The Nickel Allergy Diet

Severely allergic individuals may choose to avoid foods that are rich in nickel. Dietary intake of some foods have been shown to aggravate dermatitis especially hand dermatitis.

Before giving up chocolate or one of your favorite foods, contact a dermatologist or allergist specializing in contact dermatitis to see if you would benefit from a low nickel diet.

SIMPLIFIED LOW NICKEL DIET

The following foods typically contain higher amounts of nickel and should be avoided on a low nickel 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, brussels 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

WAYS TO PREVENT YOUR BODY FROM ABSORBING THE NICKEL YOU EAT

  • Take a vitamin C supplement with each meal.
  • Eat a high iron diet.

~Did You Know?

  • Nickel is also found in some medications, vitamins, and herbal remedies.
  • Topical sunflower oil (in cosmetics, for example) has been shown to be nonreactive, even to those allergic to nickel.

Karels S, Hylwa S, Ophaug S, Lee K, Neeley A. Nothing New Under the Sun?: Sunflower Oil Shows No Cross-Reactivity With Nickel or Compositae Allergens. Contact Dermatitis. 2025 Jun 24. doi: 10.1111/cod.14834.

Sharma AD. Relationship between nickel allergy and diet. Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol. 2007 Sep-Oct;73(5):307-12. doi: 10.4103/0378-6323.35733.

Zirwas MJ, Molenda MA. Dietary Nickel as a Cause of Systemic Contact Dermatitis. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2009 Jun;2(6):39-43.

Updated 6-30-25

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