Test diet - histamine collection
This document is part of the ACI Diet Specifications for Adult Inpatients. It is not to be used for patient education.
Aim
To provide a diet low in histamine.
Characteristics
Avoids cheese, chocolate, wine, yeast extracts and fish products, and some fruits and vegetables.
Indications
This is a test diet used for urinary histamine / methyl histamine estimation.
Nutritional adequacy
Nutritionally adequate with careful selection.
Precautions
All meat dishes must be freshly cooked, as ageing increases the amine levels.
Paediatrics
Suitable for use in paediatrics when combined with an age-appropriate diet.
Specific menu planning guidelines
| Allowed | Not allowed | |
|---|---|---|
| Hot main dishes | Plain steamed, grilled or roasted chicken, turkey, fresh white fish, lamb, beef Scrambled eggs, omelette | Aged beef, bacon, ham, pork, silverside, sausages, frozen fish, dishes containing cheese, soy sauce, salmon, tuna, sardines, stocks or flavour boosters |
| Sauces, gravies | None | - |
| Starchy vegetables / pasta / rice | All potato, pasta, plain rice | Savoury rice |
| Vegetables | Pumpkin, peas, carrots, beans, zucchini, corn | Cauliflower, eggplant, broccoli, olives, mushrooms, spinach, tomato, gherkin |
| Soups | None | - |
| Sandwiches | Sandwiches made with plain beef or lamb, chicken, turkey, egg, cottage cheese | Ham, silverside, cheese, salmon, tuna, sardines, peanut butter, mayonnaise, avocado |
| Salads, dressings | Avocado | - |
| Breads, cereals | All breads and rice cakes Plain breakfast cereals (e.g. rolled oats, semolina, Corn Flakes®, Weet-Bix™, Rice Bubbles®) | Cereals with added fruit (e.g.muesli, Sultana Bran®) |
| Spreads | Margarine, butter, honey, apricot jam | Vegemite™, marmalade, peanut butter, Nutella® |
| Hot breakfast choices | All plain egg dishes | Spaghetti, baked beans, bacon, tomato, cheese, mushrooms |
| Fruit | Fresh apple Canned apple and pear | Bananas, pawpaw, grapefruit, kiwifruit, mandarins, oranges, passionfruit, pineapple, raspberries, grapes, plums, prunes, sultanas, lemons, figs, dates, avocado |
| Yoghurt | Plain and vanilla yoghurt and Frûche® | Flavoured and fruit yoghurt |
| Desserts | Custard, ice-cream, apple sponge / danish, cream, creamy rice | Desserts containing high-amine fruits (see above) |
| Milk and cheese | All other milks (including caramel flavoured) Fresh cheeses (e.g.ricotta, cottage cheese) | Chocolate, banana or strawberry-flavoured milk and milkshakes Aged cheeses (e.g.cheddar) |
| Beverages | Tea, coffee, lemonade Apple juice | Cordial, soft drinks, cocoa, chocolate Orange, tomato and pineapple juices |
| Biscuits | Plain biscuits | Biscuits containing dried fruit |
| Miscellaneous | Vanilla-flavoured nutritional supplements Salt and pepper Mayonnaise | Nuts, fruit cake |
References
- Swain AR, Soutter VL, Loblay RH. Friendly food: the complete guide to avoiding allergies, additives and problem chemicals. Sydney: Murdoch Books; 2004.