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sage

sage

Herbs & Spices

Is sage high in nickel?

Nickel status
Safe

Is sage 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 sage contains

FODMAPs

FODMAPsLow
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseSafe
PolyolsSafe
LactoseSafe

Histamine & Amines

HistamineSafe
Histamine LiberatorsSafe
TyramineSafe

Plant compounds

SalicylatesHigh
Oxalates
LectinSafe
NightshadesSafe

Irritants

CaffeineSafe
AlcoholSafe
Spicy FoodsSafe
Acidic FoodsSafe

Additives

SulfitesSafe
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesSafe

Allergens

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

Diet fit

Where sage fits

Therapeutic diets

Low HistamineFit
Low SalicylateAvoid
Low FermentationSafe
EoE CompatibleFit
AIPFit
InflammationFit
Reflux DietFit
Specific CarbohydrateFit
Low FibreFit
Gastroparesis DietFit

Lifestyle diets

VeganFit
VegetarianFit
PescatarianFit
MediterraneanFit
DASH DietFit
PaleoFit
Whole30Fit
KetoFit
Low-carbFit

Religious diets

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

What to know about sage

Sage carries no histamine, no gluten, no nickel and no dairy, but it grades high in salicylates, which is typical for the strongly aromatic Mediterranean herbs. Dose is the whole story here. Three leaves browned in butter is a very different exposure from a mug of sage tea or a sage capsule, and people who react usually got there through the concentrated forms rather than the seasoning.

Watch for

  • High in salicylates.Sage is one of the potent aromatic herbs, and salicylate content tracks with that intensity of flavour
  • Sage tea, sage extracts and sage supplements deliver far more of the plant than a few leaves in a roast, so they are the forms most likely to provoke a reaction
  • Clean on histamine, tyramine, nickel and gluten, so if sage sets off symptoms, salicylate is the grade to look at first
  • Moderate on FODMAPs, though culinary amounts are small enough that this rarely matters in practice
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 sage high in Nickel?

Nickel: low signal for most people.

Can I still eat sage if I'm sensitive to Nickel?

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

Check Salicylates, Low Salicylate, and FODMAPs next for a fuller picture.