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Nickel is almost omnipresent in our lives, from bra fasteners to office chairs. Usually, it doesn't do much harm because when it's in contact with the skin, the body absorbs very little. However, in the past few years there has been an increase among negative reactions to nickel, probably due to industrial fats that contain it as a residual.
The signs of nickel hypersensitivity are quite visible: atopic dermatitis, dry, cracked skin on the hands, blistered fingers (dyshydrosis). Sometimes a person has generally distributed body fat as well as headache and gastro-esophageal reflux. All signs that indicate that the body is under stress and is attempting to rid itself of harmful substances.
The situation becomes complicated when someone is also hypersensitive to natural salicylates, which are present in many foods - especially fruit and vegetables - not to mention artificial compounds such as aspirin. Here, too, the signs of intolerance are quite visible: easy bleeding (a typical effect of aspirin), immediate or chronic urticaria, breathing issues (asthma) and, strangely enough, analgesics act in the opposite way as how they are intended.
Someone who suffers these intolerances has dry, blistered skin as well as itching; there's more fat than the desirable amount; gums and mucosa bleed; there are breathing troubles, headache and, if the person takes a pain killer, he feels even worse.
What does “avoiding nickel and salicylates” mean?
It's impossible to completely avoid contact with nickel. Ideally, the goal is to stay as far away from it as possible. The realistic approach is to observe a control diet that reduces the consumption of foods that contain the greatest quantity (cocoa, tomato, pear...) and rotate them in such a way that the body isn't “overloaded”.
The same is true for salicylates, which are naturally present in many foods; there's no need to eliminate these substances: you'll keep them under control according to your doctor's instructions up to your “level” of intolerance.
In both cases and according to your doctor, you can effectively supplement your diet with low dose hyposensitizing vaccines that allow an easier contact with foods and objects that contain these substances.
How can a person manage the nickel and salicylates diet?
Keeping salicylates under control it's not a big deal, it's enough to rotate foods which contain the highest amount, avoiding to eat them all in the same day.
The key problem of avoiding nickel is represented by industrial fats, especially hydrogenated fats. The best way out is to use only raw high quality oil (olive oil or single seed oil). It's best to stay clear of canned foods (tinplate) and use glass containers instead.
Suggested diets
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