Bay leaf
Bay leaf is low in histamine and typically well tolerated as a cooking herb.
Bay leaves are used in small amounts as a flavor base and don't contribute meaningful histamine to dishes.
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Used dried, not eaten — bay leaves are almost always used dried and removed before eating, so exposure to the leaf itself is minimal
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Context matters — bay leaf is often used in slow-cooked stews and soups; the histamine level of those dishes depends far more on the meat or stock used than the bay leaf
Generally a non-issue even for people who are quite sensitive to histamine.
Track your reactions to bay leaf in Histamine Tracker. Log meals and symptoms to spot the patterns that matter for your body.
For educational purposes only. Not medical advice. Consult a healthcare professional for personal guidance.
References
- SIGHI Food Compatibility List — SIGHI (2026)
- Histamine and histamine intolerance — Maintz & Novak (2007)
- Histamine Intolerance: The Current State of the Art — Comas-Basté et al. (2020)
- Low-Histamine Diets: Is the Exclusion of Foods Justified by Their Histamine Content? — Sánchez-Pérez et al. (2021)
- Histamine Intolerance: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and Beyond — Jochum (2024)
- Guideline on management of suspected adverse reactions to ingested histamine — Reese et al. (2021)
Histamine Tracker