What food to avoid if you have G6PD?

December 18, 2025 •

3 min read

An estimated 400 million people worldwide have G6PD deficiency, a genetic condition requiring careful dietary management to prevent episodes of red blood cell breakdown. Understanding what food to avoid if you have G6PD is a critical step in managing this condition and maintaining your health.

Quick Summary

Individuals with G6PD deficiency must avoid certain dietary triggers, especially fava beans and some legumes, to prevent hemolytic anemia and other health risks.

Key Points

Avoid Fava Beans: Fava beans are the most dangerous food trigger for G6PD deficiency and can cause severe hemolytic crises.
Read All Labels: Hidden ingredients like soy derivatives, sulfites, and specific dyes can be present in processed foods and trigger a reaction.
Be Cautious with Legumes: While fava beans are the primary concern, some individuals may need to avoid other legumes, so consulting a doctor is vital.
Manage Oxidative Stress: Infections and certain medications also trigger hemolytic episodes, so overall health management is important alongside dietary precautions.
Prioritize a Balanced Diet: Focus on foods rich in B vitamins and antioxidants to support red blood cell health while avoiding known triggers.
Check Medications: Always inform your healthcare provider of your G6PD deficiency, as many common drugs, like some antibiotics and antimalarials, are contraindicated.

Understanding G6PD and Hemolytic Anemia

Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is an inherited genetic condition where the body lacks or has an insufficient amount of the G6PD enzyme. This enzyme plays a vital role in protecting red blood cells (RBCs) from oxidative stress and damage caused by free radicals. Without sufficient G6PD, RBCs are vulnerable and can break down prematurely, a process called hemolysis. When this happens rapidly, it can lead to acute hemolytic anemia, causing symptoms like fatigue, jaundice, dark urine, and shortness of breath. These hemolytic crises can be triggered by infections, certain medications, and specific foods, necessitating a careful approach to diet and lifestyle.

Core Foods to Strictly Avoid

For individuals with G6PD deficiency, certain foods are known to cause severe hemolytic reactions and should be completely avoided. The most notorious and consistently linked trigger is the fava bean.

The Danger of Fava Beans (Favism)

Fava beans, also known as broad beans, are the most well-known trigger for severe hemolytic attacks in G6PD deficient individuals. The condition is even referred to as "favism" due to this link. The danger comes from naturally occurring compounds in fava beans, primarily vicine and convicine, which are powerful oxidizing agents. These compounds are not neutralized by cooking, so fava beans in any form—fresh, canned, or dried—pose a risk. Ingesting fava beans can trigger a severe episode of anemia, jaundice, and dark urine within a few days.

Other Legumes and Soy Products

While fava beans are the primary concern among legumes, some individuals with G6PD deficiency may also be sensitive to other members of the legume family. These include:

Chickpeas
Lentils
Black-eyed peas
Moth beans
Other beans and peas (though evidence varies and individual sensitivity differs)

Additionally, soy products and their derivatives are recognized triggers for G6PD deficient individuals and should be avoided. This includes soy milk, soy sauce, tofu, and other processed foods containing soy derivatives like hydrolyzed soy protein or soy lecithin.

Hidden Ingredients and Other Triggers

Many processed foods contain hidden ingredients that can pose a risk. Vigilance in reading food labels is a critical part of managing G6PD deficiency.

Artificial Additives and Flavors

Sulfites: Often used as a preservative in canned foods, soups, and other processed items, sulfites can cause problems for sensitive individuals.
Menthol: Found in breath mints, toothpaste, mouthwash, and some candies, menthol can trigger adverse reactions.
Artificial Blue Food Color: Certain artificial blue food colorings have been reported to cause issues and are best avoided.

Beverages to Be Mindful Of

Tonic Water: Contains quinine, a medication contraindicated for many with G6PD deficiency.
Red Wine: Some individuals report issues with red wine, so it may be prudent to consume with caution.

Environmental and Drug Triggers

It is also important to remember that non-food triggers exist. The chemical naphthalene, found in mothballs, is a powerful oxidizing agent and inhaling its fumes or accidental ingestion can trigger a severe hemolytic episode. Infections and certain medications, including specific antibiotics and antimalarials, also cause oxidative stress and should be discussed with a doctor.

Comparing G6PD Trigger Foods and Safe Alternatives


Food Category	Foods to Avoid/Limit	Safer Alternatives
Legumes	Fava beans (all forms), soy products (milk, tofu, flour), chickpeas (caution), some beans (caution)	Most fruits and vegetables (apart from specific triggers), cow's milk (unless allergy exists), wheat products, oats, rice
Beverages	Tonic water (contains quinine), red wine (caution)	Water, juices from safe fruits (e.g., orange, apple), most herbal teas
Additives	Sulfites (preservatives), menthol, artificial blue dyes	Whole, unprocessed foods, homemade meals from scratch to control ingredients
Vitamins	High-dose Vitamin K supplements	A balanced diet rich in B vitamins and antioxidants

Conclusion: A Lifelong Commitment to Awareness

Living with G6PD deficiency means adopting a mindful approach to diet and health. While the key takeaway is the strict avoidance of fava beans and soy products, an individual's specific sensitivities may differ. The most effective management strategy involves not only understanding what food to avoid if you have G6PD but also being proactive in checking all food labels and discussing your condition with healthcare providers, especially before taking new medications. Awareness is your most powerful tool in preventing adverse reactions and leading a healthy, symptom-free life. For further information on the pathology of G6PD deficiency, consult reliable medical sources such as the National Institutes of Health Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Deficiency - NCBI.

Frequently Asked Questions

Fava beans contain compounds called vicine and convicine, which are potent oxidizing agents that trigger the rapid destruction of red blood cells in individuals with G6PD deficiency.

While fava beans are the most significant risk, some people with G6PD deficiency may also need to avoid or moderate other legumes, such as soy products, chickpeas, and lentils. It's best to discuss this with a healthcare provider.

No, a breastfeeding mother should not consume fava beans if her infant is G6PD deficient, as the compounds can be transferred through breast milk and cause a hemolytic event.

Soy products and derivatives, including soy milk and ingredients like hydrolyzed soy protein, are known triggers for some G6PD deficient individuals and should generally be avoided.

Check for soy products (like soybean oil, soy lecithin), sulfites used as preservatives, and certain artificial food colorings. Menthol in candies or mouthwash should also be avoided.

Watch for symptoms of hemolytic anemia, including dark urine, jaundice (yellowing of skin/eyes), fatigue, paleness, and rapid heart rate. Seek medical attention immediately if these occur.

No, G6PD deficiency is not an allergy. It is a genetic metabolic disorder where the lack of a specific enzyme makes red blood cells vulnerable to oxidative damage from certain substances.

No, cooking does not remove the harmful oxidizing compounds (vicine and convicine) from fava beans. They are dangerous whether raw or cooked and must be strictly avoided.

Most beverages are safe, including water, juices from fruits like oranges and apples, and most herbal teas. It is best to avoid tonic water and be cautious with red wine.