The Sourdough School

BALM – Proven as one of the healthiest approaches to bread in the world.

Based in the walled gardens of Dr. Vanessa Kimbell's beautiful Victorian home in rural Northamptonshire, UK, we tutor individuals and train bakers and healthcare professionals in Baking as Lifestyle Medicine (BALM). Personalising bread to your lifestyle, gut microbiome, and unique genetics for optimal health—tailoring fermentation, fibre, and diversity so that your daily bread becomes the foundation of your health.

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Histamine Intolerance Self-Assessment Questionnaire

Histamine Intolerance Self-Assessment Questionnaire
Please rate each question based on how frequently you experience the symptoms:

  • 0 = Never
  • 1 = Rarely
  • 2 = Sometimes
  • 3 = Often

1. Gut Symptoms

Do you experience bloating, diarrhoea, or loose stools after eating aged, fermented, foods (e.g., cheese, wine, vinegar, cured meats)?
Do you have unexplained stomach pain, reflux, or IBS-like symptoms?
Do probiotics (especially histamine-producing strains) make your symptoms worse?

2. Skin Reactions

Do you experience flushing or redness after consuming alcohol, spicy foods, or fermented foods?
Do you have hives, itching, or unexplained rashes that come and go?
Do mosquito bites swell excessively or itch for longer than usual?

3. Sinus & Respiratory Symptoms

Do you experience frequent congestion, sinus issues, or runny nose without an obvious allergy?
Do you have seasonal allergies, hay fever, or excessive sneezing?
Do you ever feel like your throat is tight or swollen after eating?

4. Neurological & Cardiovascular Symptoms

Do you suffer from headaches or migraines after eating aged or fermented foods?
Do you experience dizziness, lightheadedness, or heart palpitations after eating certain foods?
Do you feel anxious, restless, or have trouble sleeping, especially after eating cheese, or fermented foods or drinking wine?

5. Medication & Sensitivities

Do antihistamines (e.g., cetirizine, loratadine) improve any your symptoms?
Do you react badly to alcohol, especially wine or beer?
Do you have a sensitivity to certain medications (e.g., NSAIDs, antibiotics, antidepressants) that worsen your symptoms?

Personal Details

Scoring:

  • 5 points: Unlikely to be histamine intolerance.
  • 10 points: Some sensitivity, but histamine intolerance is uncertain.
  • 20 points: Strong indication of histamine intolerance, testing may be helpful.
  • 21+ points: Highly likely histamine intolerance, testing is strongly recommended.

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All reasonable care is taken when advising about health aspects of bread, but the information that we share is not intended to take the place of treatment by a qualified medical practitioner. You must seek professional advice if you are in any doubt about any medical condition. Any application of the ideas and information contained on this website is at the reader's sole discretion and risk.

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