rabbit
Meat
Is rabbit high in nitrites?
Find out whether rabbit is high or low in nitrites, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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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 rabbit
Rabbit is about as quiet as a protein gets on our trigger criteria: clean on histamine, histamine liberation, tyramine, salicylates, gluten, lactose, dairy protein, nickel, sulfites and glutamates, and low FODMAP. The interesting thing about rabbit is not a sensitivity at all, it is the fat, or rather the near-total absence of it. Rabbit is so lean that living on it alone causes a genuine documented illness, protein poisoning, known to Arctic explorers and trappers as rabbit starvation. That is a nutrition story rather than an intolerance story, but it is the reason rabbit is the one meat that has to be eaten with something else.
Watch for
Rabbit starvation is real. A diet consisting almost entirely of very lean meat, with little fat and no carbohydrate, causes nausea, diarrhoea, headache, weakness and eventually serious illness, because the liver can only convert so much protein into usable energy and there is no other fuel on the plate. It is a survival-situation problem, not a risk in a normal mixed diet / Because it is so lean, rabbit is almost always cooked with something rich: cream, bacon or pancetta, butter, wine. Those additions carry the histamine, nitrite and dairy protein that the rabbit itself does not / Alpha-gal syndrome applies. Rabbit is mammalian meat, so a tick-triggered alpha-gal allergy reacts to it even though rabbit looks and tastes like poultry / Wild rabbit hung as game is not the same as fresh rabbit. Hanging is deliberate ageing, and ageing is how histamine and tyramine get into any meat / Rabbit is oxalate free and nickel free, so it is a useful protein to keep in rotation if you are running a low oxalate or low nickel elimination and are short of options
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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:
View full list
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.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is rabbit high in Nitrites?
Nitrites: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat rabbit if I'm sensitive to Nitrites?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Inflammation, Vegan, and Vegetarian next for a fuller picture.