Food allergies and intolerances are on the rise today – gluten intolerance, milk allergy and peanut allergy are some of the more common food allergies. Most people, however, have never even heard of salicylate allergy or salicylate intolerance. Salicylates, one of the major ingredients in the miracle drug aspirin, is a naturally occurring plant chemical found in fruits, vegetables, wine, beer, nuts, herbs, spices, tea, and coffee.
According to the Food Intolerance Diagnostics(1), 2 to 40% of patients attending allergy clinics and around 2 to 7% of patients with gastrointestinal disorders, such as inflammatory bowel disease, were found to be salicylate sensitive. This rare condition has, however, remained difficult to diagnose possibly because the spectrum of triggers is just so wide-ranging.
But it’s not just the triggers that are wide-ranging, symptoms of this pseudo-allergic hypersensitivity reaction can be pretty varied, too. Classic symptoms of salicylate sensitivity include digestive issues, bloating, cramping, mental fatigue, and skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, acne, etc.
If you are diagnosed with salicylate intolerance, a low salicylate diet may be recommended to you. In this article, we review the list of foods to include and avoid salicylate sensitivity along with a sample 5-day meal plan.
The highest amounts of salicylates are generally found in vegetables, fruits, and spices. If you have salicylate sensitivity, some of the foods that you might want to avoid in general include:
Different parts of a plant can have different levels of salicylate. The amount of salicylate can vary between the seeds, pulp, and peel of a vegetable or fruit. |
[ Read: Morning Banana Diet ]
The low salicylate diet is by far the most well-known diet for managing symptoms of salicylate allergy. The diet removes foods that are high in salicylates, amines, and glutamates. The exclusion of such foods may either be short term or long term, depending on the individual’s threshold of sensitivity. If there are improvements in symptoms after four weeks, some foods may be reintroduced gradually to challenge the intolerance.
The following are some foods that you can eat when you are on a low salicylate diet:
[ Read: Low Phosphorus Foods ]
Fish oil is another recommended cure for salicylate intolerance. In a small study(2) that was conducted on three people, it was found that the patients who took fish oil for 6 to 8 weeks experienced complete or nearly complete improvement of their symptoms.
The recommended dosage is 10 grams of fish oil daily.
[ Read: Health Benefits of Fish Oil ]
Day 1 |
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Breakfast |
Scrambled eggs with plain toast
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Snack |
Oatmeal cookies or plain homemade cookies
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Lunch |
Pasta with homemade sauce and any low salicylate veggies
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Dinner |
Lentil Soup and meatloaf
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Day 2 |
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Breakfast |
Plain oats with half a cup of milk and a banana
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Snack | Cupcakes |
Lunch | Fried rice |
Dinner |
Roast meat, low salicylate veggies, and baked potatoes
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Day 3 |
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Breakfast |
French toast
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Snack |
Banana, pear, or plain muffins
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Lunch |
Iceberg lettuce wraps with meat filling
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Dinner |
Salmon with leeks
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Day 4 |
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Breakfast |
Pancakes with maple syrup
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Snack |
Chocolate shortbread or plain doughnuts
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Lunch |
Chicken and apple salad
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Dinner |
Celery soup with lime and garlic flank steak
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Day 5 |
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Breakfast |
Boiled or scrambled eggs
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Snack |
Maple baked pears
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Lunch |
Quinoa, cashew, and chickpea salad
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Dinner |
Roast chicken and green bean stir fry
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Omitting high salicylate foods alone may not always resolve your symptoms. There are various kinds of salicylates, and some foods which are well-tolerated by one person may not be by another. It is, therefore, best to consult an allergist or registered dietician to chart out a healthy meal plan for you.
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Foods to Choose Before & After Yoga
Cooking does not destroy or reduce salicylates. However, some people tolerate cooked fruits and vegetables better than raw ones.
Low salicylate diets such as the Failsafe diet and the Feingold diet can be used to treat salicylate sensitivity.
There are currently no standard tests or laboratory methods for detecting salicylate sensitivity. Most medical professionals attempt to diagnose salicylate intolerance through provocation or exposure, which generally involves administering a small amount of salicylic acid.