Get the Benefits of Aspirin From the Foods You Eat
You would never consider crumbling an aspirin on top of your ice cream or onto your toothbrush. What about swirling one into your pudding or dissolving one in your soda? Sound unappetizing? DonÕt worry ... no one is recommending you do any of these things. You can, however, get the same heart benefits of aspirin from the foods you eat.
It started back in the 1950s, when shipping and food storage methods began to improve. As a result, perishable fruits such as oranges, cherries, and berries became more widely available year-round throughout the United States. About the same time, doctors began to see fewer deaths from heart disease.
But it wasnÕt until the last decade that scientists put these two events together and came up with a heart-healthy link. The same substance, salicylic acid, that is the active part of acetyl-salicylic acid or aspirin, also occurs naturally in many foods.
Aspirin is quite good at controlling blood clots by keeping platelets from clumping for their entire life span, about 10 days. The salicylates in foods are not as powerful and their effects are more temporary. But itÕs easy to take in a small, steady supply of salicylates through the foods you eat.
Although fresh foods are the best choice because they contain all kinds of important nutrients, you can get salicylates from other foods, too. Manufacturers have been using them for flavoring, aroma, and as preservatives in hundreds of processed foods for about 30 years. These are called synthetic salicylates, and they can be beneficial for your heart, as well.
Foods with natural salicylates
* Apricots
* Cantaloupes
* Dates
* Grapes
* Oranges
* Pineapple
* Raisins
* Raspberries
Processed foods with synthetic salicylates
* Ice cream
* Gelatin
* Pudding
* Chewing gum
* Syrup
* Candy
* Beverages
* Baked goods
Dried herbs high in salicylates
* Thyme
* Paprika
* Garam masala
* Cumin
* Dill
* Oregano
* Turmeric
* Curry powder
Common flavorings with synthetic salicylates
* Fruit (peach, grape, etc.)
* Mint
* Wintergreen
* Caramel
* Butter
* Cinnamon
* Nut
* Root beer
* Vanilla
Researchers think you could be eating anywhere from 10 to 220 mg of salicylates every day, from those occurring naturally in some foods and the synthetic type added to processed foods and flavorings.
A word of caution
Some people are particularly sensitive to salicylates and can have reactions ranging from nausea and dizziness to hives, internal bleeding, and hyperventilation. If you know you are aspirin-sensitive, talk to your doctor before beginning aspirin therapy. You may even need to go through an "elimination diet," a program that gradually eliminates foods containing salicylates.
© FCA Publishing
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