Can a Low Nickel Diet Help You With Your Allergies?
Nickel is a silver-white metal found naturally in the environment and known for its strength and resistance to heat and corrosion. While manufacturers often use it with other metals in items like jewelry, coins, and keys, you can find small amounts of nickel in many foods, including certain grains, fruits, vegetables, chocolate, tea, and much more. This is why a low nickel diet might come in handy !
While nickel is present in a variety of food items and materials, it can cause an immune response in certain people. For those with a nickel allergy, eating foods containing nickel can cause symptoms like rashes or stomach aches.
Here’s a simplified low nickel diet:
The following foods typically contain higher amounts of nickel and should be avoided on a low nickel diet or a nickel free diet:
Grains: Whole wheat bread, multi grain breads, multi grain cereals, wheat bran, wheat germ, whole wheat pasta, oats, oatmeal, buckwheat, seeds, rye, millet
Vegetables: Beans, lentils, peas, soy products (tofu, soy sauce, soy beans) sprouts, brussel sprouts, asparagus, broccoli, cauliflower, spinach, canned vegetables, red kidney beans, chickpeas, cabbage, corn, mushrooms, onions, carrots
Fruits: Canned fruit cocktail, pears, bananas, canned fruits, tomatoes, raisins, rhubarb, dried fruit
Meats: Shellfish, herring, mackerel, tuna, processed meats with fillers or coatings, canned meats and fish
Beverages: Tea, chocolate milk, beer, red wine
OTHER SOURCES OF DIETARY NICKEL TO AVOID:
- Chocolate and cocoa powder (especially dark chocolate)
- All nuts (walnuts, peanuts, almonds, hazelnuts, soy nuts)
- All seeds (sunflower seeds, linseed)
- Licorice
- Baking powder
- Gelatin
- Marzipan
- Margarine
- Commercial salad dressings
- Vitamins containing nickel
- Canned foods in general
- Stainless-steel cooking vessels used for cooking acidic foods
- The first quart of tap water drawn from any faucet in the morning.
