Tag: Natural salicylic acid

Recent studies suggest that a diet rich in certain fruits and vegetables provides blood and urine concentrations of salicylic acid comparable to those in people taking a low dose of aspirin. This natural compound, a plant's defense mechanism against pests, is found in a wide variety of foods. For those seeking to increase their intake or manage a salicylate sensitivity, understanding what foods have the most salicylic acid in them is key.

Salicylates are naturally occurring plant compounds that function as plant hormones and pest defense mechanisms. This makes many common fruits, including plums, a natural source of these compounds, but the concentration varies depending on the fruit's form and ripeness.

Over 2,000 years ago, willow bark, a natural source of a salicylic acid precursor called salicin, was used for its anti-inflammatory properties. Today, a natural salicylic acid can be found in various plants, though most cosmetic versions are synthetically produced for purity and consistency.