Low-Nickel Diet - Month Two, Success!
IHateNickel Posted on Thursday, August 30, 2012 at 6:13PM The low-nickel diet seems to be a success! After disappointing results the first month, in month two I’ve seen a significant difference!
I'm gauging success by flare-ups of dermatitis, or lack thereof. The other symptoms – chronic fatigue, digestive issues, and pain - are a lot harder to track and monitor. Luckily, with no braces giving me a steady 24-hour dose of nickel, those symptoms are rare these days anyway.
I started this experiment by increasing my intake of nickel foods. That did indeed cause a larger flare-up of dermatitis. Whereas before the dermatitis was mostly centralized to my forearms and calves (the most common area for any food allergy dermatitis to occur), once I started eating only foods high in nickel, the dermatitis spread. I compared it to rolling in fresh cut grass –I itched everywhere! I even developed spots on my forehead. That’s when I knew I HAD to get this under control. Call me vain, but bright red itchy sores on my forehead are NOT ACCEPTABLE!
I started the low-nickel diet. It was annoying, and it was hard. At first I failed. I couldn’t remember what I could eat or could not eat. Many nights I made dinner, only to realize that one or more items in dinner were on the do-not-eat list. We dined out often, and I ordered what I normally would, ignoring the diet list. I discovered that convenience was the largest obstacle. The groceries in my house were not all good for me, but until I could replace all that food with better options, I was stuck either eating them or starving.
So the problem was not so much an issue of will power, but one of availability and commitment. If I had low-nickel items to eat, I knew I would choose those first, but how do I find those without carrying flash cards in my pocket at all times for reference? I needed to commit fully to this diet, but how? The solution was simple - create a menu. If I planned out the week’s menu ahead of time, I could ensure that all the items on the list were good for me, AND I could do the grocery shopping based on my menu for the week. Eureka!
That first week’s menu took me almost four hours to prepare. I made a simple chart in Excel – breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, dinner, late night snack. I sat at my computer, with my low-nickel diet list, and planned out every meal I would eat that week. Each meal used only low-nickel items. I gave myself two options for the snacks – one healthy, one junk food. The worst saboteur to any diet is the junk food craving. I wanted to make sure that if I wanted greasy potato chips instead of carrot sticks, I would have that option available. Then I went shopping. With menu in hand, shopping was a breeze. Along the way, I browsed the grocery aisles for ideas for next week’s menu.
The one road block in my pre-planned menu idea was that in order to pull it off, someone (me) would be spending a lot of time in the kitchen. All home cooked meals, all day, every day. I’m no stranger to the kitchen, but I also work full time, and sometimes it’s just impossible to get home and get a full dinner prepared before midnight. That’s why our culture loves packaged foods! It’s quick, it’s easy, and dinner can be ready in minutes! However, packaged foods almost always contain soy, so those aren’t available to me anymore. I needed options.
I began scouring restaurant websites to find those that avoided soy and had low-nickel items (soy is very high in nickel, but it’s also a common allergen in itself, so most restaurants provide an allergen list detailing soy-containing items). I started with just two restaurants, and I added those as a foot note to my menu. Now I had a backup plan. If no one (me) had time to cook one night, we could always fall back on take-out from one of those places, without compromising my nickel intake.
This was a lot of work! However, the following week it was easier, and the week after that easier still. Now I can throw together a menu on my lunch break, and do most of the shopping from memory. Plus let’s not forget the good news, IT WORKED! Totally, 100% worth it! When following my menu perfectly, I had absolutely no dermatitis flare-ups, and the dermatitis that was there started healing. The newer spots (forehead!) completely healed and disappeared. YAY!
How happy am I? Okay, it’s really, really, really annoying to have to follow such a random diet. People look at you funny when you say things like, “no, I can’t have salad, it’s bad for me”, but it’s worth it to be healthy! My body is happy, so I am happy. I count this experiment as a success.
Anyone else out there have any success or failure stories when following a low-nickel diet? I want to hear them!
Reader Comments (9)
I just had a patch test last week after living with sever eczema for the better part of 20 years ( 1/3 of my life) it came back positive for nickle allergy. My dr. gave me prednisone and told me to cut nickle from my life, and we will see if the eczema comes back after the steroids are out of my system. I'm having issues with the diet, I am not a vegetarian but probably 80% of what I eat are greens and beans. All things on the do not eat list. I have been able to find many lists of don't eat but have you found a list of "safe" foods. after looking at all the don't eats it seems the do eat list would be smaller and easier to manage.
Jackie, for now, all I have is the Penn State list, and it has a list of "safe" foods. See Starting a Low Nickel Diet.
Hi there, my daughter is 5 and has had severe eczema since birth and I think now we may have found the link... she's allergic to eggs, dairy, beans, legumes, melons,potatoes. She has flare ups with soy and anything wholemeal/wholegrain and they all link with nickel... To be honest there's very little she eats that doesn't cause an issue. She has horrendous dishydrotic eczema on her hands (little tiny water blisters under the skin, that are really itchy) and it can become infected. So we're looking to find low nickel foods and change her diet again. I have a nickel allergy too but it's only mild and it's contact rather than ingested (I can't wear nickel jewellery for example). Thanks for your blog info- I'm interested in finding out about what type of meals you prepare for some ideas... The lack of convenience is going to be tough especially when sending my little one to school with a packed lunch >.< x
Ahhh.!!! I can totally relate... After after severe rashes over my forearms, neck, chest, tummy and forehead (and don't get me started on my puffy red allergy eyes... I constantly look sick...), I finally saw an allergist who patch tested me. Nickel was the only thing I responded to, but even a month later I still have the itchy spot from the patch test annoying my back.
I've been trying to follow a low nickel diet for about a month, and it is sooo hard. I used to eat a bag of edamame (soybeans) a night if I didn't want to make dinner, and would eat healthy leafy greens like a fiend during the day. Sighh.... I don't think I'd wish this on my worst enemy. Plus side, my flare-ups are slowly but surely reducing. I'm right there with you on the eating-out thing. I work full time as well, and it's just so damn convenient!
Before reading your post I decided to go off the nickel diet after 3 weeks of being on it. I was failing miserably and the vitamins were making me nauseous. My guess is the vitamins had either nickel or preservative in them and I'm allergic to both. After reading your post, I think i'll give it another go. Your site encouraged me. Thanks
Would you be willing to share your Excel sheet? I am also having trouble figuring out what will work as the list my dr gave me and the Penn State list don't always match up, but the Penn State list looks easier to follow.
I can relate to all of you! I recently discovered that I am allergic to Nickel in food. I broke out in a rash on my hands, feet and elbows. It has been a challenge following the Penn State List. I find myself eating a lot more meat and dairy then I ever imagined. I am still finding ways to incorporate veggies into my daily diet. I love roasting vegetables so I put some olive oil in a mixing bowl and throw in some broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, or mushrooms to coat, put in on a cookie sheet, sprinkle with salt and pepper and cook on 350 for about 30 minutes. YUMMY! Oh and acorn squash is really good. Cut it in half, remove seeds, poke holes in each half with a fork and add 1 tsp each of butter and brown sugar. Microwave uncovered on high for 10 minutes. To die for! Don't forget to poke holes in each half or you will have a dirty microwave. :) I would love to hear about any recipes you guys are trying. Especially recipes that include fruits or veggies that are on the "safe" list.
I've literally just been dianosed with this, and apparently it's pretty severe! My only issue is that different sites say different foods, but you have provided the most information, and for that I thank you! Part of me is relieved that it's not my dog (the dr wouldn't consider patch-testing until I agreed to consider life without him - so I lied!), but seriously, I eat out all the time, this is going to be really hard work. Thanks again for the information, it's good to know there are others out there :-)
I too suffer from nickel allergy from foods and jewelry..bras clasps..but I tested
positive for cobalt nickel chrome. I went on a low nickel diet and it was very hard to
eat only fruits and select veggies. I am allergic to all meats and dairy too that been
since I was a child. All high in nickel foods I react to quickly. I am also allergic
to sulfites. Its really not a bad list of good foods I can eat from it just
takes commitment to your own health vs resistance. Good luck you all.