Chocolate
Chocolate is high in Histamine and Nickel. It also contains moderate levels of Tyramine, Salicylate and Oxalates. It has low levels of FODMAPs, Lactose and Sucrose. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)High
cocoa and chocolate are histamine liberators and also block DAO, the enzyme that clears histamine, a double problem for sensitive people. The darker and more cocoa-rich, the stronger the effect on histamine.
- NickelHigh
- TyramineModerate
This is a weak entry and worth saying so: chocolate, cocoa, nuts, citrus and coffee appear on legacy MAOI lists, but modern reviews found their tyramine too low to matter at normal portions — chocolate's effect, if any, is attributed to phenylethylamine rather than tyramine. They were dropped from the strict list decades ago. Test rather than avoid on principle. Sources: Gardner et al., J Clin Psychiatry 1996 (review that narrowed the MAOI diet); McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006.
- SalicylateModerate
- OxalatesModerate
cocoa and dark chocolate are very high in oxalates, and the more cocoa it contains, the more oxalate. Milk chocolate has less oxalate but still adds up if you eat a lot.
- FODMAPsLow
- LactoseLow
not a dairy food, but milk powder or whey is a routine ingredient here, so the lactose depends entirely on the brand. Usually a small dose; check the label, where milk must be declared as an allergen.
- SucroseLow
- GlutenNo
- FructoseNone
- OligosaccharidesNone
- SorbitolNone
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
React to Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)? Check these too
More in Other
- Almond butter→
- Almond cream→
- Almond yogurt→
- Apple puree→
- Beef broth→
- Beetroot juice powder→
- Bouillon cube→
- Breadcrumbs→
- Cashew cheese→
- Chicken broth→
- Chocolate chips→
- Cocoa mass→
Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does Chocolate affect?
Chocolate is notable for Histamine, Nickel, Tyramine, Salicylate, Oxalates, FODMAPs, Lactose and Sucrose.
Does Chocolate contain Histamine?
Yes — Chocolate is high in Histamine. cocoa and chocolate are histamine liberators and also block DAO, the enzyme that clears histamine, a double problem for sensitive people. The darker and more cocoa-rich, the stronger the effect on histamine.
Does Chocolate contain Nickel?
Yes — Chocolate is high in Nickel.
Does Chocolate contain Tyramine?
Chocolate contains moderate levels of Tyramine. This is a weak entry and worth saying so: chocolate, cocoa, nuts, citrus and coffee appear on legacy MAOI lists, but modern reviews found their tyramine too low to matter at normal portions — chocolate's effect, if any, is attributed to phenylethylamine rather than tyramine. They were dropped from the strict list decades ago. Test rather than avoid on principle. Sources: Gardner et al., J Clin Psychiatry 1996 (review that narrowed the MAOI diet); McCabe-Sellers et al., J Food Compos Anal 2006.
Does Chocolate contain Salicylate?
Chocolate contains moderate levels of Salicylate. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.