Nickel – Indispensable Trace Element For Health

The human body is a marvel of nature. It consists of countless cells, each of which fulfills its own specific function.

Each of these cells needs specific nutrients to function properly. One of these important nutrients is nickel.

Nickel In The Diet – An Important Trace Element

Nickel is an indispensable trace element in our diet. It contributes to many vital functions, including protein and enzyme synthesis, cell and tissue repair, and immune system regulation. Therefore, it is important that we get enough of it in our diet.

However, there are a few challenges with getting nickel from the diet. First of all, it is not easy to measure how much nickel we are actually consuming. This is because nickel is found in food in very low concentrations and is difficult to quantify. In addition, various factors can influence the nickel content in food, which makes measurement even more difficult.

Nickel In Food - Where Is It Contained?

Some foods are high in nickel — especially vegetables, legumes like lentils and beans, and whole grain products like whole wheat bread and whole wheat pasta. Nuts and seeds also provide good amounts of nickel. It is therefore worth including more of these foods in your diet to cover your need for this mineral.

Other foods like dairy, fish, meat, and eggs also contain nickel, but in smaller amounts. Another source of nickel is mineral water.Preparation also plays a role in the amount of nickel you get from your diet. For example, raw vegetables can contain more nickel than cooked vegetables. It is therefore advisable to eat food as unprocessed as possible.

In summary, to get enough of this vital trace element, you should stick to a varied diet with lots of vegetables and grain products as well as unprocessed fruit, legumes and nuts - but also pay attention to other sources such as mineral water.

Possible Consequences Of An Under- Or Oversupply

An undersupply or oversupply of nickel can have various effects.

Nickel Deficiency

A lack of nickel in particular can weaken the body and the immune system, since it is an essential trace element for protein metabolism and for the production of hormones. Low levels of nickel in the body can also lead to digestive problems.

Nickel Overdose

On the other hand, an overdose of nickel in the body can lead to various health problems, including headaches, vomiting, kidney disease, loss of appetite, and even muscle cramps. There may also be changes in blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and blood sugar levels.

In addition, an overdose of nickel can cause the body to lose more calcium than normal, making it prone to osteoporosis. It is therefore important to ensure that we do not ingest more or less nickel than is required.