What Are Salicylates?

Salicylates are aspirin-like compounds found naturally in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They are also a main ingredient in aspirin and are found in many health and beauty products.

Why Should I Follow a Low-salicylate Diet?

A low-salicylate diet is recommended if you have a salicylate sensitivity or intolerance. People who are sensitive to salicylates also have trouble tolerating aspirin and aspirin containing products.

Symptoms of a salicylate sensitivity tend to be dose related and include trouble breathing, wheezing, headaches, nasal congestion, changes in skin color, itching, skin rash or hives, swelling of the hands and feet, swelling of the face, and/or stomach pain. There are different degrees of salicylate sensitivity; some people can tolerate a moderate amount before experiencing a reaction, while others can tolerate only a very small amount.

Some experts also believe that salicylates may play a role in causing attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD); however, there is no strong evidence to support this theory.

Eating Guide for a Low-salicylate Diet

Below is a list of foods to avoid on this diet. This is not a complete list and should be used as a starting guide; work with a dietitian to come up with a complete list of which foods you can eat. The amount of salicylates found in different foods varies, so some foods may be well-tolerated in small amounts. In general, dried and raw produce tend to have more than cooked produce.

Food CategoryFoods RecommendedFoods to Avoid
Grains
  • All grains are generally well-tolerated.
  • None
Vegetables
  • Asparagus
  • Cabbage
  • Celery
  • Corn-on-the-cob
  • Green beans
  • Leeks
  • Onions
  • Peas
  • Potatoes
  • Pumpkin
  • Shallots
  • Tomatoes
  • Turnips
  • Watercress
  • Alfalfa sprouts
  • Beans
  • Broccoli
  • Cauliflower
  • Eggplant
  • Fava
  • Mushrooms
  • Peppers
  • Radishes
  • Spinach
  • Zucchini
Fruits
  • Bananas
  • Figs
  • Fruit
  • Kiwi fruit
  • Papaya
  • Passion
  • Peaches
  • Pears
  • Rhubarb
  • Watermelon
  • Apples
  • Avocadoes
  • Blackberries
  • Blueberries
  • Cherries
  • Currants
  • Dates
  • Grapefruit
  • Grapes
  • Oranges
  • Plums
  • Prunes
  • Raisins
  • Raspberries
  • Strawberries
  • Tangerines
Milk
  • All dairy products are generally well-tolerated.
  • None
Meat and Beans
  • Fresh meat, poultry, fish, and eggs
  • Chick peas, green beans, lentils, peas
  • Luncheon meats, preserved meats
  • Fava beans, water chestnuts
Nuts
  • Cashews
  • Hazelnuts
  • Pecans
  • Poppy seeds
  • Sesame seeds
  • Almonds
  • Peanuts
  • Pine nuts
  • Pistachios
Beverages
  • Coffee and decaffeinated coffee
  • Juices made from fruits on this recommended list
  • Vodka, whiskey, and gin
  • Orange juice and apple cider
  • Coca-cola
  • Regular and herbal tea
  • Wine, beer, rum, and sherry
Other
  • Butter and margarine
  • Fresh dill, chives, and parsley
  • Garlic
  • Soy sauce
  • Sugar and maple syrup
  • Vegetable oils
  • Dried aniseed, cayenne, curry, dill, and thyme
  • Honey and molasses
  • Jams and jellies
  • Tomato sauce and pesto sauce
  • Commercial gravies
  • Fish paste, meat paste, and tomato paste
  • White vinegar
  • Worcester sauce
  • Peppermint candy, licorice, and mint-flavored gum and mints
  • Herbal supplements that contain salicylates

Non-food Products to Avoid

Because salicylate and aspirin compounds are found in many products other than food, it is important to check ingredient lists. Salicylates are commonly found in health and beauty products such as perfumes, shampoos, conditioners, lipsticks, lotions, mouthwashes, shaving creams, sunscreens, and muscle pain creams. Be on the look out for the following ingredients:

  • Acetylsalicylic acid
  • Artificial food coloring and flavoring
  • Aspirin
  • Benzoates
  • Beta-hydroxy acid
  • Magnesium salicylate
  • Menthol
  • Mint
  • Salicylate
  • Salicylic acid
  • Penylethyl salicylate
  • Peppermint
  • Sodium salicylate
  • Spearmint

Suggestions

  • This diet should only be followed if recommended by your healthcare provider; do not self-diagnose a salicylate sensitivity. There are many other intolerances and sensitivities with similar symptoms.
  • Meet with a registered dietitian who specializes in allergies to help you come up with an eating plan based on the foods that you can tolerate.