Phenols & Salicylates

Phenols/Salicylates

Natural salicylates are found in wholesome foods, some individuals have difficulty tolerating even small amounts of them. The reaction to a natural salicylate can be severe if a person is highly sensitive. Some people are troubled by only one or two, while others are sensitive to all of them.

Addressing the need to eliminate foods high in Phenols / salicylates is usually reserved for advanced stages of GFCF dietary intervention. A minimum of 2 months providing GFCF Foods should be addressed, making sure the diet is clean of gluten and casein offending ingredients before proceeding.

Listed below are some of the symptoms that may be the result of eating highly phenolic foods. (Note: Not all of these symptoms need to be present and it is also important to note that these symptoms can also be due to autism, or other medical issues.)

• dark circles under the eyes
• red face/ears
• diarrhea
• hyperactivity
• aggression
• headache
• head banging or other self-injury
• laughing at in appropriate time (at night or when something is not funny.)
• strange rashes that appear on the body
• erratic behaviors and moods
• self stimulatory behaviors
• night walking for several hours
• have a difficult time with their stools (with constipation, diarrhea or undigested foods.)

By eliminating or greatly reducing phenols and salicylates many children on the spectrum became much happier and had fewer issues.

There is some great information on phenols from www.feingold.org.

LOW

Low Fruits

Apple (yellow)
Banana
Paw Paw
Pear
Pomegranate

Low Vegetables

Bamboo Shoot
Bean sprouts
Black-eyed peas
Brown beans
Brussel sprouts
Cabbage
Celery
Garbanzo beans
Leeks
Lentils
Lettuce
Lima beans
Mung beans
Peas
Potato
Shallots
Soybeans
Summer squash
Swede
Sweet potato

Low Grains

Arrowroot
Buckwheat
Cornmeal
Maize
Millet
Rice
Soy
Grits

Low Nuts/Seeds

Cashews
Poppy seeds

Low Animal Products

Beef
Egg
Fish
Lamb
Liver
Pork
Poultry
Shellfish

Low Other

Carob powder
Chives
Cocoa powder
Maple syrup
Milo
Parsley
Saffron
Shallots
Sugar
Chamomile tea
vodka

MODERATE

Moderate Fruits

Apples (red)
Casaba melon
Cantaloupe
Cherries (sweet)
Figs
Grapes light/seedless
Kiwi (golden)
Lemon
Loquat
Lychee
Mango
Nectarine
Passion Fruit
Persimmon
Pineapple
Tamarillo
Watermelon

Moderate Vegetables

Asparagus
Beet
Carrot
Cauliflower
Corn
Cauliflower
Cucumber (no skin)
Eggplant
Green beans
Olives (black)
Onion
Parsnip
Pumpkin
Rhubarb
Spinach
Squash (marrow)
Turnip

Moderate Nuts & Seeds

Brazil nuts
Coconut (dried)
Hazelnuts
Macadamia nuts
Pecans
Sesame seeds
Sunflower seeds
Walnuts

Moderate Other

Coriander leaves
Corn syrup
Garlic
Molasses
Tea (herbal/decaf)
Wine (rose,white)

HIGH-MODERATE

High Moderate Fruits

Apples (green)
Cherries (sour)
Grapes (red)
Grapefruit (red)
Kiwi (green)
Mandarin orange
Mulberries
Peach
Tangelo

High Moderate Vegetables

Alfalfa
Broad beans
Broccoli
Chili peppers
Cucumber (with skin)
Mushrooms
Okra
Watercress

High Moderate Nuts

Pine nuts
Pistachios

High Moderate Other

Coffee
Fennel powder
Wine (Cabernet/Riestling/Savignon

HIGH

High Fruits

Apricots
Blackberries
Blueberries
Boysenberries
Cranberries
Cranberry sauce
Currants
Dates
Guava
Loganberries
Orange
Plum
Youngberries

High Vegetables

Chicory
Endive
Peppers (red/yellow)
Mushrooms
Radishes
Tomatoes
Zucchini

High Nuts

Almonds
Peanuts
Water chestnuts

High Other

Bay leaves
Basil
Caraway
Champagne
Chili powder
Ginger root
Mint
Nutmeg
Pepper (white)
Peppermints
Pimentos
Rum
Tea (green,black)
Vanilla flavoring
Vinegar

VERY HIGH

Very High Fruits

Raisins
Prunes
Strawberries
Raspberries

Very High Vegetables

Pepper (green)
Tomato paste
Tomato sauce

Very High Other

Allspice
Cardamom
Cloves
Dill
Licorice
Paprika(sweet)
Pepper
Pickles

EXTREMELY HIGH

Aniseed
Canella powder
Cayenne
Celery powder
Cinnamon
Cumin
Curry
Dill powder
Honey
Horseradish
Mace
Mustard powder
Oregano
Paprika (hot)
Rosemary/
Sage
Tarragon
Turmeric
Thyme
Worcestershire sauce