve into the question, “Is coconut water low histamine?” After reading this article, you’ll better understand coconut water and whether it can affect your body’s histamine level.  

Coconut Water: A Low-Histamine Beverage?

You might wonder what coconut water is. It’s the clear liquid found inside young coconuts. The makers of coconut water usually harvest the liquid while the coconut is green.

They tap into its goodness by boring a hole in the hard coconut shell to extract the water. Fortunately, you don’t have to go to that trouble. You can buy coconut water in bottles at the grocery store.

Experts praise coconut water for hydrating properties and natural electrolytes. A study found that coconut water was as effective sports drinks for fluid retention, meaning they’re both effective choices for rehydration. ₍₂₎

Beyond replacing fluid, coconut water replenishes electrolytes. Coconut water is a good source of potassium, calcium, and magnesium, all important minerals, and electrolytes that you lose when you sweat.

It also contains sodium, but its sodium content is low relative to the amount of potassium it contains.

The low sodium content isn’t an issue unless you’re exercising for a long period. With a short workout (under an hour), you  don’t have to worry about that.

Since coconut water is high in potassium, you should talk to your doctor before consuming it if you’re taking medications that can raise your potassium level or if you have kidney failure.

Fresh Coconut Water Is Your Best Choice

The good news is coconut water is low in histamine, making it a potentially safe choice if you have histamine intolerance. However, the histamine content in foods can vary based on their freshness and storage conditions.

Freshly harvested coconuts are less likely to have high levels of histamine, since they haven’t had time to accumulate histamine-producing bacteria.

But what about coconut water in packages? One study found that coconut water processed and stored in glass bottles remained sterile with no bacterial growth for 6 months. ₍₃₎

The fact that coconut water remains sterile in glass bottles for up to 6 months is means its not accumulating histamine-producing bacteria, but to achieve this effect, the water undergoes high temperature processing to kill bacteria and keep the liquid sterile.

During this process, coconut water loses some of its nutrients. ₍₄₎ So, the price you’ll pay is some loss of nutrients and, possibly, some of its antioxidants.

Coconut Water May Contain Additives

Natural coconut water, fresh from the coconut, is free of additives that could trigger histamine intolerance symptoms and also contains the highest quantities of nutrients.

However, manufacturers of non-organic coconut water sometimes add additives to keep the coconuts fresh during transport to stores.

The commonly used preservatives in coconut water are sodium sulfite (INS 221) and sodium metabisulfite. ₍₅₎ However, some brands may use potassium sorbate, ascorbic acid, and tocopherol as natural preservatives.

However, there are coconut water brands that claim to use no preservatives. I drink Harmless Harvest Coconut Water, which is preservative free.

Your best is to choose organic coconut water that contains no additives. Once you open the container, drink the liquid quickly, so you don’t risk exposure to bacteria that could increase the histamine level of the liquid.

Can Coconut Water Benefit Histamine Intolerance?

Unlike sports drinks, coconut water is rich in antioxidants that help fight oxidative stress and inflammation.₍₁₎ Since histamine triggers inflammation, sipping on coconut water with its natural antioxidant properties could be beneficial if you have histamine intolerance.

Frequently Asked Questions about Coconut Water and Histamine Intolerance:

Can coconut water cause histamine intolerance?

No, coconut water is generally considered safe for individuals with histamine intolerance. It is low in histamine and may even offer some benefits due to its natural antioxidant properties.

Can coconut water trigger allergies?

Coconut allergies are rare but possible. However, they are not related to histamine intolerance. If you have a known coconut allergy, it is best to avoid coconut water and any coconut-based products.

Are there any alternatives for individuals with histamine intolerance?

Yes, if you have histamine intolerance, there are several low-histamine beverages you can explore, such as herbal teas, and filtered water.

Conclusion: Is Coconut Water Low Histamine?

Coconut water is generally low in histamine, making it a potential choice if you have histamine intolerance. Be sure to keep a food diary and introduce coconut water into your diet in small quantities at first to see how you respond.

Consider the freshness of the coconut water too and drink it quickly to avoid bacteria build-up that can increase histamine production.

So now you know that coconut water is low histamine, and why you buy a version that’s organic and free of additives and drink it quickly. Enjoy! Also, discover other low-histamine beverages you can sip with histamine intolerance. Also, find out whether spirulina could be beneficial for histamine intolerance.

References:

1. Www.Walshmedicalmedia.Com, 2023, https://www.walshmedicalmedia.com/open-access/effect-of-shelf-stable-concentrates-of-tender-coconut-water-and-testa-phenolics-on-lipid-profile-and-liver-antioxidant-e.pdf. Accessed 26 Jun 2023.
2. Kalman DS, Feldman S, Krieger DR, Bloomer RJ. Comparison of coconut water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sport drink on measures of hydration and physical performance in exercise-trained men. J Int Soc Sports Nutr. 2012 Jan 18;9(1):1. doi: 10.1186/1550-2783-9-1. PMID: 22257640; PMCID: PMC3293068. (PDF) Comparison of coconut water and a carbohydrate-electrolyte sport drink on measures of hydration and physical performance in exercise-trained men (researchgate.net)
3. LWT – Food Science and Technology. Volume 59, Issue 2, Part 1, December 2014, Pages 1191-1195.
4. M. Haseena, K.V. Kasturi, S. Padmanabhan. Post-harvest quality and shelf-life of tender coconut. Journal of Food Science and Technology, 47 (6) (2010), pp. 686-689. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23572707/
5. Www.Avensonline.Org, 2023, https://www.avensonline.org/wp-content/uploads/JFPB-2332-4104-01-0007.pdf. Accessed 26 Jun 2023.