Foods that contain Nickel
Nickel allergy, both contact and food, is now quite widespread: it can be recognized by the hives and skin rashes it causes and, if necessary, it must be diagnosed with allergy tests. If the allergy is confirmed, foods containing nickel must be eliminated from the diet, especially vegetables such as tomatoes and spinach. Here is the complete list of foods not to consume and to consume in moderation.
Nickel is a metal present in many foods which is why following a nickel free diet can become very complicated in the case of an allergy and it is therefore good to know which foods contain nickel and which must be completely eliminated and which can instead be consumed in moderation.
Where is nickel contained?
The first thing to know is that one of the first symptoms to observe in case of nickel allergy is contact dermatitis due to contact with this metal or the alloys that contain it. In this case it is important to avoid wearing clothing or jewelery that contains nickel and with particular attention to costume jewellery, preferring nickel-free jewelery (bracelets, earrings, necklaces, watches, glasses…) and also pay attention to skin contact with the parts. metal parts of clothing such as zippers and buttons.
Nickel can also be present in cosmetic, beauty and personal hygiene products such as hair dyes, toothpastes, shampoos, make-up and nail polishes, so be careful to read the labels of products such as creams and soaps: some specific lines have eliminated the nickel from the production cycle.
However, when trying a new product it is always best to do a small test in a less exposed area to be sure. In some cases, contact dermatitis can be associated with more general disorders such as urticaria, erythema, itching, digestive disorders and, in this case, we speak of systemic allergy to nickel which must be ascertained with specific tests (patch tests). If these tests are positive, foods containing nickel are eliminated from the diet.
Foods that contain nickel
As already announced, nickel is present in many foods and, in particular, its content in plants is four times higher than that of animal products and is strongly influenced by the concentrations of the metal in the soil, therefore it varies from place to place with an increase in concentration in spring and autumn.
The daily dietary intake therefore changes depending on the quantity of consumption of vegetables and foods of animal origin. Since there are many foods that contain it, below is a list of which are not permitted and which are permitted in moderation:
Not allowed foods (rich in nickel)
- Cocoa and chocolate
- Soya beans
- Oatmeal, cornmeal, wholemeal flour
- Walnuts, almonds
- Fresh and dried legumes
- Rhubarb, onions, spinach, asparagus, tomatoes
- Margarine
- Pears
- Baking powder
- Licorice
- Canned food
- Supplements containing nickel (check the label)
- Fish such as tuna, herring, salmon, mackerel
- Crustaceans
Foods allowed in moderation
- Cauliflower, cabbage, lettuce, carrots
- Refined rice
- White flour
- Jam
- Wine, beer
- Coffee
- Fresh fruit (excluding pears)
- Acidic foods in general because they can lead to the dissociation of nickel from utensils and can increase the nickel content of the food.
Furthermore, those who have a strong intolerance or allergy to nickel should generally avoid canned and tinned foods and prefer glass packaging, as well as pay attention to the type of crockery used for cooking and preserving food, preferring those in which it is nickel free indicated .
Last but not least, a further tip to keep in mind is to let the water run for a few minutes in the morning before using it in order to eliminate any traces of nickel present in the pipes.
Nickel free crockery and utensils
Those who suffer from nickel allergies must also pay close attention to the crockery used for cooking and containers for storing food, which must be strictly nickel free. From pots to cutlery, through to glass baking dishes, there is no shortage of alternatives and it is easy to find this type of kitchen utensils online.
Conclusion
Nickel allergy is now quite widespread and manifests itself, first of all, with contact dermatitis or skin rashes. If this happens to you, the best thing is to talk to your doctor immediately and do allergy tests to eliminate or reduce foods that contain nickel in your diet , in particular vegetables, fish and leavened products.
