Estimated to affect 10% of the population, pharmacological food intolerance involves a non-immunological reaction to natural compounds (e.g. salicylates, amines and glutamates) and/or artificial substances (e.g. preservatives, flavours and colours) found in food....
Salicylic acid is an odourless organic compound found naturally in plants. Composed of a phenol group and a carboxylic acid group, salicylic acid is both a carboxylic acid and a non-flavonoid phenol. The body has evolved incredible systems for processing chemicals,...
Not all salicylates are created equal. Where some salicylates originate in their free form, others come bound to other compounds (1), the distinction of which is important to understanding the salicylate content of food and how, in turn, they might affect those who...
If you’ve recently been diagnosed with salicylate sensitivity, suspect a salicylate sensitivity, or have a scientific curiosity about salicylate sensitivity, chances are you’ve heard of the low salicylate diet. Designed to help keep symptoms at bay, the diet, while...
One of the most studied natural chemicals known to elicit an adverse reaction in humans, salicylates are ubiquitous components of food, triggering a host of unpleasant symptoms in susceptible individuals. Not an easy condition to diagnose, salicylate sensitivity is...
So you’ve been diagnosed with salicylate sensitivity. Now what? Odds are that many of the foods you’ve been ingesting contain a level of salicylates that don’t agree with your body. The first step to minimising reactions is to learn the salicylate content of foods so...
As someone who suffers from salicylate sensitivity, I know firsthand how daunting breakfast can be, let alone having to think about what to eat for the rest of the week. That is why I’ve put together a wee sample of the kinds of meals my family and I like to enjoy on...
Enthusiastically exploring various aspects of salicylate sensitivity, one topic I stumble upon frequently is how exactly dietary-induced salicylate reactions occur. A few blog articles mention the involvement of the COX-1 enzyme; its inhibition can apparently lead to...
If you’ve ever eaten a big bowl of spaghetti bolognese or devoured a spicy curry, it’s highly probable that you’ve consumed a chemical known as salicylates. Found in plant-based foods as well as synthetic products such as aspirin and acne creams, salicylates offer...