Why Olive Oil Might Be Triggering Your Symptoms
+ how to save on our top recommended, high-quality olive oil!
If you’ve ever seen olive oil on low histamine food lists as a good option, tried it, and then felt worse… you’re not imagining things.
This is something we see all the time with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome and Histamine Intolerance. Olive oil is often recommended, but for many people it can trigger symptoms like:
Flushing
Headaches
GI upset
And more.
That disconnect can leave you wondering what you’re missing. Or whether your body is too sensitive to tolerate this food, even though it might work for others.
Here’s the truth: olive oil isn’t a yes-or-no food. Like with many things, how your body responds depends on your current mast cell stability and the quality of the oil itself.
The good news is that an organic, fresh, high-quality olive oil is often well tolerated in our community.
Healthy fats support healing. Your body needs nutrients to recover. And your brain especially needs healthy fats.
You can learn more about selecting high-quality, organic olive oil and what to watch for in our latest blog post below.
This post is for informational purposes only. To read our full disclaimer, please scroll to the bottom of this post.
Why Olive Oil Can Cause Reactions (Even Though It’s Low Histamine)
Making sure that you are purchasing a fresh product that emphasizes nutrition is the top priority. This ensures that the bottle you are opening has lower histamine levels and doesn’t contain inflammatory compounds.
One big reason people in our community might react to olive oil is DAO activity.
Olive oil can initially increase histamine levels. But it also stimulates DAO production!
DAO is the enzyme responsible for breaking histamine down. So, if your DAO is already depleted, that initial rise in histamine levels might be too much for you.
But even some of our very sensitive people do really well with olive oil. And olive oil is often helpful for those who don’t initially tolerate it once your system is more supported. It might not be a “no” food, but instead a “not right now.”
Another factor that often gets overlooked is salicylate sensitivity. Olive oil is naturally high in salicylates, which can be inflammatory for some people with MCAS, especially during active flares.
And then there’s the biggest issue of all: oxidation and poor quality.
The Olive Oil Problem No One Talks About
Most olive oil on grocery store shelves is either:
Rancid
Oxidized (far fewer of the good things in it!)
Poorly stored
Or not truly extra virgin at all
Exposure to heat, light, and air breaks olive oil down quickly. When that happens, the oil becomes inflammatory and far more likely to activate mast cells.
Not only that, olives are also a crop that is frequently sprayed with pesticides. You want to prioritize getting a high quality, organic source of olive oil to reduce the chance of contaminants that can trigger mast cells.
This can be why someone may tolerate olive oil beautifully one time… and react to a different bottle the next.
When you are living with MCAS and Histamine Intolerance, the quality of the food matters just as much as the food itself.
What Do the Experts Say?
There are a lot of good reasons to use olive oil in your diet!
Studies show these benefits:
Inflammation lowering
Heart protective
Brain supportive
Better nutrient absorption
Can help with blood sugar regulation
This week Tony Kasandrinos, founder of Kasandrinos Olive Oil, joined us on our live show.
He shared the benefits of fresh olive oil, contaminants commonly found in store-bought brands, and we discussed how low quality or contaminated oils may lead to reactions.
As well as why freshness makes such a big difference. And how hard it can be to find truly fresh olive oil (hint: harder than you think!)
You can watch the full replay below:
When Olive Oil Can Be Supportive + Savings for Our Community
Fresh, truly high-quality extra virgin olive oil contains powerful polyphenols like hydroxytyrosol and oleuropein, which help calm inflammation, support immune balance, and may even help stabilize mast cells over time.
It also contains supportive antioxidants that can protect your body from oxidative stress.
But those benefits only exist when the oil is:
Organic – olives are frequently sprayed with pesticides
Recently harvested (fresh) – you want something that has been harvested in the current season for optimal freshness
Hand picked – bruised olives will break down more quickly
Cold-pressed – preserves polyphenols and anti-inflammatory compounds
Single origin PGI certified – oil is traceable to where it was produced
Stored in dark glass or tins – protected from heat and light
A flat, flavorless oil is often a sign that the beneficial compounds are already gone.
What you might find on your grocery store shelves is a bottle that is oxidized or has multiple different oils with different levels of freshness combined into the same bottle.
And of course you want something that tastes good, too!
This is why we recommend Kassandrinos Olive Oil.
Kasandrinos checked all our boxes for high-quality, low histamine olive oil, free from contaminants.
It was well tolerated and enjoyed by our entire team (except those with Salicylate Intolerance) And we tried A LOT of different brands.
🎉 Kasandrinos Olive Oil is offering an exclusive discount for the Mast Cell 360 Community!
Use code MASTCELL360 to save 10% on your order.
CLICK HERE AND USE CODE MASTCELL360 TO SAVE 10% ON KASANDRINOS OLIVE OIL TODAY
The discount can also be stacked with a subscription for even more savings! They offer travel packs and small bottle options if you are unsure it will work for you and want to give it a try.
How to Approach Olive Oil Gently
If olive oil has caused symptoms for you in the past, that doesn’t mean it’s off the table forever.
Like most things, we recommend starting small — even a few drops. And give your body time to respond before increasing.
For some people, olive oil works best once mast cells are calmer and foundational supports are in place.
This is all about quality, timing, and listening to what your body is telling you right now.
If olive oil has been confusing or frustrating for you, we hope that you have found this information helpful. And that it gives you a clearer way forward to incorporating this nutrient rich, healthy fat back into your diet.
Together in healing,
The Mast Cell 360 Team
PS Ready to try out a tasty, low histamine recipe featuring olive oil? Try out this Low Histamine Herbed Olive Oil with Cassava Flatbread for a snack!
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I seem to have more problems w/ salicylates than histamine consumption. Incl w/ meds, olive oil and other foods. This is presented as quite unusual. That issues w/ freshness, etc. are much more common. Are they? I notice no issues w/ flaxseed or pumpkinseed oil.