Overview
About Low Salicylate
Low salicylate compatibility measures how an ingredient fits the pattern, taking the worst of its salicylates, amines, glutamates, sulfites, nitrites and added colours, preservatives and flavour enhancers.
In the data
What the grading picks up
- High in salicylates, a frequent trigger if you react to aspirin or salicylate-rich foods
- High in salicylates (grade D), a real trigger if you react to aspirin or other salicylate-rich plants
- Moderately high in salicylates and high in lectins, either of which can cause symptoms in sensitive people
- High in salicylates and a high-nickel food, extra triggers if you react to either
Examples
A few ingredients either way
Grading
How we grade Low Salicylate
Every ingredient in the database carries one grade for low salicylate, and this page, the checker and the app all read that same grade. It describes the ingredient as it is usually eaten. Portion size and preparation move it.
Low Salicylate is kept as a matter of degree. In the app, a borderline ingredient shows on the ingredient screen without counting against the day.
Practical
Following Low Salicylate
- Peel produce and pick the milder varieties where you can.
- Read labels for colours, preservatives and flavour enhancers, not just the ingredient itself.
- Keep a detailed food and symptom diary to track your personal reactions
- Eliminate the suspected trigger completely for 2-4 weeks
- Reintroduce gradually to find your personal tolerance threshold
- Work with a healthcare provider or registered dietitian for guidance
- Remember that food sensitivities can change over time
Method
Test it with a diary
Most people find their own triggers by logging meals and symptoms for a few weeks and reading the result back. Three steps.
- 1Log every meal for a few weeks. Type it, say it out loud, or scan a barcode, and it lands as a list of ingredients.
- 2Rate how you feel through the day on whatever you are tracking, whether that is bloating, headaches, skin or sleep.
- 3Read the pattern back. Every ingredient you logged is scored against the days you felt worse, and the result ranks low salicylate against everything else you eat.
Questions
Questions people ask
Is broccoli high in salicylates?
Yes. Broccoli is graded high (D) for salicylates, which is why it can trigger people who react to aspirin, mint, berries or other salicylate-rich foods. Peeling is not really an option here, so smaller portions or a low-salicylate vegetable like cabbage or bamboo shoots is the usual workaround.
More about broccoliIs black pepper high in salicylates?
Yes. Black pepper is rated high in salicylates, one of the highest among common spices by weight. Because it is sprinkled on so much food out of habit, salicylate-sensitive people can build up a bigger dose than they realise. Low-salicylate herbs like bay leaf or thyme are gentler.
More about black pepperIs green pepper high in salicylates?
Yes, it is graded high (D). Peppers sit among the higher-salicylate vegetables, so if you are salicylate sensitive a non-nightshade, lower-salicylate option like cucumber, green beans or cabbage is gentler.
More about green bell pepperAre red bell peppers high in salicylates?
Yes, red bell peppers are rated high in salicylates. If you notice headaches, itching or hives after peppers, tomatoes and other bright produce, salicylate sensitivity is worth ruling in before you blame something rarer.
More about red bell pepperIs rice safe for histamine intolerance or salicylate sensitivity?
On both counts, yes. Rice grades A for histamine, A for histamine liberation and A for salicylates, which is exactly why it turns up as the baseline carbohydrate in low histamine and low chemical elimination diets alike. The caveat is storage rather than chemistry: leftover rice held warm grows bacteria fast, so cool it quickly and refrigerate it.
More about riceRead next
Where to go next
Get started
Following Low Salicylate?
Log what you eat and how you feel, and the app finds the pattern for you. Or look an ingredient up here first.