Dietary Guides
Evidence-based explainers for special diets, ingredient tradeoffs, and everyday ways to shop within your food rules.
48 articles
Related Topic Hubs
Follow the clusters behind this collection
Topic Hub
Ingredient Safety
Explore IngrediCheck's ingredient safety hub for additives, contaminants, preservatives, and evidence-based label guidance.
38 articles in this collectionTopic Hub
Gluten-Free Label Reading
Find IngrediCheck's gluten-free topic hub covering hidden gluten, celiac-safe label reading, and ingredient-level guidance.
2 articles in this collectionTopic Hub
Ingredient Checker & Food Scanner Guides
Explore IngrediCheck's ingredient checker and food scanner guides for allergies, halal and kosher shopping, gluten-free label reading, low FODMAP screening, vegan checks, and family-specific food rules.
1 article in this collectionFeatured read
View all posts
Jun 11, 2026 | 12 min read
AIP Dietary Guide: Nightshades, Seed Spices, Legumes, and Hidden Autoimmune Triggers on Labels
An encyclopedic guide to the Autoimmune Protocol covering nightshade derivatives hidden in spice blends, seed-based spices, legume gums, grain derivatives, egg forms, food additives, and how to read labels when following AIP.
Read articleMore in this collection
Jun 11, 2026
Buddhist Diet Guide: Pungent Vegetables, Alcohol Derivatives, and Animal Ingredients in Packaged Foods
Buddhist dietary rules vary significantly by tradition. Many traditions prohibit meat, fish, and eggs. Most East Asian Buddhist traditions also prohibit the five pungent vegetables: garlic, onion, leek, chive, and shallot: which appear as powders and extracts in nearly all savory packaged foods.
Jun 11, 2026
Ital Diet Guide: Artificial Additives, Pork Derivatives, Salt, and Natural Food Label Reading
Ital is the Rastafari approach to food: natural, unprocessed, and free from pork, artificial additives, preservatives, and salt. Reading ingredient labels for Ital compliance means identifying dozens of additive categories and animal derivatives that hide in otherwise plant-forward products.
Jun 11, 2026
Jain Diet Guide: Root Vegetables, Micro-Organisms, and Hidden Animal Products on Labels
Jain dietary law (ahimsa) prohibits all meat, seafood, eggs, and root vegetables. The prohibition on roots: onion, garlic, potato, carrot, beet: extends to their powders and extracts, making ingredient label reading essential in a world where onion powder is in almost everything.
Jun 11, 2026
Ketogenic Dietary Guide: Hidden Carbs, Maltodextrin, Sugar Alcohols, and Net Carb Label Reading
An encyclopedic guide to the ketogenic diet covering hidden carbohydrate sources in processed food, the net carb calculation, sugar alcohol glycemic impacts, maltodextrin in seasonings, how to read keto labels, and common traps in "keto-friendly" products.
Jun 11, 2026
Low Purine Dietary Guide: Hidden Organ Derivatives, Yeast Extracts, and Gout Triggers on Labels
An encyclopedic guide to the low-purine diet for gout and kidney stone prevention covering hidden organ meat derivatives, yeast extract in soups and sauces, purine content of seafood, alcohol's uric acid impact, fructose's underappreciated purine-equivalent effect, and how to read labels for gout triggers.
Jun 11, 2026
Paleo Dietary Guide: Seed Oils, Legume Derivatives, Grain Starch, and Hidden Processed Ingredients
An encyclopedic guide to the Paleo diet covering grain derivatives (maltodextrin, modified starch, dextrose) hiding in packaged food, legume-derived gums and proteins, seed oils in dressings and snacks, how to identify truly Paleo-compliant labels, and where Paleo and Whole30 differ.
Jun 11, 2026
Pescatarian Diet Guide: Hidden Meat Derivatives, Animal Fat, and Gelatin on Food Labels
Pescatarians avoid meat but allow fish and seafood. The challenge is that meat-derived ingredients: lard, tallow, gelatin, animal rennet, carmine, and meat-based broths: appear in products that seem fish-free or plant-forward.
Jun 11, 2026
SCD Dietary Guide: Disaccharides, Starch, Additives, and Hidden Complex Carbohydrates on Labels
An encyclopedic guide to the Specific Carbohydrate Diet covering the science behind removing disaccharides and complex carbs, illegal SCD additives (starch, carrageenan, xanthan gum), hidden sucrose in processed foods, label reading for IBD and Crohn's patients, and the 24-hour fermented yogurt requirement.
Jun 11, 2026
Whole30 Dietary Guide: Added Sugars, Seed Oils, Carrageenan, and What the Program Bans on Labels
An encyclopedic guide to Whole30 covering the six banned food groups, 25+ names for added sugar on labels, seed oils hiding in condiments, carrageenan in nut milks, alcohol derivatives, soy lecithin, and how to identify compliant products.
Jun 10, 2026
Kosher Diet Guide: Certification Marks, Milk-Meat Separation, and Hidden Non-Kosher Ingredients
Kosher dietary law covers far more than pork and shellfish. The milk-meat separation rules, insect checks in produce, wine and grape product requirements, and dozens of non-kosher additives make ingredient label reading essential for observant consumers.
Jun 9, 2026
Anti-Inflammatory Dietary Guide: Omega-6 Ratios, Hidden Additives, and What the Evidence Says
An encyclopedic guide to anti-inflammatory eating covering the omega-6:omega-3 ratio imbalance in processed food, trans fat's CRP-raising effect, curcumin bioavailability, the nightshade inflammation myth, the PREDIMED and MIND trial findings, AGEs from high-heat processing, and why 'anti-inflammatory' is not a regulated label claim.
Jun 9, 2026
Celiac Disease Dietary Guide: The 20 PPM Rule, FALCPA Gaps, and Hidden Gluten Sources
An encyclopedic guide to celiac disease dietary management covering the HLA-DQ2/DQ8 autoimmune mechanism, FDA's 20 ppm gluten-free threshold and its analytical basis, the barley/rye FALCPA labeling gap, hidden gluten in oats and medications, EU 'very low gluten' category, GFCO's stricter 10 ppm seal, cross-contamination risks, and refractory celiac disease.
Jun 9, 2026
Diabetes Dietary Guide: Hidden Sugars, Glycemic Claims, and the Sugar-Free Label Trap
An encyclopedic guide to diabetes dietary management covering all three types, 60+ sugar aliases on labels, FDA glycemic and sugar-free claim rules, maltodextrin's hidden glycemic impact, sugar alcohols, net carb calculation, and alcohol risks.
Jun 9, 2026
Fructose Intolerance Dietary Guide: HFCS, Hidden Fructose, and Fruit That Fools Your Gut
An encyclopedic guide to fructose intolerance and malabsorption covering molecular biology, genetic forms, GLUT5 transporter, detailed food content tables, regulatory context, and practical label-reading strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
Gluten Intolerance Dietary Guide: Wheat Starch, Maltodextrin, and the FALCPA Loophole
An encyclopedic guide to gluten intolerance and non-celiac gluten sensitivity covering protein biochemistry, wheat-related disorders taxonomy, innate immune activation, FODMAP vs gluten debate, detailed labeling rules, and practical strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
Heart Health Dietary Guide: Trans Fats, Saturated Fat Labels, and the Omega-3 Claims Problem
An encyclopedic guide to heart-healthy eating covering FDA's PHO ban and the 0g trans fat loophole, saturated fat label claim thresholds, the difference between LDL-raising and neutral saturated fats, plant sterol health claims, omega-3 label gaps, and what the PREDIMED trial actually showed.
Jun 9, 2026
Histamine Intolerance Dietary Guide: DAO Deficiency, Fermented Foods, and the Migraine Connection
An encyclopedic guide to histamine intolerance covering DAO and HNMT enzyme biochemistry, AOC1 gene polymorphisms, histamine content tables, mast cell activation, diagnostic criteria, and practical label-reading strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
Hypertension Dietary Guide: Hidden Sodium, FDA Label Changes, and the Salt You Don't See
An encyclopedic guide to dietary sodium management for hypertension covering FDA sodium claim thresholds, the DASH trial findings, Phase I and Phase II voluntary sodium targets, UK salt labeling differences, potassium's role, and the 20+ hidden sodium sources most people miss.
Jun 9, 2026
Kidney Disease Dietary Guide: Phosphate Additives, Potassium Chloride, and the E-Number Loophole
An encyclopedic guide to dietary management of chronic kidney disease covering CKD stages and diet, the phosphorus labeling gap on US Nutrition Facts panels, inorganic vs organic phosphate absorption, potassium chloride salt substitute hazards, and the EU E-number disclosure advantage.
Jun 9, 2026
Lactose Intolerance Dietary Guide: Hidden Dairy Names, Lactose-Free Labels, and the EU-US Divide
An encyclopedic guide to lactose intolerance covering genetics, molecular biology, global prevalence, diagnostic methods, hidden dairy ingredients, regulatory differences, and actionable label-reading strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
Low FODMAP Dietary Guide: Oligosaccharides, Polyols, and the Monash Method
An encyclopedic guide to FODMAP intolerance covering carbohydrate chemistry, detailed food content values, the Monash University low-FODMAP diet protocol, clinical trial evidence, microbiome effects, and practical label-reading strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
PCOS Dietary Guide: Insulin Resistance, Hidden Sugars, and the Soy Phytoestrogen Question
An encyclopedic guide to PCOS dietary management covering insulin resistance mechanisms, glycemic index science, hidden sugar identification, soy phytoestrogen research, inositol evidence, and practical label-reading strategies.
Jun 9, 2026
PKU Dietary Guide: Phenylalanine in Aspartame, Protein Hydrolysates, and Every Hidden Source
An encyclopedic guide to phenylketonuria (PKU) dietary management covering the PAH enzyme defect, blood Phe targets, the FDA-mandated aspartame warning, all hidden phenylalanine sources from hydrolysates to collagen peptides, maternal PKU risks, and the sapropterin treatment breakthrough.
Jun 8, 2026
Lupin Allergy Dietary Guide: The Peanut Cross-Reactor and Every Hidden Name on Labels
Lupin is a major allergen in the EU but not in the US. It appears in gluten-free pasta, baked goods, and snack foods under names that most consumers do not recognize. For individuals with peanut allergy, lupin poses a significant cross-reactivity risk.
Jun 8, 2026
Mustard Allergy Dietary Guide: Why Spices Can Mean Mustard in the US
Mustard is a top-four food allergen in France and a mandatory labeled allergen in the EU and Canada, but the US does not classify it as a major allergen. It can legally be hidden under 'spices' or 'natural flavors' on American food labels.
Jun 8, 2026
Sulphite Allergy Dietary Guide: The 10 PPM Rule, E-Numbers, and Common Sources
Sulphites are not a true allergy but a non-IgE sensitivity that causes bronchoconstriction in 3-10% of asthmatics. The FDA requires labeling at 10 ppm, but sulphites hide in dried fruit, wine, frozen potatoes, shrimp, and bottled lemon juice under names most shoppers never recognize.
Jun 8, 2026
Tree Nut Allergy Dietary Guide: Which Nuts the FDA Regulates and How to Spot Them on Labels
Tree nut allergy affects around 1% of Americans and is lifelong in over 90% of cases. The 12 FDA-regulated tree nuts each hide under multiple names — and a January 2025 regulatory update removed several nuts from the mandatory disclosure list entirely.
Jun 7, 2026
Sesame Allergy Dietary Guide: What the FASTER Act Changed (and the Bakery Loophole)
Sesame became the 9th major US food allergen in 2023 under the FASTER Act. But some bakeries responded by intentionally adding sesame flour to avoid cleaning their production lines, and sesame hides under more aliases than almost any other seed.
Jun 7, 2026
Soy Allergy Dietary Guide: 30+ Ingredient Names That Mean Soy on Labels
Soy is one of the most widely used food ingredients in the American diet, appearing in deli meats, canned tuna, baked bread, and fast food under names most shoppers never associate with soybeans.
Jun 7, 2026
Wheat Allergy Dietary Guide: Gluten, Wheat Starch, and the FALCPA Loophole
Wheat is one of the nine major allergens under FALCPA, but the law creates a unique loophole for highly processed wheat derivatives. Wheat allergy is distinct from celiac disease and gluten sensitivity, yet all three conditions require careful label reading.
Jun 6, 2026
Crustacean Shellfish Allergy Dietary Guide: Shrimp, Crab, Lobster, and Every Hidden Name on Labels
Crustacean shellfish allergy is one of the most common adult-onset food allergies and is typically lifelong. Shrimp, crab, and lobster hide under multiple names, and shellfish-derived ingredients appear in unexpected products.
Jun 6, 2026
Molluscs Allergy Dietary Guide: Oysters, Clams, Mussels, and the US Labeling Gap
Mollusks are not classified as major allergens under US law, creating a significant labeling gap. Oysters, clams, mussels, and scallops hide in sauces, broths, and processed foods without mandatory disclosure.
Jun 6, 2026
Peanut Allergy Dietary Guide: Hidden Ingredients, Label Rules, and Safe Foods
An estimated 4.6 million US adults have peanut allergy, yet peanuts appear on labels under more than 20 different names — and some products with peanut-derived ingredients are never required to say so.
Jun 5, 2026
Celery Allergy Dietary Guide: How Uncured Meats Hide Celery Powder
Celery is a top food allergen in Europe and must appear in bold on EU labels, but the US does not classify it as a major allergen. The biggest hidden risk: celery powder is used as a natural curing agent in bacon, salami, and hot dogs labeled 'uncured.'
Jun 5, 2026
Egg Allergy Dietary Guide: Decoding Albumin, Lysozyme, and Sneaky Egg Sources
Egg allergy affects around 2% of US children and hides under 20+ ingredient names. One egg protein — ovomucoid — survives baking and remains a risk even in cooked products.
Jun 5, 2026
Fish Allergy Dietary Guide: Worcestershire Sauce, Caesar Dressing, and Other Surprises
Fish allergy is one of the most persistent food allergies and often develops in adulthood. The species must be named on the label — but fish hides in Worcestershire sauce, Caesar dressing, beer, and a dozen other products where shoppers don't expect it.
Jun 5, 2026
Milk Allergy Dietary Guide: Casein, Whey, and Every Hidden Dairy Name on Labels
Cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in infants and young children. Milk appears on ingredient lists under more than 30 different names, and the FDA's 2025 guidance expanded the milk allergen definition to include milk from all ruminant animals.
Jun 4, 2026
The Link Between Salicylate Sensitivity and Aspirin Intolerance
The same enzyme inhibited by aspirin is also blocked by blueberries, paprika, and wine. For millions with AERD, a plate of healthy food can trigger the same cascade as a pill.
Jun 4, 2026
What Causes Salicylate Sensitivity? Gut Health and Genetics
Salicylate sensitivity isn't random. A gene variant carried by 1 in 3 people reduces the enzyme that clears salicylates, while gut dysbiosis amplifies the load. Here's the science.
Jun 3, 2026
Alpha-Gal Syndrome: The Tick Bite That Makes Red Meat Dangerous
A lone star tick bite can trigger alpha-gal syndrome, a serious and often misdiagnosed allergy to red meat, dairy, and hidden mammal-derived ingredients. Here is what to know, including a new treatment gaining attention.
Jun 1, 2026
Lupin Allergy: The Peanut Cross-Reactor Not on US Labels
Lupin flour is gaining traction as a gluten-free, high-protein ingredient. For people with peanut allergies, it carries a hidden risk — and the US does not require it to be labeled as an allergen.
May 28, 2026
Halal Diet Guide: Pork-Derived E-Numbers, Alcohol in Flavourings, and Certification Marks Explained
Halal compliance in packaged food requires more than avoiding pork and alcohol. Dozens of E-numbers are derived from pork, gelatin appears in unexpected products, and alcohol hides in natural flavourings: all without any FDA disclosure requirement.
May 27, 2026
Vegetarian Diet Guide: Rennet, Gelatin, L-Cysteine, and Every Hidden Animal Ingredient on Labels
Vegetarian diets exclude meat but the ingredient list hides animal derivatives in unexpected places. Rennet in cheese, gelatin in capsules, isinglass in wine, and L-cysteine in bread are invisible to most shoppers.
May 16, 2026
Vegan Diet Guide: Hidden Animal Derivatives, E-Numbers, and Every Non-Vegan Ingredient on Labels
Veganism goes far beyond avoiding obvious meat and dairy. Animal-derived ingredients appear on labels under dozens of E-numbers, technical names, and processing agent disclosures that most consumers never learn to recognize.
Apr 11, 2026
Keto Dietary Guide: Ingredient Checklist, Sweeteners, and Hidden Carbs
A comprehensive guide to reading food labels on keto, spotting hidden carbs like maltodextrin and dextrose, and choosing the right sweeteners to stay in ketosis.
Apr 3, 2026
Nordic Dietary Guide: What Scandinavian Eating Reveals About Clean Labels
The Nordic diet is having a scientific moment in 2026. Here's what its core ingredients are, what allergens hide inside them, and what Scandinavia's Keyhole label can teach the rest of the world about clean eating.
Mar 19, 2026
Sattvic Dietary Guide: Foods to Eat, Avoid, and Label Reading Tips
Use this sattvic diet food list to compare foods to eat, foods to avoid, and hidden packaged-food ingredients that may not fit sattvic eating.
Get the app for clearer label decisions.
Scan labels, see what fits your food notes, and read the why in plain English.
