One of the cornerstones of an eczema diet is to consumer low-chemical foods.
For context, despite the factory-feeling of the term “chemicals,” food chemicals are found in nature with salicylates being one of the major culprits in triggering potential eczema outbreaks.
The salicylates food guide is broken into two major food groups: vegetables and fruits. Then categorized by salicylate potency: low, medium and high, very high.
- (NS) means no low or negligible amounts of salicylates
- (A) means amines potency
- (G) means MSG potency
Salicylates Food Guide
Vegetables
| Low | Medium | High | Very High |
| White potato | Asparagus | Alfafa | Avocado (A) |
| Iceberg lettuce | Beetroot | Artichoke | Basil |
| Bamboo shoots | Bok choy | Avocado, just ripe (A) | Broadbeans (A) |
| Bean shoots | Carrot | Broccoli (A) (G) | Capsicum |
| Brussel sprouts | Cucumber, peeled | Cauliflower (A) | Chicory |
| Cabbage | Kumara | Corn (G) | Chili |
| Celery | Lettuce | Cucumber | Choy sum (A) |
| Chives | Marrow | Endive | Eggplant (A) |
| Choko | Parsnip | Fennel | Mustard greens |
| Garlic | Green Peas (NS) | Gai lan (A) (G) | Herbs & spices |
| Leek | Peas | Parsley | Chinese spinach (A) (G) |
| Mungbean sprouts | Potato | Pumpkin | Olives (A) |
| Onion | Pumpkin, butternut, squash | Radicchio, butternut, squash (A) | Onion |
| Swede | Sweet potato | Radish | Pickled veggies (A) (G) |
| Turnip | Rocket (A) | Mint | |
| Zucchini, peeled | Snow pea sprouts | Mushrooms (A) (G) | |
| Spring onion | Sauerkraut (A) (G) | ||
| Tomato (A) (G) | Seaweed (A) (G) | ||
| Water chestnut | Spinach (A) (G) | ||
| Watercress | Tomato (A) (G) | ||
| Zucchini | Truffles (A) (G) | ||
| Veggie drinks, powder (A) (G) |
Fruits
| Low | Medium | High | Very High |
| Pears, peeled, ripe | Apple, peeled, ripe: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious | Apple, peeled: Bonza, Fuji, Gala, Granny Smith, Jonathan, Pink Lady, Sundowner | Avocado, soft (A) |
| Loquat | Apricot | Berries: blackberries, boysenberries, cranberry, raspberry (A) | |
| Pear | Avocado, just ripe | Blackcurrant (A) | |
| Nashi pear | Banana, ripe (NS) | Cherry (A) | |
| Banana, just ripe (NS) | Berries: blueberry, mulberry | Citrus (A) | |
| Custard apple (A) | Date (A) | ||
| Dragon fruit | Dried apple, apricot, peach | ||
| Durian | Dried banana, pawpaw (NS) | ||
| Feijoa (A) | Dried currants, dates, figs, mango (A) | ||
| Fig (A) | Dried prunes, raisins, sultanas (A) (G) | ||
| Guava | Fruit confectionery (A) (G) | ||
| Grape, peeled (A) (G) | Fruit flavours, jams, jellies (A) (G) | ||
| Jackfruit | Grapes (A) (G) | ||
| Longan | Kiwi fruit (A) | ||
| Lychee | Passionfruit (A) | ||
| Mango (A) | Pineapple (A) | ||
| Nectarine | Plum (A) (G) | ||
| Papaya (NS) | Redcurrant (A) | ||
| Pawpaw (NS) | Strawberry | ||
| Peach | Tomato, dried, paste, sauce (A) (G) | ||
| Persimmon | |||
| Pomegranate | |||
| Rambutan | |||
| Rhubarb | |||
| Rockmelon | |||
| Starfruit | |||
| Tamarillo | |||
| Watermelon |
Note: While a low-chemical diet is essential, consuming less salicylates alone is not enough. An effective dietary protocol must be integrated and comprehensive.
Please read this article for an effective eczema diet breakdown.