Eat Healthy vs. Nickel Free

One of the most irritating symptoms I have found with this allergy is that trying to create a healthier way of eating is just frustrating. It's not enough that every site you look at argues about whether things are good or bad. Tonight I went on a hunt and managed to find one site listing banana's as a top weight loss food and immediately afterward found one listing them as one of the worst weight gain foods because of the sugar.
If all of this isn't enough you get to add in when nickel contradicts weight loss. Here are some places where programs occur:

1. Chocolate. Chocolate is one of the top foods to avoid with a nickel allergy. In fact, if you wanted to cut out just a few things to reduce symptoms nuts and chocolate would be in that handful. Cutting out chocolate entirely is near impossible for some of us so looking deeper we see milk chocolate has a lower amount of nickel than dark. Health experts say dark chocolate is not only better for you but just plain good for you.

I can't seem to find any fair ground on this food other than both agree if you don't need it than don't have it. It makes me cry on the inside... and sometimes on the outside.

2. Fish & Shellfish. Health experts will go on and on about how fish (especially salmon) and shellfish like mussels are wonderful ingredients to create full healthy meals. In the world of the nickel allergy you should rethink the menu options. Shellfish like shrimp, mussels, clams etc are right up with nuts and chocolate so if you eat them do it because you love the taste. Salmon also manages to be the healthiest fish and the highest nickel content fish at the same time. Canned tuna, sardines etc should be avoided at all costs but fresh sardines and tuna are up on the health list with salmon without the higher nickel content.

3. Nuts & Seeds. Unlike chocolate anyone involved in healthy eating will throw nuts and seeds at you every chance they get. If you do start eating trail mix all afternoon and slipping pine nuts into salads you can end every day with a good couple hours of scratching. Peanuts, Almonds, Hazelnuts and Walnuts are listed as the main nickel nuts and are probably the most common. Almond butter was listed as a great diet idea but, between the allergy and the disgusted look my best friend gave me when I mentioned it I think it's worth leaving out.

Finding replacements is just going to get you going in circles. The people with nut allergies turn to seeds and the one's with seed allergies turn to oats so you just go from one nickel high food to another. The main reason nuts and seeds are so popular is because of the extra vitamins and mostly the fiber. You will find the same problem with..

4. Beans. Every single bean is on the nickel high list. The chili beans are obvious: black, pinto kidney etc.. Green beans, sprouts and peas are also up there with them.

As far as the legume problem goes there are certain packaging types that make it worse. Under no circumstances should you ever eat anything from a can. The list also says that dried beans are the worst. Going from this you can say that if you insist on legumes (because they are good for you) don't eat many and go for fresh.

Now, the main common link I have found that creates this battle between health and nickel is fiber. No one has outright said it but if you just say "If it's high in fiber it's high in nickel" you're probably going to be right. There are some foods that make the cut:

Pears (Listed in the top 20 and perfectly harmless in the world of nickel)
Artichokes (Like many foods nickel allergy experts don't touch on them but health food experts do)
Avocados (Health wise eating too much is excess fat but it's good fat and it's safe)
Corn (While it doesn't have much else going for it corn is known for it's fiber and nickel safe)
Strawberries (All berries except Raspberries are safe but, strawberries and blueberries are healthiest)
Potatoes (Not known usually for health but they are much better for you than bread and safe)

Other healthy foods to put on the safe list include:

Asparagus, Beets, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Dill, Mushrooms and Parsley

Eggplant is safe but that's because eggplant contains nothing of any nutritional value.  It's along the same lines as celery where you make your mouth move without giving your body anything to work with.

There are some foods that are very high on the fiber/health list but come with some restrictive warnings:

Apples, Carrots, Brussels Sprouts, Lettuce, Onions, Oranges and Tomatoes

And then some are very high on the fiber/health list but should be avoided whenever possible:

Brocolli, Kale, Spinach, Alfalfa, Dried Fruits, Figs, Raisins and Pineapple

The final segment is something I would like to touch on in greater depth later: Drinks. Both diet experts and nickel allergy specialists agree Chocolate Drinks are not worth making a habit out of. Tea and Fruit Juice are going to be suggested around every corner except the world of a low-nickel diet. Citrus juice and anything from a canister or dispenser should be avoided or at least in moderation. Both will recommend water first and the best way to handle water is use a filter if you can and if it's tap water do not drink the first quart that comes from the spout (the water that comes first has been sitting in the pipes sucking up the metals). 

The truth is nickel is in everything we consume at least in tiny amounts. You can't avoid it but you can restrict the amount of high nickel content foods you consume in a day. Balance your healthy diet on foods that will provide the best balance in your eating habits along with the ones you actually enjoy. If you're going to push your limits with nickel to be healthier you should at least be getting something good out of it instead of a gross taste and itchy skin.

Later I would like to continue this topic since it seems to be one of the most prominent problems with trying to keep your life nickel free without it detracting from a full and healthy lifestyle.

The Story That Started It All....

When I came up with the idea of creating a blog about dealing with a nickel allergy I was unsure of how to begin. My roommate thought I should begin with how I came about having the allergy. Here is my story...

The end of my freshman year of college I started getting sick frequently, unexpectedly my body would reject food completely. I came back to my home town for the summer and start of Sophomore year to get tested and find the reason. I had a lot of blood drawn, a lot of hours waiting for results and in the end they decided to remove my gallbladder. I had the surgery done and was told within a year my body would be completely back to normal.
But, a year went by and I was still getting sick. I was told my body was still weak and continued on. In fact, I didn't question anything and finished my degree just assuming my stomach would always be picky and I would always get sick frequently. The truth is none of my doctors looked into anything and so I never would have unless something has happened.
I decided to have permanent birth control surgery and was told the most effective way was something called "Essure" where small nickel coils are inserted into the tubes and the body heals over them to block the opening. My doctor asked if I had any reason to think I might be allergic to nickel and I mentioned sometimes my jewelry bothered my skin. She decided I should get tested.
I went to The Allergy Clinic of Tulsa and they put a small bit of nickel on my back and covered it with a bandage. Two days later I returned and the spot had become red, bumpy and obviously affected. I returned two days after and was sure in the mail I would receive a letter stating my allergy. Instead, I received a notice saying I had no reaction.
I contacted the doctor and after what was apparently a very large and angry meeting of everyone in the building I was asked to come have the test done again. They put on the patch and I came back two days later. This time the doctors came and looked instead of a nurse and told me point blank, "We are supposed to rate reactions from 0-3. If there was a 4 then you would be a 4." I was told I didn't need to come back for another check up and given a piece of paper with a list of objects and foods that would upset my allergy.
I thought it was a simple fact. I figured I would have to get my tubes tied and watch out what jewelry I wore. I was wrong. The more I realized how much the allergy was affecting me the more I researched and the more I researched the more confused and frustrated I became. I called doctors and clinics around the city and found no one who would help me understand how to work my diet around the allergy. So, I took things into my own hands.
I created this blog to help other people facing the same annoying lack of information. The average person with a nickel allergy has a purely dermatological response. But, there are a few like me where everything in life starts to have an effect.. clothing, habits and foods all have to change. So, here is what I hope to create here: Recipes, Articles, Research into Questions, Warnings and Options pertaining to having a nickel allergy.

Let's see what happens...