Ingredients similar to aspirin were first extracted from meadowsweet and willow bark centuries ago, but in 1899 salicin was altered into a patentable drug called aspirin.
Aspirin was approved for the treatment of gout and rheumatic fever, but today we know it as an anti-clotting agent and pain reliever. Around 100 billion aspirin tablets are produced every year.
Millions may have undiagnosed salicylate allergies
Millions of folks are allergic to salicylates such as aspirin without even knowing it. One of the main reasons such a common allergy can hide in plain sight is the foods that contain natural salicin don’t have much in common.
For example, broccoli, olives, Coca-Cola, breath mints, pistachios, mushrooms and coffee have nothing obvious in common. Yet they all contain salicylates, similar to aspirin. So if you happen to be sensitive to, or react to, any of those foods it could be a red flag that you have a hidden salicylate allergy.
Salicylate are found in dozens of foods that have no other obvious links.
Common symptoms that can occur include…
- headaches,
- asthma,
- wheezing,
- nausea,
- diarrhea,
- stomach upset,
- itching, rash,
- swelling of hands, feet, or face
- sinus symptoms.
In addition your throat may get itchy, painful or swollen, or your lips may swell. If you experience these or other symptoms, it could very well be the “aspirin” in your food—a salicylate allergy—that’s causing them.
36 foods that are rich in natural aspirin
People who know they’re allergic to aspirin know to avoid other over-the-counter medications which may contain aspirin such as cold or flu remedies, antacids, menstrual cycle pain-relievers, certain fizzy antacids, teething gel or toothache remedies. But few of those folks know that they should look out for their reactions to certain foods too.
Keep in mind if you’re allergic to aspirin a reaction to these foods isn’t guaranteed. In fact, you may still be able to eat salicylate-rich foods without any problem at all. But then some folks who are allergic to aspirin suffer terribly when they eat them so it’s good to know what they are.
In order to turn the natural herb into a drug an acetyl group gets attached to it. That leaves aspirin with an acetyl molecule that naturally-occurring salicylates don’t have. For many folks it is this extra molecule that appears to trigger the reaction.
Natural aspirin is found in the following foods…
| Apples |
| Apricots |
| Avocados |
| Blackberries |
| Blueberries |
| Broccoli |
| Cantaloupe |
| Cauliflower |
| Cherries |
| Chili peppers |
| Cucumbers |
| Currants |
| Dates |
| Dried herbs/spices |
| Eggplant |
| Figs |
| Grapefruit |
| Grapes |
| Green peppers |
| Guava |
| Kiwi |
| Licorice herb (candy is okay) |
| Meadowsweet |
| Mint (gum, breath mints, toothpaste) |
| Nuts, all of them, pistachios, pine nuts, almonds, etc. |
| Paprika |
| Peaches |
| Plums |
| Prunes |
| Radishes |
| Raspberries |
| Spinach |
| Strawberries |
| Turmeric |
| Wine |
| Zucchini |
**Note: Fruits and vegetables are higher in salicylates when not fully ripe**
If you suspect you have a salicylate sensitivity or allergy try eliminating these foods from your diet for a period of time and see if you feel better.
And if you’re someone who would like to reap some of pain-relieving benefits of aspirin without taking the drug, this same list can serve as a guide for your next grocery store trip.
In addition to writing a syndicated column on health which reaches 20 million people each week, Suzy is the author of a number of books on natural health.
You may have seen Suzy on The Dr. OZ Show (6 different appearances), The View, The Doctors, Good Morning America Health and hundreds of morning shows. Quotes from Suzy, as well as her articles, have also appeared in major publications including Woman’s Day, Reader’s Digest, OK Magazine!, First for Women, Fitness, Natural Health and Better Homes & Garden and dozens more.
Read more from Suzy at suzyCohen.com
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