*What are Salicylates? Could Salicylates be Zapping Your Energy and Making You Feel Ill?

[Guest guest]

http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/02/08/salicylates.htm

 

*What

are Salicylates?

Could

Salicylates be Zapping Your Energy and Making You Feel Ill?

by

www.SixWise.com <http://www.sixwise.com/>*

 

Salicylates

occur naturally in many plant foods, acting as a plant

hormone.

The compounds are also manufactured synthetically and used to

make

painkilling drugs (aspirin and ibuprofen are the most well-known),

flavoring,

solvents, certain skin care products, perfume fixatives and

preservatives.

 

Strawberries

are very high in naturally occurring salicylates.

 

*Salicylate

Sensitivity*

 

A

portion of the population may be sensitive to salicylates, much in the

same

way one may be sensitive to a food. A person with salicylate

sensitivities

may be able to tolerate certain foods and products that

contain

the compounds but not others.

 

Meanwhile,

salicylates have a cumulative effect in the body, meaning

that a

person may be able to tolerate a small amount but will experience

symptoms

after excessive exposure. Even consuming a

salicylate-containing

food cooked, versus raw, can change the effect it

may

have.

 

*Allergy-Like

? Sometimes Contradictory ? Symptoms*

 

If a

sensitivity is present, a person may experience allergy-like

symptoms

that range from mild to life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

However,

salicylates can cause a reaction that first stimulates then

depresses

the central nervous system. So a person may feel both lethargy

and

hyperactivity as a result.

 

*Brand

Names of Common Salicylate-Containing Drugs*

 

Following

is just a partial list of drugs that contain salicylates in

the

United States, according to the Mayo Clinic:

* Acuprin 81

* Amigesic

* Anacin Caplets and Tablets

* Aspirin Regimen Bayer Adult Low Dose

* Aspirin Regimen Bayer Regular Strength

Caplets

* Bayer Children's Aspirin

* Bufferin Caplets and Tablets

* Disalcid

* Extra Strength Bayer Aspirin Caplets and

Tablets

* Mobidin

* Mono-Gesic

* Norwich Aspirin

* P-A-C Revised Formula

* Regular Strength Ascriptin

* Salflex

* Salsitab

* Sloprin

* St. Joseph Adult Chewable Aspirin

* Tricosal

* Trilisate

* ZORprin

 

Other

symptoms may include:

* Wheezing and trouble breathing

* Headaches

* Ear infections

* Changes in skin color, itching, rash or

hives

* Mouth ulcers or rash

* Nasal congestion, coughing

* Sinusitis

<http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/01/25/sinusitis.htm>

* Swelling of the hands, feet, eyes and

face

* Stomach pain

* Trouble concentrating

* Nasal polyps

*

Cognitive and perceptual disorders

 

*How Do

I Know if I'm Sensitive?*

If you

have been experiencing any of the above symptoms and are unable

to

explain the cause, an elimination diet can help you determine if

salicylates

are to blame.

 

With an

elimination diet, you eliminate foods and products that contain

salicylates

(or only consume them in very low levels), then keep track

of your

symptoms. If your symptoms disappear, there's a good chance that

you're

sensitive to salicylates.

 

If you suspect

you are sensitive, this doesn't mean that you can never

eat a

food that contains the compound. Remember that some foods may

affect

you more than others, so you may need to experiment. Other

factors

also add to the complication, making certain foods and parts of

foods

less potentially problematic than others:

 

Raw foods, dry foods and juices may

contain more salicylates than

cooked food.

 

The highest levels of salicylates are

found just under the skin of

certain fruits and vegetables, and in

the outer leaves of vegetables.

 

Salicylate levels decrease the riper a

food gets.

 

In

other words, if you are sensitive to salicylates in a certain food,

you may

find you can tolerate it if it is very ripe, peeled and cooked.

(You

should not consume any salicylates if there is a risk of a severe

reaction,

of course.)

 

*Where,

Specifically, are Salicylates Found?*

Salicylates

are very widespread and occur in high levels in blueberries,

almonds,

green peppers, cinnamon and many other foods.

 

Salicylate

sensitivity can cause headaches, ear infections, mouth ulcers

and a

myriad of other symptoms.

 

The

chart at the end of the article <#chart> gives a comprehensive look

at

which foods are high (and low) in these compounds.

 

Salicylates

are also part of many products, including:

* Acne products and wart or callus

removers

* Fragrances, cosmetics and bubble baths

* Shampoos and conditioners

* Herbal remedies

* Lozenges

* Topical creams

* Mouthwash and mint-flavored toothpaste

* Shaving cream

* Sunscreens and tanning lotions

* Muscle pain creams

 

You

should also watch out for the following ingredients if you are

trying

to avoid salicylates:

* Aspirin

* Acetylsalicylic acid

* Artificial food colorings or flavorings

* Azo dyes

* Benzoates (preservatives)

* Benzyl salicylate

* Beta-hydroxy acid

* Choline salicylate

* Disalcid

* Ethyl salicylate

* Isoamyl salicylate

* Magnesium salicylate

* Menthol

* Methyl salicylate

* Mint

* Octylsalicylate

* Peppermint

* Phenylethyl salicylate

* Salicylic acid

* Salicylaldehyde

* Salicylamide

* Salsalate

* Sodium salicylate

* Spearmint

 

Though

anyone can be sensitive to salicylates, it is more likely to

occur

in people with moderate to severe asthma or chronic

rhinosinusitis.

It is also more likely to affect older adults and those

with

worsening asthma.

 

If you

are sensitive to these compounds, your best bet to avoiding any

uncomfortable

symptoms is to avoid any trigger foods and/or products

that

may contain salicylates, and only attempt to reintroduce them if

you and

your physician are confident they will not cause a severe reaction.

 

Source:

Allergy Dietitian

<http://users.bigpond.net.au/allergydietitian/fi/sal.html>

 

*Recommended

Reading*

Leptin:

What It Is, and Why It May Be the Most Powerful " Tool " in the

Battle

Against Diabetes

<http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/05/11/23/leptin.htm>

 

Potatoes:

Once and For All, Are America's Favorite Vegetables Good for

You or

Not? <http://www.sixwise.com/newsletters/06/01/11/potatoes.htm>

 

*Sources*

Allergy

Health Online: Salicylate Sensitivity

<http://allergy.healthcentersonline.com/allergygeneral/salicylatesensitivity.cfm>

 

Allergy

Dietitian: Salicylates in Foods

<http://users.bigpond.net.au/allergydietitian/fi/sal.html>

 

Mayo

Clinic: Salicylates

<http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DR202515>

 

Sixwise.com

© Copyright 2006

 

 

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