Benefits of Natural Salicylic Acid in FoodsNatural salicylic acid and other compounds from which aspirin was originally modeled, can provide some amazing benefits. As with many other natural compounds, problems and side effects with aspirin use didn’t surface until the chemistry of the product had been synthesized, purified, and concentrated into drugs. Salicylic acid is the natural component of aspirin, credited with reducing the risk of heart disease and the risk of various cancers of the colon, lung, and breast. It is also thought to help prevent Alzheimer’s.
Salicylic acids are mainly associated with face creams, lotions, or cleansers. What you might not know is that many of those products are made from natural extracts of fruits or vegetables. They might also be synthesized versions of the acid, just like aspirin is the synthesized version of white willow bark Many people therefore, don’t realize is that salicylic acid is naturally present in many foods. Fruits and vegetables contain phytochemicals and salicylic acid maybe another kind of phytochemical. Food is naturally always the best medicine! Benefits of Natural Salicylic AcidVegetarians have higher levels of natural salicylic acid in their blood because they consume more fruits and fresh vegetables. Higher salicylic acid concentrations may also be a major contributor to lower rates of various cancers and better overall heart health. When you naturally increase salicylic acids by eating more fruits and vegetables instead of taking a synthetic form of it like daily aspirin, the anti clotting effects responsible for many of aspirin’s serious side effect, (like stroke and gastro-intestinal bleeding), don’t occur. In simple terms, if you get your salicylic acid naturally from the foods you eat, you get the anti-inflammatory benefits, which help prevent arteriosclerosis, but you don't get any of the bleeding problems that are caused by taking daily aspirin.
Plants produce salicylic acid as a way of protecting itself against pests and disease. In earlier times, most people grew their own food or purchased it from local farmers. Pesticides were not used so only the hardiest of plants survived. Today things are far different. Typically, most fruits and vegetables are not grown organically. Pesticides and control practices, (such as temperature, water, and sunlight exposure) hinder a plants ability to produce salicylic acid naturally, so levels have declined. For example, researchers in Scotland evaluated commercial vegetable soups and organic vegetable soups for salicylic acid content. The organic soup's vegetables contained 6 times the amounts of salicylic acids as the commercial soups. Health authorities overlook studies like this. Why go to the expense of buying organic when you can simply pop a daily aspirin instead. The bigger picture is that plants have their own type of immunity, which produces what is called ‘systemic acquired resistance’. Salicylic acids form a crucial pathway for developing this resistance. The higher the natural salicylic acid content, the more potent other complex compounds important to human health become. A good example is grapes. The compound resveratrol, known for its strong antioxidant properties and heart protection ability, is reduced by 70% when grapes are sprayed with fungicides. Salicylic acid is just one of many beneficial components present in whole foods. To stay healthy, consume a wider variety of raw fruits and fresh vegetables and add spices to your dishes, all of which contain higher levels of salicylic acid. Buying from your local farmer’s market is even better! Natural Salicylic Acid FoodsFruits Raisins, Prunes, Raspberries, Blackberries, Blueberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Currants, Dates, Guava, Oranges, Pineapple, Plums, Strawberries Vegetables Broccoli, Chili, Peppers, Cucumbers, Okra, Spinach, Squash, Sweet Potatoes, Canned Tomatoes, Tomato paste/sauce, Green Peppers, Radishes, Zucchini Spices Aniseed, Cayenne, Celery Powder, Cinnamon Powder, Curry, Dill, Fenugreek Powder, Garam Masala, Mustard Powder, Ginger Root, Rosemary, Sage, Tarragon, Tumeric, Thyme, Mint, Black Pepper, Bay leaves, Basil, Caraway, Oregano, Paprika, Nutmeg (Other items that have significant salicylic acid include Worcestershire sauce and Honey.) Taking an aspirin everyday might make you think you are doing the right thing. It would be far better however, to just include more salicylic rich foods in your daily diet. Just making simple dietary changes and using inexpensive nutritional supplements such as Bromelain for pain, can make a big difference. Bromelain is an enzyme extracted from the pineapple plant. It has been shown to be very effective in treating inflammation without side effects, especially those of aspirin and NSAIDS. Its also an effective treatment for those with rheumatoid arthritis, when 2,250mg are taken twice daily between meals. Other studies have recommended between 2000 – 4000 mg daily. When considering health matters, eating more raw foods becomes especially important. Consuming more foods that contain natural salicylic acid are far more likely to serve your health better than processed foods, which have few nutritional values. Related Pages Daily Aspirin – Does It Really Keep the Doctor Away? Omega 3 Oils – To Improve Your Health Have a Heart – A Healthy Heart! Reduce the Risk of Cancer through Nutrition Related Products
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