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I'll be hosting Saturday Sessions from June to October for a time to collaborate and visit. These will be a loose format for about 1 hour, with possible prompts for discussion like, favorite snacks, favorite meals, sharing resources, etc. These sessions are free, but registration is requested.

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My story - I was diagnosed with levodopa-responsive dystonia ten years ago and going low-salicylate five years later changed my life.

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A member of the community writes, "the list you include in your site is a little bit confusing because the same foods are categorized as high and low at the same time, so how could I deal with it? Could you please suggest a safe free salicylate list of foods." This video covers a few concepts on how I compiled the list and why there are conflicting levels.  I consider this a research list of foods, rather than a therapeutic list that a clinic or doctor would prescribe.

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 Can psoriasis be triggered by aspirin sensitivity or salicylates in food and the environment? This video may answer your question.

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Join me through November and early December looking for relevant research review articles for future videos.  Email me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Available to study on Monday nights and Saturday mornings (Pacific time/Seattle).

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Every year, birch season is rough. While I have gone many times for testing to see if I had birch allergy, or a similar tree-allergy, nothing ever came up. Only after realizing that plants (some more than others) contained salicylates, did I make the connection that birch pollen contains sals! This paper shows a list of plants to be concerned about, and a case study of a boy with salicylate sensitivity immensely aggravated during birch pollen season landing him in the hospital for months.

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Today's video covers a case study of a man who had an anaphylaxis reaction to eating flour contaminated with a wheat mite (close relative of dust mites). We'll first start off with my story of being diagnosed with this (although it was probably a salicylate reaction), talk about the aspirin/mite allergy correlation, and look over why this case study was an amazing piece of research.

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Hi Everyone! I finally splurged and stocked up on cleaners I can be a little more safe and healthy around. I got these delivered about 4 months ago, and have been using them without any problems. I am so glad I got them! Links are in the directory.

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I've spent the entire winter sick, but I'm looking forward to spring and upcoming channel/website updates. Check out the video for more information.

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The Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) from Australia has been a leading researcher in studying Salicylate Sensitivity and food intolerances for about forty years. In this video I cover information about their three books to purchase, how their research got started, if they're still doing research, and some of the pros and cons of using their products.

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I've often thought of animals as outsourcing the conversion of nutrients that I need but can't do on my own. But what happens if salicylates transfer through animals into their meat and eggs? This researcher shows that chickens treated with salicylates can retain salicylates in blood, meat, liver, and eggs, although likely still negligible for salicylate sensitive individuals. This video covers the benefits of treating animals and chickens with salicylates, including increasing fertility and muscle mass, decreasing heat stress, what happens if fed a corn diet, and some of my own thoughts.

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We are getting a great community together - thank you for joining me as I maneuver through this crazy path of managing food sensitivities. I wanted to make a proper channel welcome and set a few house rules, just so we're all on the same page. This also covers a finance plan - which I think is important for understanding motives and what a person might be selling (or not selling) you. I'm looking at a sustainable way to continue to fund the mission without any conflicts of interest.

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Welcome to an introduction on organic chemistry for people with salicylate sensitivity. This lesson will teach you basics between inorganic chemistry (NaCl salt, H20 water) and organic chemistry (benzene rings, phenols, and salicylates).

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After using the NYX Matte Liquid Lingerie Lipsticks for about five years (Exotic color), I decided to try another version they had and I ended up having a reaction! I had to get my magnifying glass out to see the tiny size 7 font that lists that they added Benzyl salicylate (!!!) to their formula. In this video, I will go over some of the ingredients that are okay, questionable, and safe in the two tubes. This is an exercise in basic chemistry while looking at something fun like lipstick.

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Today's video covers a new shampoo, body wash, and bubble bath gel that I found! It only has a few ingredients and the detergent/surfactant is made from palm oil and not coconut oil (!!!) - ready to cover the details and also check out palm oils and how it relates to salicylates.

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This video covers everything that I considered when planning to get my vaccine and dealing with salicylate sensitivity with anaphylactic reactions. Includes the steps I took to mitigate risk, or improve my chances of survival if I did have a reaction. I also cover research articles showing that the chance of anaphylaxis in one early study was very low (.001%), as well as another one that was very low in highly-allergenic people.

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Toothpastes with mints, cinnamon, lemon, and other natural soothing products can be a recipe for disaster for those with salicylate sensitivity. Gums and oral tissue are often the most reactive during a histamine reaction, resulting in sores, bleeding gums, hives, and swelling. This video covers some of my favorite toothpastes and products I like to use on a regular basis.

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We have things to figure out, like how do we increase awareness? How do more sick people find out about this and get better? How can we test more foods or make it easier for new people to start? How can I support the cause or help out?

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Today's video covers what I ate on Thursday - hopefully you'll gain ideas on what may be edible if you're sensitive to salicylates. I even throw in how I bake a chicken! While it's easy to look through a recipe collection, I break down all the foods and why I eat them and where they are on the salicylate list.

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I'd like to host a few Zoom meetings over the next few weeks, where we can meet others in the community and build out some resources for the site. We'll give it a try and see how it works out! This is not a webinar or live stream - which means we can see each other and interact with each other. After we work on a topic, we can open it up to just visiting and general questions. My Zoom subscription limits out at 100 people. Times are listed in Pacific Time (Los Angeles, CA, USA).

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Fettuccine Afredo is such a versatile dish. In this video I made it with a steelhead (trout that acts like a salmon out here in the PNW). Any protein can be used, the best are probably shrimp, lobster, and chicken. While it might seem like a luxurious meal, it only takes about 25 minutes to cook!

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One of my favorite go-to salads! This blue cheese wedge salad is low in salicylates and I give a few options for modifications. Creamy homemade blue cheese dressing, bacon and hazelnuts. I've even paired it with fresh pears for a little tang, or topped with leftover salmon or steelhead.

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I'll share two stories about massage and acupuncture appointments where I overlooked what was being put on my body and I got really sick. We'll cover what oils are safe for your body if you're salicylate or amine sensitive. We'll also cover what oils to avoid, what qualities to avoid, controversial oils (palm, olive), and other safe moisturizers that may work for your skin.

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I rarely make resolutions for the upcoming year and instead prefer to look backwards on what I learned in the past year. These are my big four takeaways on diet and fitness! I look at vitamins, fat consumption, veggies being good for us, and cardio as an ideal workout.

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Given your environmental and lifestyle choices, a low-salicylate diet may not be enough. These six items mentioned can contribute to you inhaling or absorbing salicylates. In some cases the doses and reactions can be so high or so severe that it can completely stall your attempts at seeing results from restricting salicylates in your diet.

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After reading a study that did not support that reducing salicylates can improve Irritable Bowel Disease or Crohn's Disease (which is ok!), I became curious about the numbers provided, and where my daily amount fits into the story. The Sivagnanam study (link below) was a survey and feasibility study to see as patients decreased their dietary salicylates if respiratory or digestive symptoms improved. I became very curious because it seemed like the numbers were quite high still, and I wonder if a therapeutic dose is needed (or maximum) to improve symptoms.

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Delicious ideas for quick smoothies to go! I am looking to gather up a bunch of recipes, so send me your favorites! This one uses pear and banana, collagen, whey protein, poppy seeds and milk for the ingredients. It would be quite simple to make it dairy free. And I used cabbage to color the smoothie and make it pink!

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Today's video talks about how to talk to your dentist (or doctor) about ordering custom prescription medicines that are free of salicylates. In the dental world, finding over-the-counter medicines, or medicines they use on patients, is challenging because they are often flavored with mint. Out of all my salicylate sensitivities, mint is one of my most violent reactions, even if it's in a tiny amount. Ultimately, I ended up with Lidocaine made at my local compounding pharmacy. I'll just have to bring it in for future work - but I think that's worth it.

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Chayote/Choko is a great low-salicylate food, and my staple long before I choose cabbage! It is mild tasting, similar to zucchini , and Swain tested it in 1985 at quite low with  0.10mg/kg free salicylic acid. I like to eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner! It can be eaten alone or mixed into soup or other dishes. In this video I show you how I purchase larger amounts, peel them all at once, and freeze them. Then I'll show you how I cook chayote three different ways, plus I include some brainstorm time on some of the possibilities.

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This year I thought long and hard about great gifts to give and receive, even if you have salicylate sensitivity. These are also practical for people with food sensitivities, sensitive skin, or fragrance sensitivity.

Part 1 and 2 are two separate videos.

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Delicious potato and pear options for the holidays! I've been craving sweet potatoes - oh, for years... and I came across this recipe for roasting pears and potatoes together. This dish on its own is delicious, with each bite either being savory or sweet. I decided to take it up a notch, mash it like a candied sweet potato dish, and top with marshmallows.

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This video measures out and estimates salicylate levels on foods that are higher in salicylates but used in small doses and compared with other traditionally low-sal foods: Cashews, leeks, lemons, garlic, cabbage, and chayote.

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Halloween and holidays can be a scary time with food allergies and sensitivities. This year, consider participating in the Teal Pumpkin Project, organized by FARE (Food Allergy Research Education) and provide children a non-food treat or toy as an alternative.

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Good morning. Welcome to low-sal-life. My name is Sarah. Today, I thought we'd start a new series. I can't commit to every week. But it's going to be three minute Thursdays, where we just cover small tips and tricks. I keep getting requests for what I eat in a day. And yeah, so here I am, I just rolled out of bed.

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Fall is a challenging time for those with food allergies and sensitivities, and even more so with fragrance sensitivity! Today, we're making low-salicylate beverages: Caramel Pear Cider (based on the popular Caramel Apple Cider/Spice) and my favorite fall beverage, a Pear Hot Toddy. These drinks contain dairy, but you could leave out the whipped cream and caramel and just heat up pear juice with some maple (for kids) or serve with whisky or gin for adults. They are gluten-free too!

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It's no wonder that pear juice has always been one of my favorites - and I'm so glad that when made properly at home, they can be very low in salicylates and part of my regular diet. While pears are available at the store year-round, freshly grown local pears are sweeter and cheaper. If I put some time in now, I can enjoy the juice year round.
Buying canned pear juice is not ideal because they often include the peals, which IS a much easier process for juicing and also contributes to flavor.

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This is a great video to watch for people who want an overview of what salicylates are, what the symptoms are if you're sensitive, what foods to avoid or eat, and then some ideas on what can cause it and how to treat or manage it. Share with your coworkers and family members. I also talk a little bit about how you should refer to your condition, whether it's an allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity. I feel like it's easy to criticize people who aren't truly allergic to something, because people don't really understand it.

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In this video, we look at a research article that investigates if there is a connection between people with aspirin sensitivity and high salicylate food reactions. 44% of patients screened who have had hives or asthma from aspirin reaction also declare sensitivity to foods high in natural salicylates (natural aspirin compounds). Symptoms manifest as respiratory issues, urticaria (hives and skin issues), Oral Allergy Syndrome, throat swelling, flushing, and general feeling of being unwell. Many patients reacted to more than just one food. My video breaks down the data and I even made charts for you!

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Today's video covers a research study titled: Dietary Analysis in Symptomatic Patients with Coeliac Disease on a Gluten-Free Diet: the Role of Trace Amounts of Gluten and Non-Gluten Food Intolerances. It was completed in 1999 at the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) in Sydney, Australia by investigators Kim Faulkner-Hogg, W. Selby, and R. Loblay. Faulkner-Hogg was a dietician who worked for RPAH. RPAH is the world-wide leader for salicylate sensitivity and for treating patients with food intolerances. This paper addresses two situations: the affect that trace gluten has on people with celiac disease, and other food intolerances that tend to trouble people with celiac.

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In my last three hair-care videos I talked about how to wash and condition your hair. This video I add more products that I use to style my hair with. For those coming to this site from the carnivore diet - the purpose of this article and video is to provide plant-free hair care ideas for people that are sensitive to salicylates, a natural aspirin-like compound. I always recommend eating plant-based when feasible, and using plants for cosmetics. However, when there is so much variation in plants and the way plants are processed, dropping down to an animal-only routine helps someone who is salicylate sensitive to identify what products are causing inflammation. In my case, I was losing my hair with even salicylate-free shampoo, until I switched to only animal products. I'm now able to try out rye for shampoo, and other products, but my safe and default routine is the items listed below.

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In my last article and video, I covered what NOT to use in your hair! This time, I give 12-ish options for you to try out! Salicylate-free shampoos are hard to find, and even the few that do exist, don't meet everyone's hair needs. Some report that they are drying, or in my case, I've still had hair loss while using shampoo. Even the sal-free shampoos still use coconut-derived products. While I do think it may be possible to refine products so much that they don't really have anymore residual salicylates (I've actually extracted aspirin in a chem lab before from raw ingredients!), I'm always a big believer in the lurking variable. Meaning, we may never truly know that it's only salicylates that we're sensitive to. Oh yeah - and everyone is different!

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When it comes to your scalp and precious hair, sometimes the stuff in the kitchen can be worse than the chemicals in the bottle. I have a new video up on my no-poo journey which includes 14 items I tried - and shouldn't have! I didn't know until several months into my no-poo journey that I was sensitive to salicylates, an aspirin-like compound in lots of healthy food including coconut oil, apple cider vinegar (ACV), amla, soapnuts, fruits, and many more things! I did find a few no-poo and low-poo options. If you don't know what salicylates are, have chronic pain and inflammation, stomach troubles, hair issues, tinnitus, or any kind of skin issue you should learn about salicylates now before adding just any "natural" plant into your regime.

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Over the next few videos we'll be looking a little into hair care. Today's topic covers five ways I wash my hair! Most shampoo and conditioner has plenty of chemicals and fragrances that may cause issues with someone who is salicylate sensitive. Then if you go "natural" and pick something up in the natural food section, you'll run into shampoos and conditioners that use peppermint, rosemary, aloe, and other natural botanicals high in salicylates. It can take quite some time to find something safe to use! That's why I'm here to share a few of my tips.

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While most of my content will focus on food and body products, running a home can be challenging when you're so sensitive to chemicals. I bought an 80 year old home that had little renovations done since it was built, and at the very least, some new coats of paint are required. The basement is mostly unfinished and below ground. I wanted to use the space during the summer because it stays cool during our 90-100 degree F days, and I don't want to pay for air conditioning. After painting, the paint smell was so strong I couldn't be in the room, and five weeks later it still smelled like fresh and wet paint.

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Managing salicylate sensitivity can be tough, and still learning how to prepare food and test foods can be challenging. There is so much variation! This video covers two original research studies that show how cooking food usually reduces salicylate values in food.

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Diagnosed with IBS and still trying to figure out what is causing your issues? When you don’t eat you feel better? Wake up feeling good and miserable by evening? These could be symptoms of food intolerance! Annatto is on the salicylate no-no list, although salicylate levels appear to have never been tested. This video covers the story of a retired allergist/immunologist, Dr. Stein whose wife struggled with IBS for three years. After traveling to Europe and adjusting routine, they discovered the culprit had been annatto coloring.

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Sarah holding up sprouted leeks

Feeling disconnected from plants and veggies now that you’re on a limited diet? Fortunately many of our edible plants are easy to grow in the garden. Stop bumming out and consider planting 12 fruits and veggies in your garden now that are naturally low in salicylates! I've been building out a page https://low-sal-life.com/living-life/gardening that will include all of my gardening tips, including the type of varieties I try out. In the meantime, watch the video and see what's growing.

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New video up! Make a traditional pound cake, which is normally low in salicylates containing only sugar, eggs, butter, and flour. Modern pound cakes will add flavors, and then a bunch of other ingredients to make it easier to make like baking powder and more dairy. Today we’ll add maple syrup as a subtle flavor since it’s free of salicylates and add a maple glaze to the top. It is a simple and dense cake. Lots of blending required for best results.

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So you're curious about going salicylate-free and found a list. Maybe you've started and are still having reactions when eating bowls full of Brussels sprouts. Or maybe you're in a few months and have had nothing but meat and cabbage because it's the only thing you think you can eat. Well, this is a post for you! One of the most challenging things when starting a low-salicylate diet is choosing a list to use and then "listening" to your body. Why is there so much variation?

You may be frustrated or confused, but I'm hoping the sleuthing I've done for you (and really for me) will help clear things up and put you back on the right track.

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This video is long and not for everyone – BUT I consider it more of a service video. If it helps ONE person, I think it’s worth posting. I get asked all the time, how I found out about salicylate sensitivity and what symptoms I had before. This video covers my former symptoms including nightmares (night terrors), IBS, migraines, chronic fatigue, anaphylaxis, and dystonia. Then how NEW symptoms started like heart palpitations and hot flashes while on a “standard” ketogenic diet and made worse by going keto and dairy-free (almonds and coconut are high in sals). And now, how much better things are since going on a low-salicylate diet with tips on how to get started.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8G7hVeBTsnY

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Buying make-up with food and chemical allergies can be daunting, to say the least. While there are websites out there to warn consumers of dangerous ingredients, “safe” ingredients like coconut oil and aloe can be dangerous to those with salicylate sensitivity/intolerance.

Fortunately, some cosmetics are really simple to make with just a few ingredients and tools. Blush was one of the first make-ups I made and is quite simple to make. Before I realized I was salicylate sensitive, I made natural blush with ingredients like beetroot powder and hibiscus powder! No wonder I had a reaction since these are very high in sals!