Histamine intolerance and salicylates

This blog post is about salicylates and the intolerance to foods containing salicylates.

Salicylate intolerance can often occur together with histamine intolerance.

Salicylate is the salt of salicylic acid and occurs naturally, particularly in herbs, flowers, and spices. Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) is used in medications, including painkillers (such as aspirin). This form of the acid is also not tolerated by individuals with a "pure" histamine intolerance.

How does an intolerance develop?

The arachidonic acid-eicosanoid metabolism plays a significant role in this process.

• Arachidonic acid: fatty components of cell walls
• Eicosanoids: various hormone-like substances

Eicosanoids include, among others, two substances (prostaglandins and leukotrienes) that are responsible for inflammatory processes and hypersensitivity.

If this metabolism becomes unbalanced, it can lead to overreactions to anti-inflammatory and salicylate-containing foods.

What does this have to do with histamine intolerance?

If the substances prostaglandins and leukotrienes are insufficiently metabolized or react in the body to bacteria or viruses, mast cells can be activated, histamine released, and inflammation triggered.

Salicylates also increase the production of so-called IgE antibodies, which also activate mast cells and are considered markers for allergic reactions.

Possible symptoms and accompanying conditions of salicylate intolerance are:

• Sinus infections
• Irritation of any mucous membranes
• asthma
• Skin rashes/swelling
• Itching
• Inflammation
• Tinnitus
• Gastrointestinal diseases
• anaphylactic reactions
• Mast cell activation
• high histamine levels
• Leaky gut (increased intestinal permeability)
• Hyperactivity
• Kidney disorders
• Acid-base imbalance
• chronic sinusitis

Salicylate intolerance test

The most reliable test for diagnosing histamine intolerance (HIT) is an elimination diet. Using a food and symptom diary , you can monitor your diet and track which foods trigger your reactions. For this, avoid all the foods listed below for at least four weeks and carefully observe your symptoms.

If you react to salicylates, you don't need to eliminate all sali-containing foods from your diet, but only those foods that you personally don't tolerate. Tolerance varies greatly from person to person.

Salicylate in food

Salicylic acid is produced by many plants to protect themselves from pests. Therefore, salicylic acid has an antimicrobial effect, which normally has a very positive impact on our health.

For this reason, fruits and vegetables that are not organic and have been sprayed are better tolerated by people with salicylate intolerance.

Foods with a high salicylic acid content

• Italian herbs
• Onions & garlic
• wild blueberries
• Ginger
• turmeric
• Cherries
• Dates
• Spices
• coconut
• almonds
• currants
• Herbal teas (especially peppermint)
• radish
• Olive oil)
  
• grapes
• apricot

However, you shouldn't completely eliminate salicylates from your diet!

Even if you have an intolerance to salicylates, it is still important to consume them in small amounts.

Our experience has shown that a slow introduction to foods containing sali leads to an ever-increasing tolerance threshold.

Why are foods containing salicylates actually so good for our bodies?

Foods containing sali have an antimicrobial effect.
This means that they can be helpful in breaking down disease-causing microorganisms.

Unlike antibiotics, salicylates can distinguish between "good" and "bad" microorganisms and are therefore gentler.

This also applies, for example, to plant-based antibiotics. However, this does not mean that the effect of synthetic antibiotics is equivalent to that of foods containing sali, as the latter are significantly less effective.

To keep your immune system and metabolism healthy, you can regularly integrate these foods into your diet.

• light onions
• Garlic (1)
• wild blueberries
• Ginger (1)
• turmeric
• thyme
• oregano
• rosemary
• sage
• Honey
• celery

These foods can also help you with colds and inflammation, for example.

Sources

• Study on salicylate symptoms: https://www.aerzteblatt.de/archiv/59081/Salicylatintoleranz
  Groceries:
  • Swain AR, Dutton SP, Truswell AS: Salicylates in foods. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 1985 Aug.: 950-60
  • Swain A, Soutter V, Loblay R: RPAH Elimination Diet Handbook with food & shopping guide. Allergy Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital 2011