Capers

Other names caper berries
Capers: moderate in tyramine, salicylate and oxalates; low in FODMAPs, histamine, oligosaccharides and nickel. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- TyramineModerate
Capers are flower buds cured in salt or brine for weeks, and curing is a slow bacterial process however small the bud. They are eaten a few at a time, which is what keeps the tyramine dose modest - the concentration is not what makes them moderate, the portion is.
Sources· 2
- EFSA Journal 2011 (tyramine and histamine in fermented foods)
- McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006
- SalicylateModerate
Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt, and the salicylate survives the curing. Rinsing removes salt, not salicylate.
- OxalatesModerate
Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt, and both cures draw water out of the bud - taking soluble oxalate with it. Rinsing salted capers before use, which the recipe asks for anyway, takes a little more.
Sources· 2
- Chai W & Liebman M, J Agric Food Chem 53 (2005), 3027-3030, which measured 30-87 % loss of soluble oxalate on boiling against 5-53 % on steaming
- Noonan SC & Savage GP, Asia Pac J Clin Nutr 8 (1999)
- FODMAPsLow
Capers are low as used: a pickled bud, scattered by the teaspoon, and the teaspoon is the whole serving. The dependence on serving size comes from Gibson and Shepherd, who built this approach: what these carbohydrates do is deliver fermentable substrate and water to the end of the small intestine, so the quantity decides the distension. Their trial also found that restricting them GLOBALLY works where restricting them one at a time does not.
Sources· 1
- Gibson P.R. & Shepherd S.J., J Gastroenterol Hepatol 25 (2010) 252-258, the framework this axis rests on
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Low
Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt, and brining is a controlled ferment. Salt-packed capers carry less than brined ones, because the salt stops the bacterial activity that makes histamine where the brine only slows it.
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsLow
Capers are flower buds preserved in brine, and buds are not storage organs. The brining removes what little oligosaccharide was there, and they are eaten a few at a time.
- NickelLow
Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt. The bud itself is low; what it has been sitting in for months is the more relevant question. The nickel here follows a study of SPICES that analysed the powder directly instead of digesting it first.
Sources· 1
- Virgilio A. et al., J Braz Chem Soc 26:10 (2015) 1988-1993, Cd, Ni and V in spices by solid-sampling HR-CS GF-AAS
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- GlutenNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- SucroseNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does capers affect?
Capers is notable for tyramine, salicylate, oxalates, FODMAPs, histamine, oligosaccharides and nickel. Clear on lactose, gluten, fructose, sorbitol and sucrose.
Does capers contain tyramine?
Capers contains moderate levels of tyramine. Capers are flower buds cured in salt or brine for weeks, and curing is a slow bacterial process however small the bud. They are eaten a few at a time, which is what keeps the tyramine dose modest - the concentration is not what makes them moderate, the portion is.
Does capers contain salicylate?
Capers contains moderate levels of salicylate. Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt, and the salicylate survives the curing. Rinsing removes salt, not salicylate.
Does capers contain oxalates?
Capers contains moderate levels of oxalates. Capers are flower buds preserved in brine or salt, and both cures draw water out of the bud - taking soluble oxalate with it. Rinsing salted capers before use, which the recipe asks for anyway, takes a little more.
Does capers contain FODMAPs?
Capers contains only low levels of FODMAPs. Capers are low as used: a pickled bud, scattered by the teaspoon, and the teaspoon is the whole serving. The dependence on serving size comes from Gibson and Shepherd, who built this approach: what these carbohydrates do is deliver fermentable substrate and water to the end of the small intestine, so the quantity decides the distension. Their trial also found that restricting them GLOBALLY works where restricting them one at a time does not. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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