Back to Nitrites food checker
rocket

rocket

Vegetables

Is rocket high in nitrites?

Nitrites status
Safe

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

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
  • Bacon, hot dogs, and deli meats are common sources
  • Vegetables like celery and beets contain natural nitrates

Sensitivities

What rocket contains

FODMAPs

FODMAPsSafe
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseSafe
PolyolsSafe
LactoseSafe

Histamine & Amines

HistamineSafe
Histamine LiberatorsSafe
TyramineSafe

Plant compounds

Salicylates
Oxalates
LectinSafe
NightshadesSafe

Irritants

CaffeineSafe
AlcoholSafe
Spicy FoodsLow
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 rocket fits

Therapeutic diets

Low HistamineFit
Low SalicylateFit
Low FermentationAvoid
EoE CompatibleFit
AIPFit
InflammationFit
Reflux DietFit
Specific CarbohydrateFit
Low FibreCheck
Gastroparesis DietAvoid

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 rocket

Rocket, sold as arugula in North America, is about as clean as a salad leaf gets in this database: rated low on histamine and on histamine liberation, free of gluten, lactose and dairy protein, no nickel flag, no lectin flag, no free glutamate, no FODMAP load, and rated strongly anti-inflammatory, which very few foods manage. It is a brassica, a cousin of mustard and watercress, and the peppery bite is glucosinolates converting to isothiocyanates the moment a leaf is chewed or bruised. Two honest caveats: it is rated poorly for low fermentation SIBO protocols, and we do not carry confirmed salicylate or oxalate figures for it, so those stay in the test it yourself column.

Watch for

  • Rated poor for low fermentation SIBO approaches.A large raw bowl is a lot of leaf fiber arriving at once, and people following that protocol usually do better wilting rocket into a hot dish than eating it as the base of a salad
  • Oxalate is not rated in our data.Published oxalate tables generally place rocket well below spinach, chard and beet greens, which is why it is so often the leaf people switch to when building a lower oxalate salad, but the numbers differ between sources, so log it rather than assuming
  • Salicylate is also unrated here, and salicylate lists disagree about peppery greens in particular.If you are in the strict phase of a salicylate elimination, treat rocket as untested and reintroduce it deliberately instead of counting it as safe
  • The pepperiness is itself an irritant for some people: isothiocyanates are the same chemistry that makes mustard and horseradish sting.Older, larger, wild rocket leaves are far sharper than baby leaf, so a burning tongue after a rocket salad is usually the mustard oils rather than an allergy
  • Like other dark leaves it is high in vitamin K, which matters if you take warfarin.The guidance there is a steady, consistent intake rather than avoidance, so decide on a habit and keep it
Learn More

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:

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 App

FAQ

Is rocket high in Nitrites?

Nitrites: low signal for most people.

Can I still eat rocket if I'm sensitive to Nitrites?

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

Check Low Fermentation, Low Fermentation, and Gastroparesis Diet next for a fuller picture.