Information on Salicylates

On Stage One, you avoid a list of foods containing the chemical "salicylate," which is like aspirin. This is a toxin made by the plant as a natural pesticide. Each person tolerates various salicylate-containing foods in different amounts, and after a few weeks successfully on the diet, you will be ready to start to find out which of these foods you can tolerate, how much, and how often. If, however, you already know, or you suspect after trying Stage One, that you are extremely sensitive to salicylate, you may need to eliminate more of them rather than add them back. See more information here.

Some of the recent studies indicate that salicylate has an effect on PST (Phenol SulfoTransferase), an enzyme needed by the brain and also needed at the gut to metabolize high-phenolic compounds like the artificial colors and flavors.

PST has been shown to be low for people with ADHD or autism. Salicylate suppresses PST even more, by up to 50%. See some of the research here.

It is not yet known whether avoiding the salicylate-containing foods for a while causes the available amount of PST to rise. However, the response of many of our members -- able to tolerate some salicylate foods in small amounts and not too often -- makes that theory appear plausible.

Back to Stage ONE || Back to Stage TWO

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List of Most Commonly Troublesome Salicylates

The following "salicylates" have been shown by the best available research, and clinical trials and experience to be the most common problems for people using the Feingold diet. If you are known or suspected to be extremely salicylate-sensitive, you will find a more complete listing with the breakdown of low-salicylate items too, in the Program materials Special Needs Section.

Unless listed as acceptable in the Foodlist avoid:

·         Natural Flavoring (may contain salicylate)

·         Natural Coloring (may contain salicylate)

Avoid anything -- food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, art supplies -- that has any of the following ingredients.

·         Aspirin and products containing aspirin or salicylic acid

·         Salicylates

o        Almonds

o        Apples

o        Apricots

o        Berries (all)

o        Cherries

o        Chili powder

o        Cider & cider vinegar (apples)

o        Cloves

o        Coffee

o        Cucumbers & pickles

o        Currants

o        Grapes & raisins

o        Nectarines

o        Oranges

o        Paprika

o        Peaches

o        Peppers (bell & chili)

o        Plums, prunes

o        Tangerines

o        Tea

o        Tomatoes

o        Wine & wine vinegar (grapes)

o        Oil of wintergreen (methyl salicylate)

o        Rose hips or acerola (often found in vitamins)