Back to Nickel food checker
horse gram

horse gram

Legumes/Pulses

Is horse gram high in nickel?

Nickel status
High

Is horse gram high or low in nickel? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.

Sensitivity notes

Why nickel food checker matters

Nickel is a metal found in many foods including chocolate, nuts, and leafy greens. People with nickel allergy (often showing as contact dermatitis) may also react to dietary nickel, causing skin and digestive symptoms.

  • Avoid cooking acidic foods in stainless steel cookware
  • Canned foods often have higher nickel content
  • Chocolate, nuts, and legumes are common high-nickel foods
  • First-draw water from taps may be higher in nickel - let it run
  • Vitamin C may help reduce nickel absorption

Sensitivities

What horse gram contains

FODMAPs

FODMAPsAvoid
FructansModerate
GOSAvoid
FructoseSafe
PolyolsSafe
LactoseSafe

Histamine & Amines

HistamineSafe
Histamine LiberatorsLow
TyramineSafe

Plant compounds

SalicylatesSafe
OxalatesModerate
LectinAvoid
NightshadesSafe

Irritants

CaffeineSafe
AlcoholSafe
Spicy FoodsSafe
Acidic FoodsSafe

Additives

SulfitesSafe
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesLow

Allergens

Dairy ProteinsSafe
GlutenSafe
EggSafe
PeanutSafe
Tree NutsSafe
SoySafe
FishSafe
CrustaceansSafe
MolluscsSafe
SesameSafe
CelerySafe
MustardSafe
LupinSafe
Alpha-galSafe
NickelHigh

Diet fit

Where horse gram fits

Therapeutic diets

Low HistamineFit
Low SalicylateFit
Low FermentationAvoid
EoE CompatibleFit
AIPAvoid
InflammationFit
Reflux DietFit
Specific CarbohydrateAvoid
Low FibreAvoid
Gastroparesis DietAvoid

Lifestyle diets

VeganFit
VegetarianFit
PescatarianFit
MediterraneanFit
DASH DietFit
PaleoAvoid
Whole30Avoid
KetoAvoid
Low-carbCheck

Religious diets

HalalFit
KosherFit
Hindu (no beef)Fit
JainFit
Buddhist VegetarianFit
Orthodox FastingFit
Ingredient notes

What to know about horse gram

Horse gram is the small, hard, russet pulse of South Indian and Deccan cooking, and Ayurveda has used it for centuries as kulattha for urinary stones. That reputation is worth holding up against the actual grades, because the food is not as gentle as its medicinal reputation suggests. Oxalate lands at C, moderate rather than low, so it is not an oxalate-free food for a calcium oxalate stone former. What is genuinely high is the fermentable load: galacto-oligosaccharides grade E, total FODMAPs grade E and SIBO fermentation grades E, which is the ordinary reason a bowl of kollu rasam or huralikaalu saaru is followed by hours of gas. Nickel grades D. It is clean on gluten, lactose, dairy protein, histamine, salicylates, sulfites and nightshades.

Watch for

  • Galacto-oligosaccharides grade E, so this is one of the gassier pulses even by legume standards, and the traditional whole-seed preparations keep every bit of that intact
  • Oxalate grades C.The Ayurvedic stone reputation rests on diuretic and anti-crystallisation effects studied mostly in test tubes and animals, not on the pulse being low in oxalate, so if you form stones, log it rather than assuming it is protective
  • Total FODMAPs grade E and SIBO fermentation grades E, which makes horse gram a poor fit during an elimination phase or an active SIBO course whatever form it is eaten in
  • Nickel grades D, relevant if you are managing systemic nickel allergy and already limiting pulses
  • The seed coat is famously hard, so it is often eaten whole after a long soak or as a sprouted salad.Sprouting knocks back some of the raffinose-family sugars but does not turn an E grade into a low-FODMAP food
Learn More

Nickel Guide

Everything you need to know about nickel sensitivity and smart food choices.

Nickel is a metal found in many foods including chocolate, nuts, and leafy greens. People with nickel allergy (often showing as contact dermatitis) may also react to dietary nickel, causing skin and digestive symptoms.

Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.

These foods are generally well-tolerated for Nickel sensitivity:

View all safe options

These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:

If you're sensitive to Nickel, consider these strategies:

  • 1Avoid cooking acidic foods in stainless steel cookware
  • 2Canned foods often have higher nickel content
  • 3Chocolate, nuts, and legumes are common high-nickel foods
  • 4First-draw water from taps may be higher in nickel - let it run
  • 5Vitamin C may help reduce nickel absorption

Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.

Want personalized tracking?

Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.

Get the App

FAQ

Is horse gram high in Nickel?

Nickel: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.

Can I still eat horse gram if I'm sensitive to Nickel?

Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.

What else should I check?

Check FODMAPs, GOS, and Lectin next for a fuller picture.