Salicylate Sensitivity vs Eating Healthy

October 25, 2023October 27, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ 2 Comments

I have spent the last few months trying to figure out why my skin is sensitive to just about everything, including it appears, sunlight. Now that my garden and cottage seasons are winding down, I have more time to investigate. I’m getting desperate as my skin is still a mess, almost four months later. The prickly sensation on (just) one side of my neck is still driving me crazy, and most recently, my lips are always burning. The burn marks on my face have healed but have left (not so) lovely brown spots. Are these symptoms a result of salicylate sensitivity?

What is Salicylate and Why do Some People React to it?

You may recognize salicylate as salicylic acid, the main ingredient in the popular pain killer known as aspirin. It’s also a natural pesticide produced by plants for their protection. That explains why so many fruits, vegetables, spices, and herbs contain high levels of salicylates, while meat and (unflavoured) dairy products are salicylate-free.

According to Healthline:

Salicylate sensitivity is thought to be caused by an overproduction of leukotrienes — inflammatory mediators that have been linked to a variety of conditions, including asthma, allergic rhinitis, anaphylaxis, rheumatoid arthritis, and interstitial lung diseases
Healthline.com

Symptoms of Salicylate Sensitivity

There are lots of symptoms of salicylate sensitivity, the one that set off warning bells for me was the skin reactions I have been plagued with recently. Here are a few other symptoms:

asthma-like symptoms like wheezing or difficulty breathing
stomach pain
itching, skin rash, or hives
nasal congestion
excema
swelling of hands, feet, and face
changes in skin colour
headaches
gassiness, nausea, diarrhea
lack of energy

The Salicylate Handbook

I’ve just started reading a book by author Sharla Race titled The Salicylate Handbook; it’s fast becoming my favourite resource for all information about my possible salicylate sensitivity. You can purchase it at Amazon in Kindle or paperback format. My favourite piece of (very reassuring) information so far is this:

A key factor to remember is that it is impossible to 100% avoid all salicylates and it would be unadvisable to try. Your aim is always to reduce the level of salicylates in your body to the point at which unwanted symptoms reduce and, hopefully, completely stop. Then, the aim is to maintain the diet in such a way that symptoms do not reappear.

My Dilemma

If you follow this blog, you will know I am addicted to my morning smoothies. Over the years, I have been eating healthier (and feeling much better) after learning of my sensitivity to wheat. That discovery eliminated so many foods. Then I became aware of destructive lectins in our foods so tried to eliminate (most of) them from my diet.

So why, all of a sudden, is my skin reacting?

Well, it turns out that most of the foods I currently consume, (mainly meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, healthy fats, red wine) are all high in salicylates.

The book mentioned above explains the possibility of a buildup in my body, or more precisely, my liver. I started noticing the changes in my skin this past summer (mid-July). What I realized very recently is that I started adding rosemary, oregano and thyme as well as celery and more cucumbers to my daily concoctions this same summer. All of these (assumed to be healthy) ingredients just happen to be on the HIGH list of salicylate contents. Added to my long-time favourite ingredients, (avocado, blueberries, pineapple, and green tea) that also right up there high on the salicylate list, I may just be in salicylate overload.

Coincidence? We will see, as I slowly go through the process of revamping my smoothie recipe from scratch, starting with the food items that contain negligible amounts of salicylate. Perhaps I am over-analyzing (and slightly paranoid) but as I have not yet been able to find a new doctor since mine retired I don’t have much choice than to self-advocate and try to figure it out on my own.

I do believe that we can and should be aware of how foods affect our individual bodies. No one else can monitor our own bodies as well as we can. I also know that both the interior and exterior of my body have always been ultra-sensitive. From food and drinks to hygiene products, medicine, and makeup, I first became aware of these sensitivities when in my teens. (a few years ago)

Photo Credit: pexels-photo-2255935

Sensitivity to the Sun

August 29, 2023August 29, 2023 ~ Loreeebee ~ 4 Comments

Unfortunately, I’ve spent most of the summer trying to self-diagnose my sudden, (more than usual), sensitivity to the sun. Not a great summer-time memory to experience.

Rashes and Burns

My face in particular has suffered through several bad rashes. So bad that it appeared (looked and felt) that my skin was burned.

I’ve also experienced a prickly sensation, but no visible rash or burn, on the left side of my neck, between my jaw and my clavicle. This prickliness occurs after a mere few minutes in the sun, even with sunscreen on.

Sunscreen

I have been a huge proponent of sunscreen over the years, wearing at least 30, if not 50 SPF. I learned this the hard way, after developing brown spots on my face in the last trimester of my last pregnancy. I was told they were due to melasma, AKA pregnancy mask, a hormonal reaction. That was twenty-six years ago, and they were supposed to go away, but I have yet to find anything (topical) to remove them. Due to my uber-sensitive skin, I hesitate to try anything more drastic.

Since then, I have applied sunscreen religiously every morning, 30 SPF on cloudy/rainy days or those I don’t plan to be outdoors much. When I am planning to be outside for longer than thirty minutes, I opt for the 50 SPF.

After my first reaction, I asked the staff at my local Natural Food Pantry for a recommendation for sunscreen for sensitive skin. I purchased the So Good brand in both a cream and a stick. If your skin is sensitive, choose sunscreen that does not contain benzophenone-3, known to cause allergic reactions in some people.

I love how smoothly the So Good sunscreen applies to my skin, even though it has zinc in it (zinc is notoriously sticky to apply). I still experienced a rash and prickly neck after switching sunscreens though. I will continue to use it as I don’t believe my sunscreen was the issue causing the sensitivity to the sun. You can purchase both the 30 and 50 SPF through Amazon as well.

Face Moisturizers

My moisturizers were also suspect, even though I had not changed my routine. After the first episode, I switched to a product also recommended to me at the Natural Food Pantry to moisturize and heal my skin.

sensivity to the sun — Nature’s Aid Moisturizing Skin Gel

This moisturizing gel has worked wonders on my rashy, burned skin. I love it. You can order Nature’s Aid Moisturizing Skin Gel through Amazon if Natural Food Pantry is not convenient.

Foods That Can Cause a Sensitivity to the Sun

Research (Summahealth.org) told me there are several foods that can cause sun sensitivity, with citrus fruits at the top of the list. Other culprits include:

Celery
Parsley
Dill
Figs
Fennel

Well, it just so happens I had recently started adding celery and lemon peel to my morning smoothies, for their purported memory and anti-aging benefits, respectively. The plan is to leave the celery and lemon out for a few weeks to see if I have any more reactions.

Fingers crossed!

Allergy or Sensitivity to Onions

January 8, 2017March 1, 2022 ~ Loreeebee ~ 3 Comments

Onions do more than make me cry, but does that mean I have an allergy or sensitivity to them? The raw, uncooked, or undercooked form of onions gives me severe stomach cramps and diarrhea.

Apparently, it is the protein and sulfur present in onions that I react to. In the raw form, the protein and sulfur are intact so bother my digestive system. When onions are fried or roasted, the protein is denatured making them tolerable to my very sensitive gut.

A sensitivity to onions is much more common than a true allergy to onions. If you have a strange feeling (light-headedness, headache, itchy throat) and hives after consuming onions, you may have a rare allergy. This should be confirmed by a blood test. Consuming only cooked onions may help, but avoiding them altogether is probably best if you suspect or know you are allergic to onions. Avoid all items in the onion family as well, including garlic, leeks, shallots, etc.

Lucky for me, I do not experience any of the allergy-related symptoms mentioned above, just painful stomach cramps, indigestions, diarrhea, bloating, etc. If I consume only well-cooked onions and garlic I experience no discomfort at all.

My diagnosis? Do I have an allergy or sensitivity to onions? Looks to me like just a sensitivity. Phew, because I do like nicely browned, almost caramelized onions in many recipes.