![]() **2021 Update Regarding Research Related to Nickel Content Based on Type of Farming - in a nutshell: go organic if you can! More below.** **2020 Update with topical remedies, see below** **December 2019 Update: After adjusting my diet since this blog was written, I had my physician do a hair sample analysis to test for nickel levels and the results came back as 0.011 - basically next to nothing!** Onwards to the blog post: Recently, I discovered that nickel FOOD allergies can cause systemic dermatitis (read: rashes, eczema). Just as a side note, nickel is a carcinogen listed by OSHA as a toxic metal. See, for example, this warning from OSHA: https://www.osha.gov/SLTC/metalsheavy/nickel.html. Nickel can be found in high concentrations in beans, nuts, seeds, soy, legumes, chocolate, and some leafy greens like kale and spinach (although I have found I tolerate hydroponically grown greens just fine and can eat them in abundance even if kale or spinach (more on that, below)). This can particularly impact you if you are vegetarian or vegan since most of you will drastically up your intake of just those foods since they're terrific vegan sources of fiber and protein (assuming you're not allergic to nickel, that is). At first, a nickel allergy can lead to complete and utter panic especially for those of us for whom, ethically, eating meat is just not an option. It's also easy to be overwhelmed by the new long list of high nickel foods. Also, cutting out dairy (low nickel) was the best thing in the world for my face. It made my skin so much clearer insofar as breakouts so there's no way I'd ever go back to dairy. It took 4 solid months of no dairy before I saw the results so, if you're trying to go dairy free for your skin, have patience and stick with it! But, back to the nickel... I posted on social media about nickel causing systemic dermatitis but seeming like a near impossible diet for vegans and was shocked by the number of messages I got in response, almost all from people suffering from eczema/dermatitis who wondered if they might have a nickel food allergy. Some of them were self-treating and had found relief by ingesting a lot of Vitamin C, which makes sense because Vitamin C binds to nickel and prevents the body from absorbing it. I mentioned this to a dermatologist friend and, to my horror, she said, "What?! Nickel isn't in food!" I showed her NIH, FDA and American Contact Dermatitis studies (links below) showing nickel consumption can cause systemic dermatitis and she was flabbergasted. This was a common theme among the dermatologists I spoke to. Although they treat patients with eczema and rashes all the time, they're just treating symptoms instead of actual root cause. In other words, they're putting band aids on the wound by dousing their patients with steroid creams which just keep symptoms at bay instead of actually locating and addressing the source of the problem. You can go to an allergist and a dermatologist and, rather than communicating and sharing information, they're so highly specialized, they can't see beyond one thing - the symptom - which is all they treat. They're like the story of the 3 blind men and the elephant. If you haven't read that story, click here. **Update: Since writing this post in 2017, I've had an outpouring of responses. I did find a holistic practitioner in NYC who gave some advice on nickel allergies in 2019, however, my only caveat is I have never seen her as a patient. Make sure you do your own background research on any medical practitioner. You can check out my interview of her here.** At any rate, a very kind woman who works with a colleague of my husband's found and gave me what I believe is the only no/low nickel cookbook in the world (love her!). The link to the cookbook is here. Using that, the American Contact Dermatitis Society research, an Italian study, an FDA publication, and an NIH study, I created a list of no/extremely low nickel foods. I find it easier and less overwhelming to focus on what you CAN eat, rather than what you can't. Since it is really difficult to locate resources for vegans who have nickel food allergies, the general advice I list below is for them. Here is a brief (kind of) synopsis of what I found. I'm not a doctor and this isn't medical advice. Everyone is different and you know yourself and your body best so do your own research and seek professional advice for any health problems. Before I go any further, please make sure you actually get allergy tested. Also, make sure your condition isn't due to something else, like rosacea—an inflammatory skin condition that causes sensitive, dry skin and, according to True Botanicals, affects 16 million Americans yet 95% of sufferers don't even know their condition is due to rosacea. For more on rosacea, click here. Even if you're not allergic to nickel, you can still suffer from skin rashes and eczema. A test of common allergens can help you identify triggers. Common food eczema triggers include animal-based dairy and meat (it's true! Read more here). Eggs, milk, chicken, and fish are particular eczema triggers and you should try eliminating them for 90 days to see if your skin clears up, keeping in mind other meats and processed foods (e.g., junk foods) also contain common triggers. See https://nutritionfacts.org/topics/eczema/ for more. A Japanese study found drinking 4 cups of oolong tea a day for 2-4 weeks provided a majority of the study participants with long-lasting eczema relief, as well. Last but not least, non-steroid topicals for run-of-the-mill eczema as recommended by various holistic practitioners include topical lotions and creams containing licorice root (at a minimum level of 2%), Vitamin B-12, Oil Free Vitamin D3 topical cream, and/or St. John's Wort. A truly nickel-free diet is very extreme and, honestly, pretty unhealthy. You should not try it long-term unless you're 100% sure that nickel is the culprit for your reactions. My allergy is what is termed low to moderate and I can eat foods that people with severe nickel allergies cannot, such as coconut, without any adverse effects. I also have no reaction to mung beans, yellow peas or processed plant-based proteins like "Beyond Meat" burgers which use pea protein. I also can eat green leafy veggies with wild abandon if they're grown hydroponically. More on that, below. I've found, after a good bit of trial and error, that I can regularly eat foods on the "no" list as long as I ingest a bit of Vitamin C in L-ascorbic acid powder or liquid form right before or after eating them (when in doubt, I will just toss some vitamin C powder into the recipe) and regularly eat foods that help detox my system from heavy metals like nickel. This is really easy and I do it by: (1) adding spirulina and chlorella to my afternoon smoothie; (2) adding cilantro to my salads; (3) the vitamin C trick mentioned above and below; and (3) making my own applesauce (the pectin in the skins binds to heavy metals and helps remove them from your system). You can do this by boiling 4 apples for about 8 minutes and then blending them into applesauce. I add Ceylon cinnamon to mine. It's delicious. If you hate applesauce or don't have time to make it, you can buy fruit pectin in capsule form. I supplement with carao for iron, liquid vegan Vitamin B12 (or just eat a spoonful or two of nutritional yeast for a big hit of B vitamins; it tastes awesome on popcorn), liquid D3, and topical magnesium, but that's just me. Your needs may be different; ask your doctor. A note on the carao: it actually contains very little iron itself but is used by holistic doctors in Costa Rica to treat anemia because it somehow helps the body increase iron. It's also used by athletes. It's a fascinating plant and you can read more about it here. Additionally, going organic may help! A 2021 update to this article: where and how your greens or legumes are grown may significantly impact the nickel content. It's possible (more data to come) you can eat leafy greens and beans and all the conventional "no" foods if they're grown organically and without pesticides. In December of 2021, Dr. Walton Sumner contacted me. He was doing soil management experiments, and had a result that surprised him: many crops were accumulating nickel to (possibly) deal with urea fertilizers. Short video on that here. Dr. Sumner explained his initial findings thus: "[u]rease* is one of a handful of enzymes that require nickel as a cofactor. And it has become the world's most popular fertilizer, because it does not explode, like the previously most popular nitrogen source has done repeatedly. And it was the nitrogen source I used on the conventional plots. And I don't think it would be added or be very stable in the hydroponic systems, and fish apparently excrete 80-90% of their nitrogen waste as ammonia, and most of the rest as urea, which might explain why you are less sensitive to hydroponic foods. So the urea hypothesis seems likely, and meaningful, but I am waiting for confirmatory data from samples waiting for analysis." Interesting data. *urea is the small nitrogenous molecule used for fertiliser, and urease is a huge protein, an enzyme that uses nickel as a cofactor to metabolise urea.* With all that being said, here are some general tips and tricks - ranging from food to skin care to makeup - that I hope you find helpful based on a conventionally grown food diet: ACNE? BREAKOUTS? CUT OUT THE DAIRY I'll be honest. I thought it was a myth that eating dairy caused blemishes. I never had true acne but I would definitely get breakouts and, as anyone who breaks out knows, they're super annoying! Dermatologists I went to gave me drying topical creams and cortisone shots into a blemish as a means of last resort but they didn't really help. Last year, I did a lot of research into how horrible, inhumane and unsafe the dairy industry is and went dairy-free cold turkey. It was NOT easy. I used to eat a lot of cheese and I love lattes. However, I found great substitutes and stuck with it. And, yes, you have to cut out goat milk, too. It's all dairy, not just cow milk. One unintended but very welcome consequence was that my face became much clearer. It took about 4 months for me before I saw the results, so have patience and stick with it. If you want to go low nickel, you're going to want to avoid no-dairy "milks" made from nuts or soy. Your best bets will be (white) rice milk and coconut milk (coconut is a fruit, or, more specifically, a "drupe," not a nut).* My favorite "milks" for taste and consistency are Hemp milk (I make my own from hemp seeds and water in a blender - delicious and so much protein!) and watermelon seed milk - you get watermelon seed butter and blend a dollop with water (hello antioxidants!) and Ripple, which is a yellow pea derived milk. It tastes, looks and acts just like cow's milk. I have no negative reaction to Ripple but some people with severe nickel allergies might because peas can have a lot nickel in them depending on where they're grown, the soil, etc. So, if you have a nickel allergy or just want to cut out heavy metal foods, cut them out and then test yourself with Ripple and, if there's no reaction, yay! You're good to go! More at http://ripplefoods.com. *Please note: the co-author of the Nickel Allergy Cookbook, Charity Bratz, contacted me regarding coconut and advised that, "Coconut, which while not being a nut, still has a high level [of nickel]. Check out http://dietgrail.com/nickel-in-food/ , which mentions coconut itself, but the coconut milk may test lower." Ms. Bratz, who has a severe and life threatening nickel allergy, has done a tremendous amount of research into foods safe for nickel allergy sufferers so, if your allergy is severe, take it from her and be cautious with coconut! **2019 UPDATE: On the advice of a nutritionist and to add more plant-based protein to my diet, I switched from Ripple to homemade hemp seed milk and have had only positive effects (caveat: hemp seeds are seeds and the nickel content in the soil where they grow will matter; if you do this, ask your doc and test a little bit first to check your tolerance and only do organic hemp seeds!!). I throw a couple handfuls of hemps seeds in a blender with water and - ta da! - delicious frothy milk for my morning latte, packed with protein and more. Read about hemp seeds here. I also make my own crackers with hemp seeds, apple cider vinegar and millet flour (millet has a long of history of being used to improve the skin for people suffering from everything from allergies to eczema). You can toast these with nutritional yeast to give yourself an energizing boost of B vitamins and also add a cheesy flavor to the crackers.** NO NICKEL? LOW NICKEL? 1. WHAT DO I EAT? First, the bad news and then the good news. The bad news is if you want to avoid high nickel foods, you may have to avoid some serious nutritional powerhouses, like beans, granola, leafy greens, nuts, raspberries, oatmeal, seeds, soy, and whole grains (also avoid chocolate, citric acid and maybe even garlic). Nooooo!!!!!!! Although, again, as I mentioned above, if your allergy isn't too severe, you may be able to still eat all these foods as long as you add heavy-metal-detox foods to your diet like: (1) adding spirulina and chlorella into your daily rotation; (2) adding cilantro to your salads; (3) the vitamin C trick mentioned above and below; and (4) making your own applesauce (the pectin in the apple skins binds to heavy metals and helps remove them from your system). You can do this by boiling 4 apples for about 8 minutes and then blending them into applesauce. I add Ceylon cinnamon to mine. It's delicious. If you hate applesauce or don't have time to make it, you can buy fruit pectin in capsule form. The good news is going low-nickel is do-able with a few substitutions. Basically, if you're not able to use the detox tricks above, whenever you were eating soy or whole grains, substitute eggplant and/or mushrooms. For example, instead of that processed soy veggie burger from the frozen foods section (not really all that great for you anyway), make a portabella mushroom "burger" with stir-fried onions in olive oil. Instead of beans and brown rice, make a stir fry (or bake) strips of eggplant, summer squash and zucchini in olive oil with fresh raw tomatoes. And so on. Second, take a chewable or powdered vitamin C (500mg) immediately before, during or right after meals with nickel content to prevent absorption of the nickel. Be sure to stay well hydrated. Quorn vegan burgers are made out of a fungus, like mushrooms, and I've had great experiences with them, as have several of my friends. Here is a list I created of "good" foods and a sample one day menu. If you like it and enough people request them, I'll add more recipes. I also have skin care and makeup recommendations at the very bottom for people with topical nickel intolerance. One fascinating question I don't yet have a satisfactory answer to is whether plants grown hydroponically could make typically high nickel (but nutrient dense) foods like spinach into acceptable low or no nickel foods. The hypothesis would be if the plants are absorbing nickel from the soil and hydroponics removes soil from the equation, will the plant be free from some or all of the nickel you usually see in it? "The fact that hydroponic vegetables never come into contact with soil also means that we don’t need to worry about them absorbing heavy metals from the soil, or being contaminated by disease-causing bacteria that may exist in manure-based fertilizers. On the other hand, we’d also miss out on the potential benefits of beneficial soil-based organisms." See https://www.quickanddirtytips.com/health-fitness/healthy-eating/ask-the-diva/are-hydroponic-vegetables-less-nutritious. I'll update once I find more answers. THE REALLY, REALLY GOOD FOODS In addition to these being low in nickel, our (unscientific and non-medical normal people) testers have reported back that these actively help alleviate symptoms: Cilantro (organic only) Apple pectin (you get the pectin from the skins - again, organic only)* Spirulina* Broken Cell Wall Chlorella * Kiwi Vitamin C* **I've also found it really matters whether foods are organic (way better) than conventional. So, yes: allergic reaction to conventional black beans. NO allergic reaction to organic black beans. Hmmm. Could be because organically grown crops come from better soil; could be something from pesticides; could be both; could be neither. My takeaway is organic whenever possible.** Anyway, the rest of the "good" foods (and a list of maybe's after this, plus sample menus): THE "GOOD" FOODS apples (including apple juice and apple sauce) bagels (plain only, not whole grain - sorry) baking soda bananas basil beer (YAY!) beets berries EXCEPT raspberries black pepper boiled potatoes (no peels) bok choy brussels sprouts cabbage chives cinnamon - ONLY use Ceylon Cinnamon!* coffee (YAY!) corn corn tortilla chips corn tortillas cornmeal cornstarch crushed red pepper cucumbers dill eggplant Scramblit "eggs " (made with pumpkin - vegan) flour (white rice flour) grapefruit grapes green onions honey kiwi maple syrup milk- white rice milk mirin (Japanese rice wine for cooking) molasses mushrooms nutmeg okra olive oil onions generally oregano pears popcorn (air popped) raisins red onion rhubarb rice flour (white rice and sweet white rice) rice paper wrappers (like for spring rolls; again, white or sweet white rice) salt strawberries summer squash thyme tomatoes (raw) turnips vanilla vinegar - apple cider vinegar vinegar - balsamic vinegar - rice vinegar - white wine (YAY!) zucchini MAYBE'S These work for me with no ill effects however I have no data as to their nickel content so proceed with caution: Beyond Meat burgers, "chicken" tenders and beefy crumbles* Follow Your Heart Vegan Eggs* Teff* (grain) Amaranth* (grain) Quorn meat-free, soy-free burgers and "chicken" Cassava* (flour, grain, tortillas) Yellow Pea Protein Powder All Hydroponic Veggies (grown in water, not soil) work for me An example of hydroponic greens: https://www.dreamgreens.com SAMPLE ONE DAY MENU Wake Up Drink an 8 oz glass of water with a teaspoon of organic rosewater* (hydrating and great for skin) or a cup of rose tea. If you take a daily probiotic, take it now. Breakfast: * Mixed berry bowl (no raspberries). Amla berry powder (toss it in a smoothie) and blackberries are two powerhouses for antioxidants. * Corn flakes cereal with (white) rice milk or, if you tolerate it well, hemp (for the protein, or pumpkin) and strawberries and/or blueberries *Smoothie with a scoop of vegan protein powder (links to some I like are in the column to the left - my fav is Naked Pea Protein. You can also use hemp or pumpkin, depending on your tolerance), 1 banana, 1 T of carao (link here, helps with iron), 1 T maple syrup, and a handful of "safe" greens (Bok Choy, cilantro, cabbage, lettuce, etc.), and 1 cup rice milk * Coffee or tea if you want caffeine with (white) rice milk or coconut milk * Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder According to the American Contact Dermatitis Society, you must take the Vitamin C immediately before, during or immediately after eating because it must be in your stomach at the same time as the food to bind to the nickel and prevent its absorption Lunch * Bok Choy salad with apple cider vinegar and chopped up apples or Bok Choy Mushroom stir fry if you have extra time to cook. * Grilled portabella mushroom "burger" with onions, cabbage and tomatoes if you want them * Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder if you're going to consume foods with a medium or higher nickel content (like, say, if you can tolerate adding some quinoa and lentils as a side dish, etc.) * Smoothie with 5 organic dates, 1 T maple syrup, 1 T carao (optional; for iron levels), 1 scoop vegan protein powder (link to left of one I like), a pinch each of vanilla powder and Ceylon cinnamon, 1 cup rice milk. Mid Morning and/or Mid Afternoon Snacks * Air popped popcorn with truffle salt and olive oil * Corn tortilla chips with homemade tomato and basil salsa *Grilled brussels sprouts with olive oil, sea salt and cracked black pepper *DIY snack bars (you can combine 1 c of low nickel "nuts" like cashews (which actually aren't nuts (read more on that here)), 3/4 cup of pitted medjool dates and 3/4 cup of another fruit or combination of fruits that you like, such as cherries, with a pinch of sea salt. Pulse it all in a blender until you have a sticky mixture, which you press into an 8" square glass dish and freeze or refrigerate for an hour. Cut them into bars and store them in the fridge or freezer. You can make a ton at once because they last for ages. You can even add a sprinkle of vitamin C powder into the mix to just keep any pesky nickel at bay). *Fruit (for easy fruit on the go, dried apples, strawberries, cherries, and watermelon "jerky" are delicious - links to some of these in the column on the left) *Smoothie with a cup of aloe juice and an assortment of fresh fruits (link to an aloe juice I like to the left). If you're an athlete and wanting to max your protein intake, add some vegan protein powder to the smoothie. Dinner * Sliced raw tomatoes with fresh basil and balsamic vinegar *Veggie spring roll appetizer of green onions, cabbage, cucumbers, summer squash, and zucchini in rice paper wrappers *Sweet "Sashimi" on Protein "Crispy Rice" (this is a really fun app although it requires advance planning and takes some time to create; make sure you are ok with Teff. It is a small Ethiopian grain and a nutrient-dense powerhouse): Sweet “Sashimi” on Protein “Crispy Rice” * Grilled vegetable stir fry of sliced eggplant, mixed mushrooms (I love Maitake and Cremini), summer squash, zucchini, onions, and diced peeled potatoes in olive oil. See here for another sample stir fry recipe. A note on protein: Animal bodies are not the sole sources of protein as many marketing campaigns and lobbyists have tried to teach us. Vegetables and fruits are also sources of protein. For example, a single medium sized russet potato provides the average person with 9% of daily protein intake for someone on a 2,000 calorie/day diet (and many of us should be consuming less than 2,000 calories a day). See more on that here. If you compare, for example, steak and broccoli, 100 calories of steak gives you about 5.4 grams of protein whereas 100 calories of broccoli gives you 11.2 grams (!). Read more on that here. Some sources of veggie protein are cauliflower, mushrooms, parsley, cucumbers, tomatoes, green peppers, and cabbage. The list goes on and on and on. To get your complete amino acid profile, you want to "stack" your veggie proteins (i.e., have at least two different kinds at once). Grains are another source of protein, with quinoa and buckwheat being "complete" proteins (you don't need to stack) however, those with a nickel allergy should test their tolerances for these grains under the supervision of a doctor or nutritionist to make sure that they're all good for them. Definitely see if it makes a difference for you if it's organic or not (I tolerate everything organic just fine). Where the grain is grown will make a tremendous difference since nickel can be absorbed from the soil. You can always (again, under the supervision of your doc) test your tolerance and, if you react a bit, test again while consuming with Vitamin C either right before or right after, which could negate your reaction. *Quorn meatless burgers with red onions and tomatoes *Quorn meatless "chicken" strip stir fry with onions, mushrooms and peppers - can make this into tacos or fajitas as well * Glass of water with 1/8 t water-soluble L-ascorbic Vitamin C powder *Glass of wine or bottle of beer if you want one Before Bed Drink another 8 oz glass of water and mix in a little spirulina* and chlorella* for their detox effects or just have a relaxing cup of chamomile tea. 2. WHAT SKIN CARE DO I USE? Skintifique is a cruelty-free, ethical French skincare line that is specifically formulated for people sensitive to heavy metals. I purchased and tried (1) Cleanser P; (2) Moisturizing Lotion HP; and (3) Protective Cream HPS. I was a little bummed by how small the size of the cream was, but it's all pretty good. My favorite is the cleanser, which is cool and calming and removes even waterproof eye makeup with ease. The lotion and cream are fine. Like the cleanser, they are calming and cool. I actually find the lotion more pleasant to use than the cream, which for some reason, feels a little powdery to me. The website offers a free full-sized product to try if you've never used their line before and I recommend using the freebie on the cream because it's the most expensive and you'll either love it or not. I am sticking to the Cleanser and Lotion, which I like a lot. https://www.skintifique.me/#skaid=BETI1704 I also love topical B12 (LifeFlo makes a good one) and Topical D3 (AnuMed makes a good one) to put right on any skin irritations as both are soothing and reduce inflammation (regardless of whether you have a nickel allergy or not). Studies have found both vitamin B12 and D3 administered as topicals to be effective against both eczema and psoriasis, so, if you're suffering from either of those maladies and it's not caused by nickel, you may want to give these a go. If you want a clean, safe, cheap body moisturizer you can get from your grocery store, a tiny bit of plain old olive oil will always work in a pinch! Just avoid Italian olive oil (which is often mixed with other oils and not actually olive oil). Here's a good link to resources for "real" olive oils: /www.mamanatural.com/virgin-olive-oil-scam-fraud/ My favorite is Trader Joe's Spanish Olive Oil. I also like California Olive Oil. Just keep in mind, olive oil doesn't offer the same protections against nickel content that the Skintifique lotion is formulated to provide. 3. WHAT MAKEUP DO I USE? Omiana is a cruelty-free, ethical and eco-friendly cosmetics line developed for people who want "clean" makeup as free from chemicals as possible. I purchased the powder foundation, anti-redness concealer, a lipliner, and some eyeshadow. The lipliner was great but avoid over sharpening because it's so creamy, it is easy to break the tip right off. The concealer is good for me (pale/medium skin with neutral undertones) but obviously won't work for a lot of other skin tones. It is too dark for me to use for undereye concealer. I like that it stays put no matter what - I've worn it diving, hiking, boxing, running, and it never budged or made me break out. Pretty good! The powder foundation was terrible. It was way too powdery and didn't stay on or provide good coverage. The eye shadow was medium. It had some of the same issues as the powder foundation but if you apply very carefully and mix in a little rose water toner for staying power, worked well. https://www.omiana.com 4. OTHER SOURCES OF NICKEL You can test the metal around your home with a quick and easy nickel test (available at https://nonickel.com/collections/solutions-for-nickel-allergy and you can buy them in some Walgreens). I was horrified to discover my bathroom sink faucet and pipes were nickel. That kind of replacement is extremely expensive, however, if you have a serious nickel allergy, well worth it for your health and well being. Additionally, check things like doorknobs, which can be quickly and easily replaced, and jewelry. You can use Nickel Guard (or regular old clear nail polish) to coat, for example, a doorknob that you can't replace but that is nickel and is causing you to suffer an allergic reaction. Just keep in mind, you'll have to re-coat it periodically to keep it safe and it doesn't work on things you get wet, like your sink faucet, for example. QUESTIONS Several folks have emailed me questions after reading this blog post and I want to just add in a few of the most common here with some suggestions. Please keep in mind they are only suggestions and you should always ask your doctor first! I am not a doctor, even if I've played one on TV. :) That being said, here are some common conundrums: 1. I'm trying to get more IRON and have issues with anemia but I want to avoid both meat and nickel...help? Again, consult your doctor (sorry, I have to say it every time) but a couple ideas: (1) Try carao. I blogged about this medicinal plant native to Costa Rica here and you can buy it easily enough at health food stores or online. (2) Apricots are a good source of iron as well. Soak dried apricots in water overnight before you eat them and your body will more easily absorb the nutrients. (3) White button mushrooms are another good source of iron (4) Ditto for squash (5) Ditto for leeks 2. B12 sources that are cruelty-free please? You actually CAN get B12 from plants unless the USDA food labels are lying. 12 tiny spirulina-chlorella tablets have more than 100% of the daily recommended dosage of B12 for the average adult male (from the chlorella part). Chlorella is an algae, not an animal. I buy the ones made by Sunfood: https://www.sunfood.com/spirulina-chlorella-tablets-2oz-raw.html. I actually didn't realize these had B12. I was eating them because I find them weirdly tasty and because they have anti-inflammatory components and are excellent to help your body detox from heavy metals. I noticed, though, I was getting redness on my face and it was actually caused by EXCESS B12. The physician had trouble understanding how a vegan could have too much B12. I figured out it was from my little algae tablets - I was popping, like, 30 a day, so taking it down to 12 took away the redness on my face, no problem. Read more on that here. Apparently, banana peels are also chock-full of B12 but I personally am not into eating banana peels. :). More on bananas here. If you hate spirulina and chlorella, with, again, the caveat to always consult your doctor first, I would use a good vegan supplement. Read more on B12 supplements here. 3. Any other outside sources for nickel-free food lists you've found useful? Definitely! Here are just a few: (1) Allergy Consultants PA List of Nickel Free Foods (2) NIH List (3) Livestrong 5. YET MORE RESOURCES 1. Nickel sensitization and dietary nickel are a substantial cause of symptoms provocation in patients with chronic allergic-like dermatitis syndromes, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4388878/ 2. No Nickel Cookbook https://thenickelallergycookbook.wordpress.com/about/ This cookbook, written by a mother and daughter team, is comprehensive and easy to follow. It is for meat eaters, which I am not, however, I found that if I (1) substituted vegetable broth where their recipes called for meat broth and (2) substituted eggplant and/or mushrooms (especially portabellas because they're so hearty) wherever their recipes called for chicken, beef or other meats, and/or Quorn vegan "meat" (made from a fungus, like mushrooms) and, (3) in baking, substituted applesauce for eggs, it was not too difficult to convert the cookbook into a vegan cookbook and even easier to convert it to a vegetarian one. If you have questions about how to do this, just message me here and I'll do my best to help! 3. Non Dairy Milks Read my blog post about this here. 4. Skin Care Skintifique is a cruelty-free, ethical skin care line for people with metal sensitivities. I particularly recommend their cleanser and lotion. Take advantage of the one free full sized product to try offer on their website. https://www.skintifique.me/en/ 5. Makeup I gave Omiana a go (more details above). Not the best staying power for powder products and not a wide color range for concealer but definitely good for sensitive skin. https://www.omiana.com 6. Nickel Test Kit You can carry it around to test jewelry, pipes, door handles, whatever. You can also get a nickel "guard" to cover said items (but you'll have to re-apply periodically and it doesn't offer much (any) protection for items that get wet frequently, like a faucet): https://nonickel.com/collections/solutions-for-nickel-allergy 7. "Low-Nickel Diet Scoring System for Systemic Nickel Allergy," The American Contact Dermatitis Society Journal, Vol 24, No. 4, July/August 2013 - http://journals.lww.com/dermatitis/Abstract/2013/07000/Low_Nickel_Diet_Scoring_System_for_Systemic_Nickel.9.aspx 8. Italian study of nickel content in common foods: www.torrinomedica.it/studio/alimenti/nichel/en/Nickel_Foods_Cont.asp NOTE: I have also been researching ethical, cruelty-free, environmentally-friendly household products that are free of heavy metals, such as laundry detergent, hand soaps and the like. Please let me know if you want me to add in this information. |
37 Comments
Theresa Hassler
3/4/2018 08:50:49 pm
If wheat and other grains are bad, why is beer okay? Also, where do you get your protein?
Reply
EIBBB
3/9/2018 09:55:09 am
Great question! First, these dietary suggestions are ONLY for people with allergies to nickel ingested through foods. If you're not allergic to nickel, there's no need to follow these guidelines. To find out if you have an allergy, see a Board Certified allergist and get tested. Even if you do have a nickel allergy, you should still consult with a doctor and/or nutritionist before drastically changing your eating habits as this blog isn't intended as medical advice in any way!
Reply
Bonnie LeBlanc
12/7/2020 06:16:50 am
Thank you so much for all this information. I had something happen with my hands with blisters and itching this is the fourth time it's happened and it is terrible. They tell me it's a herpes virus I had shingles one time years ago. They say it lives in my body. But somehow I think that nickel has something to do with it too. I prayed about what to read today. I just wanted you to know that. Thank you so much anything you want to send me through email would be wonderful
robyn
9/26/2018 07:37:52 pm
hi I'm wondering where do you get enough iron and b12 from with this diet? do you supplement? I'm anemic and lactating which I'm reading helps nickel not to detox from the body.
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You actually CAN get B12 from plants unless the USDA food labels are lying. 12 tiny spirulina-chlorella tablets have more than 100% of the daily recommended dosage of B12 for the average adult male (from the chlorella part). Chlorella is an algae, not an animal. I buy the ones made by Sunfood: https://www.sunfood.com/spirulina-chlorella-tablets-2oz-raw.html. I actually didn't realize these had B12. I was eating them because I find them weirdly tasty and because they have anti-inflammatory components and are excellent to help your body detox from heavy metals. I noticed, though, I was getting redness on my face and it was actually caused by EXCESS B12. The physician had trouble understanding how a vegan could have too much B12. I figured out it was from my little algae tablets - I was popping, like, 30 a day, so taking it down to 12 took away the redness on my face, no problem. Read more on that here. Apparently, banana peels are also chock-full of B12 but I personally am not into eating banana peels. :). More on bananas here.
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Jessica
10/8/2018 06:29:22 pm
What an amazing list!! I love your YAY! next to coffee and beer! I thought beer was a big no no and I had to start switching to a white wine?!! Tear! Lol!! Or is it just beer from a can that could be causing all my pain? Switch or stay?! Thanks!!
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Debra Schechterle
10/28/2018 05:19:27 am
I got patch tested for very painful and ugly! finger tips dermatitis. One of the strong reactions is nickel. My dermatologist swears there is absolutely no diet related reactions but on further investigation, I think he couldn’t be more wrong!
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Kim
11/7/2018 03:27:12 pm
Do you have the website of the database?
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Kim
11/7/2018 03:29:28 pm
Do you have the website to have this done, test results to a national database that sent me a list (149 pages)?
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Caitlyn Foutz
11/17/2018 07:38:57 pm
My friend has just been diagnosed with nickle allergy and is so oberwhelmed. Any chance you can point us in the direction of that list of "yes" things? ❤ thank you!
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11/20/2018 04:24:31 pm
Hi everyone! I just updated this blog post with answers to a lot of the questions including links to more sites and resources full of nickel-free or low-nickel foods, helpful info for anemics and those looking to get more B12 and more. I am also doing research into whether even typically high content nickel foods, like spinach, might be ok if grown hydroponically because nickel is usually absorbed through the soil but plants and vegetables grown hydroponically are never exposed to soil and thus might have low or no nickel...?????? If anyone knows anything on this, please let me know as it would add a whole lot of terrific and nutrient dense foods back into people's rotations! I'll update again once I find some answers. In the meantime, blog post above is updated and, more:
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Update on the B12: You actually CAN get B12 from plants unless the USDA food labels are lying. 12 tiny spirulina-chlorella tablets have more than 100% of the daily recommended dosage of B12 for the average adult male (from the chlorella part). Chlorella is an algae, not an animal. I buy the ones made by Sunfood: https://www.sunfood.com/spirulina-chlorella-tablets-2oz-raw.html. I actually didn't realize these had B12. I was eating them because I find them weirdly tasty and because they have anti-inflammatory components and are excellent to help your body detox from heavy metals. I noticed, though, I was getting redness on my face and it was actually caused by EXCESS B12. The physician had trouble understanding how a vegan could have too much B12. I figured out it was from my little algae tablets - I was popping, like, 30 a day, so taking it down to 12 took away the redness on my face, no problem. Read more on that here. Apparently, banana peels are also chock-full of B12 but I personally am not into eating banana peels. :). More on bananas here.
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Sean
3/9/2019 12:14:32 am
This is really helpful! Thank you!
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kenneth l bristow
3/9/2019 08:30:22 am
I cry everyday about my nickel allergy. When I was young I had my ear pierced it was a cool thing to do in the 70s' but I couldn't wear a earring without my ear getting sore so I gave up
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Lesley stead
5/12/2019 04:45:25 pm
I have a nickle allergy, also I think I have snas when I ingest food, waiting to see an immunologist . Started an elimination diet low in nickel.
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Brenda
7/15/2019 02:14:11 pm
I find it interesting that many articles including yours promotes Vitamin C which is based off citrus. Oranges, lemon, lime and other items that include citric acid can be a trigger for rashes, migraines etc for those with an allergy to nickel. It is probably ok for most people with a nickel allergy to take vitamin c, however, please note it does cause extreme reactions for others. Vitamin C causes me to get a migraine, mouth break out in hives, and eventually I will end up vomiting several hours later. I would caution others that they should consult their doctor if they have similar reactions.
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Definitely speak with a trusted physician for advice. With that said, the issue most people seem to have with citric acid has to do with the manufacturing process, not the "citrus." Healthline explains it really well: "Citric acid is found naturally in citrus fruits, especially lemons and limes. It’s what gives them their tart, sour taste. A manufactured form of citric acid is commonly used as an additive in food, cleaning agents, and nutritional supplements. However, this manufactured form differs from what’s found naturally in citrus fruits." ..."there have been reports of sickness and allergic reactions to the additive" [yet] "[t]hese same symptoms were not observed in people consuming natural forms of the acid, such as lemons and limes" ... "[I]n either case, the scientists suggested that the symptoms were most likely related to the mold used to produce the citric acid rather than the compound itself." You can read the whole article here: https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/citric-acid#safety
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Rose
11/11/2019 08:39:12 am
I have a nickel allergy. I find that intermittent fasting is very helpful during a flare up (i.e. I indulge in food and drink). I just want to point out that we can have different reactions. For me, I have to stay away from alcohol (i.e. beer, white wine, tequila), processed foods, and onion during a flare up. Of course, all nuts are my nemesis. I find that when I'm not having a flare up, I can ingest lots of spinach smoothies and beans without any issue. Currently having a flare up now, thanks for the reminder about vitamin c and cilantro. Also, wild blueberries are helpful too.
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Matt
12/18/2019 09:05:51 am
I'm in the midst of a small flare right now, just on 2 fingers (due to binge drinking and eating things I shouldn't). I figured out I had a nickel food allergy in November 2017 after 7 years of doctors, dermatologists, gastroenterologist... every ologist you can think of. None of them figured out or believed me when I thought it was nickel. It took lots of painful self experimentation until I made the connection. It took me getting a flare up after eating a vegan cashew cheese (during my vegan phase) and breathing in mortar dust while tiling my bathroom (I now use a high end respirator). A google search for things in common between these two were nickel. I began googling nickel content of all the other foods that seemed connected to my flare ups and low and behold they were all high in nickel. Well I saw healing within 3 weeks of a low nickel diet and near total eradication of itchy bumps on my fingers after 7 months of low nickel and taking an Iron pill daily for that same time (brought my iron from near anemic to 3 times the minimum value measured by Ferritin). I still get small flares from time to time from two things: 1) getting blood tests. 3 days after getting my blood taken I would have a huge flare up that lasted weeks. Turns out the needles they use are stainless steel with 10% nickel, in direct contact with my blood for a solid minute or two. That's like 100-1000 times the nickel content found in nuts. 2) I get flares when I eat elevated nickel foods still; too much popcorn, an accidental sesame seed roll, a single Hershey kiss chocolate. I'm rambling, but if nickel allergy is a problem for you, the low nickel diet changed my life. This blog has alot of useful information in it and I applaud its author. I wonder if I can eat beyond meat burgers? I always feared it due to pea protein but my research tells me that while peas have elevated nickel, its not horribly high, its like half the nickel of peanut butter, twice the nickel of tortilla chips.
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Anna Maria Stone
1/2/2020 06:54:51 am
Hello,
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Carao is a tree. You can learn more about it in my blog post on Costa Rica medicinals. Here's a link to the fruit extract: https://lifeirl.com/products/carao-fruit-extract-proven-natural-remedy-for-anemia-blood-building-superfood-1?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI3evdn-CO6QIVTeG1Ch1ShwCIEAQYASABEgKDMfD_BwE
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Atom
1/19/2020 06:41:19 am
Excellent article thank you. Teff seems to be a fantastic source of magnesium and iron. I mill it and soak over night in water and vinegar and rinse before adding to my daily buckwheat and fruit porridge.
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lisa
4/22/2020 07:27:12 pm
hi there
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Krupa Levinson
5/28/2021 01:24:45 pm
Curious if you have a cobalt allergy in addition to nickel allergy? I am allergic to cobalt but not nickel (which is unusual since I am told that in nature they often occur together). Many of the nickel allergy foods to avoid are similar between both allergies (with some exceptions like beets) and cobalt allergies have very little information online (including no cookbook on amazon etc)
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Nicole
12/1/2021 11:43:02 am
Thank you for all the information! It is so useful because I am vegan myself. As for vitamin c how much do we take to block the nickel absorption? Specifically not in supplement form because I have a lot of oranges right now that I would like to use.
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lol! Eat the oranges! :) The amount of Vitamin C is pretty individual and depends on the severity of your allergy and how much nickel you're ingesting. If you're getting your Vitamin C through food, like oranges, you're probably a-ok. If you're supplementing, the Mayo Clinic says that, for adults, the recommended daily amount for vitamin C is 65 to 90 milligrams (mg) a day, and the upper limit is 2,000 mg a day. Although too much dietary vitamin C is unlikely to be harmful, megadoses of vitamin C supplements might cause diarrhea and/or nausea. Also see updated post above for more info on why organic may prevent nickel from being absorbed by the plants (and sent on to you).
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June
1/25/2022 10:46:11 am
I too need to know what caroa is. And I’d this the chocoate alternative I have read about?
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Hi June! Carao is not really chocolate - more like molasses. It is a medicinal plant native to Costa Rica (I have a separate blog post on medicinal plants if you want to check it out!). I love baking with it - one way to use it is to drizzle vegetables with it and then bake. Delicious. You can also consume it raw. The odor is strong. You'll probably either like or hate the smell. This is the brand I use: https://lifeirl.com/products/carao-fruit-extract-proven-natural-remedy-for-anemia-blood-building-superfood-1/?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIhveekObN9QIVEgaICR0iegAZEAQYAiABEgL1vPD_BwE
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Hanz
12/15/2022 02:26:12 am
Hi,
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EIBBB
12/15/2022 11:00:55 am
Hi Hanz and thank you so much for your comment! With the usual caveat that I am not a doctor and you should always get your medical provider's advice on health care, yes, I've found rice milk to be an excellent substitute for oat or soy. Organic and white rice milks have generally seemed to be the best tolerated. In general, organic everything as much as you can since most plants absorb nickel from the soil and the healthier the soil is, the less nickel it will have.(See, e.g., https://gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/soils/soil-contaminants/nickel-in-the-garden/). Coffee beans are ranked "moderate to high" in nickel content but the good news is, once you brew the coffee, the nickel content is much lower and averages about 4 ug/cup, which is generally less than most teas. I don't have too much data on green tea other than a report that states brewed green tea has MORE nickel than brewed black tea, but that brewed loose, whole leaf tea is better for you (has less nickel) than tea brewed from a tea bag. Like all plants, the amount of nickel varies based on the nickel content of the soil in which they're grown. Again, go organic whenever you can. Some other resources: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/food-nutrition/food-nutrition-surveillance/canadian-total-diet-study/concentration-contaminants-other-chemicals-food-composites.html, https://tka.nutridata.ee/en/food-composition-database, https://frida.fooddata.dk/?lang=en, https://www.fda.gov/food/fda-total-diet-study-tds/fda-total-diet-study-tds-results, https://www.foodstandards.gov.au/publications/documents/ATDS_App5.pdf, https://www.foodcomposition.co.nz/foodfiles/, https://www.cfs.gov.hk/english/programme/programme_firm/programme_tds_1st_HKTDS.html, https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/media/document/total-diet-study-of-metals-and-other-elements-in-food_0.pdf.
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Hanz
12/16/2022 09:04:04 pm
Not really sure how the soil is over here but most of the essential foods are locally grown and also imported from neighboring countries. Anyway, I'm also going as organic as I can, for now I'm taking it easy and doing elimination in my meals.
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