Afke Zonderland Shares How Histamines in Food Can Affect Our Health

Afke Zonderland, Okanagan Rawsome

Okanagan Rawsome’s mission is to awaken our taste buds to delicious raw, gluten-free goodness! Afke Zonderland, Chef & CEO shares how easy it is to live a whole-food, vegan, sprouted philosophy and make the healthiest choices for yourself and your family.


Histamine: To bee or not to bee.

My husband, master painter for 50 years, has endured a lot of wasp and hornet stings in his career. One can hardly blame the little beasties when he destroys their master pieces of functional engineering under soffits and facia. Hundreds of nests have by necessity found themselves under attack by a shorts and white t-shirt clad painter with a strong arm, a long extension pole and swift feet.

Black Hornets have an especially nasty sting to match their personality. I wonder if John is retiring because he can’t outrun the wicked stingers as well as he used to.  Even with quick access to a dose of anti-histamines, he cannot escape the immediate reaction of a hornet’s sting that has become subsequently worse over the years.

Spring is just around the corner and many people suffer from pollen, dust and dander. The sinuses alert the immune system to release histamine in the bloodstream to expel the allergen out of the body. Runny noses, coughing, sneezing all help rid the body of the presumably harmful allergen.


Histamine can also result in eczema, dermatitis, hives or itchy skin. Essential oils like peppermint, lavender, eucalyptus can relieve the itching and swelling but so can eliminating histamine rich foods.

Eating or drinking histamine rich food every day can trigger wicked migraines in some people. I eat and drink quite a lot of these good-gut-bacteria producing foods and share them liberally with my husband.  In this case, “What’s good for the goose is not good for the gander!”

The histamine trouble makers in order from very bad to mildly irritating:

  1. Aged or fermented foods: kimchi, sauerkraut, yoghurt, kefir and aged cheese, alcohol of any kind (beer and wine especially high) vinegar and cured meat.
  2. Fish and seafood, especially canned or smoked fish.
  3. Spinach, eggplant, mushrooms, canned vegetables, dried fruit, avocadoes, papaya, pineapple and left overs.

For the complete story go to. https://paleoleap.com/histamines/

CLICK HERE if you have a comment or question for Afke

Enter ‘Afke’ into the search field at the top right of this page to view her other articles.


weight-loss diets, health issues, aversions, religious beliefs, and world-changing agendasOkanagan Rawsome is proud to source all the  fruits and veggies in their crisps from their own garden in Grindrod, BC and from organic farmers in the Okanagan Valley.  This year they  decided to grow the leafy greens, kale, spinach and parsley for their new Okanagan Rawsome Garden Crisps.

100% Non-GMO • Soaked & Sprouted Seeds • Dehydrated at Low Temperatures • No Refined Sugars • Low-Glycemic

A source of pure plant energy, these living whole food snacks are low-glycemic, promote weight loss, reduce inflammation. Loaded with organic ingredients and local produce, Okanagan Rawsome is real food that nourishes your body – and soul! 


 Supergreens Garden Crisps

It doesn’t get any greener than this combination of spinach, kale and parsley made with local grown apples and zucchini. BC grown all the way!

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Top these Garden Crisps with your favourite cheese and some sliced cucumber to create a perfect pairing.

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples,*spinach,*kale,*parsley,*zucchini,*flax seeds,*coconut,*dates,*lemon juice,*sprouted pumpkin seeds,*chlorella, ginger powder, garlic powder, pure ocean aquifer sea salt. (*organic)

Okanagan Rawsome Beet Crisps

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps • See how they are made!

Onion-Herb BEET CRISPS are packed with local organic beets, carrots and onions combined with sprouted seeds and a yummy blend of spices.

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Onion-Herb Beet Crisps are delicious with your favourite cheese, hummus, or pesto. Make an open-faced sandwich using a Beet Crisp as a base!

  • INGREDIENTS: *ground flaxseeds, *carrots, *sprouted buckwheat, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *beets *zucchini, *sprouted lentils, *onions, onion powder, oregano, garlic powder, *sea salt, cumin (*organic)

carrot-crisps

Spicy Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps

Spicy Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps • See how they are made!

Spicy Chia-Hemp CARROT CRISPS are spicy snacks made with locally grown carrots & zucchini, chia, hemp, and sprouted lentils to enhance nutrient bioavailability. The carrots provide a high-source of Vitamin A.

  • LOCAL Organic Veggies
  • 96% ORGANIC Ingredients

Chia-Hemp Carrot Crisps are delicious with your favorite cheese, hummus, and/or a slice of avocado. Make an open faced sandwich using a Carrot Crisp as a base!

  • INGREDIENTS: *carrots, *ground flax seeds, *sprouted buckwheat, *zucchini, *sprouted lentils, hemp hearts, *chia seeds, *sea salt, cumin, cayenne, onion powder, oregano, garlic powder (*organic)

How Carrot Crisps are Made


Orange Sesame Apple Crisps

Orange Sesame Apple Crisps

Orange Sesame APPLE CRISPS  light, flavour-packed zesty treat made with oranges and lemons. We grind whole flax seeds to preserve valuable Omega-3 fats. Dehydration happens at low temperatures, protecting valuable living enzymes!

  • LOCAL Organic Apples
  • 96% ORGANIC Ingredients

Delicious with a seed or nut butter. Visit the recipe section of our website for other suggested pairings and rawsome recipes!

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *coconut, *ground flax seeds, *sesame seeds, *dates, hemp hearts, *oranges, *lemon juice, cinnamon, ground ginger, *sea salt (*organic)

How Apple Crisps Are Made


 Cran Raisin Apple CrispsCranberry Raisin Apple Crisps

Cran-Raisin APPLE CRISPS combine sprouted buckwheat with delicious organic cranberries, raisins, and organic Okanagan apples to create a naturally sweet and filling snack. 

  • LOCAL Organic Apples
  • 99% ORGANIC Ingredients

Crumble a few pieces of Cran-Raisin Apple Crisps onto plain yogurt or sprinkle some on top of your morning cereal to add live enzymes and easy to digest protein to kick start your day!

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *sprouted buckwheat, *ground flax, *dates, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *sprouted pumpkin seeds, *raisins, *cranberries, cinnamon, ground ginger, *orange zest, *sea salt (*organic)

Available in convenient single-sized portions.


 Okanagan Rawsome Choc-Ginger

Chocolate Ginger Apple Crisps

Chocolate Ginger Apple Crisps

*Available exclusively online in Smaller Pieces or in Bulk

Chocolate Ginger APPLE CRISPS offer dark chocolate-coconut decadence in a delicious mixture of organic Okanagan apples, ginger, sprouted seeds, sprouted buckwheat, and dates. 

  • LOCAL Organic Produce
  • 90% ORGANIC Ingredients

Choc-Ginger Apple Crisps are delicious on their own or with a serving of ice cream made with frozen bananas & vegan chocolate pudding.

  • INGREDIENTS: *apples, *sprouted buckwheat, *ground flax, *dates, *sprouted sunflower seeds, *sprouted pumpkin seeds, ginger slices, dark chocolate (cocao, sugar, non-GMO soya lecithin, vanilla flavour), *coconut, ground ginger, *lemon juice, cinnamon, *sea salt (*organic)
  • Available in convenient single-sized portions.

Meet the Okanagan Rawsome Farmers

Farming runs in the family at Okanagan Rawsome

Meet Afke Zonderland, Founder Okanagan Rawsome


Serving Suggestions!Okanaga Rawsome Collage 9Okanagan Rawsome Nutrition


Okanagan Rawsome CCA ReviewOkanagan Rawsome is a proud Sponsor of the Canadian Celiac Association’s Classes for the Newly Diagnosed. Details here!

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  • *Information and perspectives posted on  The Celiac Scene are intended to provide general information, without independent verification on the part of The Celiac Scene for  the accuracy of the information provided to it. The information is specifically not intended to be a substitute for medical diagnosis or treatment by your physician or other health care professional. Always consult your own physician or other health care professionals about any medical questions, diagnosis, or treatment, especially before trying any diet. Okanagan Rawsome does not accept any liability for any injury, loss or damage incurred by use of or reliance on any content contained herein.