amaranth
Grains
Is amaranth high in nitrites?
Find out whether amaranth is high or low in nitrites, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
Related checkers
Compare amaranth across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why nitrites food checker matters
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
- Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- Fresh meat is nitrite-free
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for amaranth
Amaranth is two foods sharing one name. The plant is grown for its leaves across the Caribbean, West Africa, India and Southeast Asia, where it is cooked down as callaloo, chaulai, efo tete or bayam, and it is also grown for a tiny seed used as a pseudocereal. This entry covers amaranth as the plant and the leafy vegetable; the seed is tracked separately as amaranth grain and carries its own, different grades. As eaten here, amaranth is graded D for total FODMAPs, which is the high band, while it stays clean at A on histamine, histamine liberation, salicylates, nickel, gluten, lactose, free glutamates, sulfites and nightshade chemistry. That combination makes it unusually easy to place in an elimination diet as long as the portion is controlled.
Watch for
Graded D for total FODMAPs, the high band, even though every individual FODMAP subgroup (fructans, GOS, excess fructose, polyols) is graded A. When the total is flagged but no subgroup is, portion size is doing the work: a side of greens behaves very differently from a bowl of callaloo / Amaranth greens are almost never cooked plain. Callaloo, chaulai and efo tete are built on onion, garlic and sometimes coconut milk, and for most people with IBS the aromatics in the pot are a bigger FODMAP load than the leaves. Log the dish, not just the vegetable, or you will blame the wrong ingredient / Oxalate is unrated for amaranth in our data. Do not read that as cleared. The separately graded amaranth grain entry sits at D for oxalate, so if you are on an oxalate-restricted diet treat the greens as untested rather than safe / Clean at A on histamine and histamine liberation, so amaranth greens are one of the more usable leafy vegetables if you are managing histamine intolerance and have already cut spinach and tomato
Explore related in Grains
Compare similar foods to build a personalized list of swaps that work for your system.
Nitrites Guide
Everything you need to know about nitrites sensitivity and smart food choices.
Nitrites are preservatives commonly used in cured meats. Some people are sensitive to them, experiencing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms after consumption.
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 Nitrites sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in nitrites and may trigger symptoms:
If you're sensitive to Nitrites, consider these strategies:
- 1Choose uncured or 'no nitrates/nitrites added' meat products
- 2Note that 'natural' nitrites from celery powder act the same way
- 3Fresh meat is nitrite-free
- 4Bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats are common sources
- 5Vegetables like celery and beets contain natural nitrates
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 AppFAQ
Is amaranth high in Nitrites?
Nitrites: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat amaranth if I'm sensitive to Nitrites?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Lectin, Inflammation, and Paleo AIP next for a fuller picture.