lemongrass
Herbs & Spices
Is lemongrass high in salicylates?
Find out whether lemongrass is high or low in salicylates, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why salicylates food checker matters
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
- Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for lemongrass
Despite the name, lemongrass is not a citrus and contains no lemon. It is a tropical grass, and the lemony aroma comes from citral, a compound it happens to share with lemon peel. That distinction is worth stating clearly, because people avoiding citrus often cut lemongrass out of Thai and Vietnamese cooking for no reason. The grades back that up: histamine A, and only a mild liberator at B, where lemon and lime are strong histamine liberators. It is also clean on FODMAPs, fructans, gluten, lactose, dairy protein, nightshade, nickel, sulfite, glutamates, lectins and SIBO fermentation, and it is anti-inflammatory friendly and AIP compliant. The one honest caveat is salicylate at C, the moderate level typical of aromatic herbs, with oxalate a mild B alongside it.
Watch for
Salicylate C is the only meaningful grade. Aromatic plants concentrate salicylates, and lemongrass is no exception, though a bruised stalk simmered in a broth and then lifted out is a much smaller dose than a paste with the stalk blended in / It is not citrus, so avoiding it as part of a citrus elimination is a wasted restriction. There is no citric acid and none of the citrus proteins involved in true citrus reactions / The dish is usually the trigger, not the stalk. Recipes that call for lemongrass almost always carry garlic, shallot, fish sauce or shrimp paste too, and those are far higher on FODMAP, histamine and glutamate than the herb is / Form changes the dose sharply. A whole stalk is a flavouring you remove before eating, a curry paste means you eat all of it, and lemongrass tea or essential oil is more concentrated again / Oxalate B is mild and only relevant if you are counting oxalate strictly and drinking lemongrass tea regularly rather than cooking with a stalk
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Salicylates Guide
Everything you need to know about salicylates sensitivity and smart food choices.
Salicylates are natural chemicals found in many fruits, vegetables, herbs, and spices. They're related to aspirin and can cause reactions in sensitive individuals including hives, asthma symptoms, nasal congestion, and digestive issues.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for Salicylates sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in salicylates and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Salicylates, consider these strategies:
- 1Start by eliminating the highest sources: spices, herbs, and concentrated products
- 2Peel fruits and vegetables when possible to reduce salicylate content
- 3Fresh is usually better tolerated than dried or concentrated
- 4Build up tolerance slowly by reintroducing foods one at a time
- 5Sensitivity often improves with gut healing over time
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Is lemongrass high in Salicylates?
Salicylates: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat lemongrass if I'm sensitive to Salicylates?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check Histamine Liberators, Oxalates, and Histamine next for a fuller picture.