MCAS & Salicylate Safety Reference
Quick reference for ingredient safety across the household’s dietary needs.
Ingredient Safety Matrix
| Ingredient | MCAS Safe | Low Salicylate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iodized salt | ✅ | ✅ | No concerns |
| Potassium chloride | ✅ | ✅ | No concerns |
| Magnesium glycinate | ✅ | ✅ | No concerns |
| Ascorbic acid | ✅ | ✅ | Synthetic, not from citrus |
| Dextrose | ✅ | ✅ | Pure glucose |
| L-Theanine | ✅ | ✅ | Amino acid from tea, but isolated form is safe |
| Creatine monohydrate | ✅ | ✅ | Actively supports histamine metabolism |
| Maple syrup | ✅ | ✅ | Sara’s flavor add-in |
| Lime powder | ⚠️ Chris only | ❌ Sara avoid | Citrus = histamine liberator for some |
| Ginger powder | ✅ | ❌ Sara avoid | High salicylate |
| Mint powder | ✅ | ❌ Sara avoid | Moderate-high salicylate |
| Quercetin drops | ✅ | ✅ | Elderberry component — monitor |
Fruits — MCAS + Salicylate Combined Safety
Safe for Both (negligible/low on both scales)
- Peeled pear
- Banana (some MCAS lists flag as histamine liberator — test individually)
- Golden/peeled apple
MCAS Safe but High Salicylate (Chris OK, Sara avoid)
- Blueberry
- Cherry
- Blackberry
- Watermelon
- Most berries
High Histamine / Histamine Liberator (avoid for MCAS)
- Strawberry (histamine liberator)
- Citrus (histamine liberator)
- Tomato
- Avocado
- Pineapple
- Papaya
High Salicylate (Sara avoid)
- All berries
- Ginger, mint, most spices
- Honey
- Most dried fruits (concentrated)
Key Avoidances
Manufactured Citric Acid
Produced via Aspergillus niger (mold) fermentation. Common in commercial electrolyte drinks and “crystallized” citrus products (like True Lime). Some MCAS patients who react to manufactured citric acid tolerate naturally-occurring citric acid in whole fruits fine.
Chocolate/Cocoa
- Dark chocolate: histamine liberator + DAO blocker + moderate salicylate
- Milk chocolate: variable histamine, contains dairy
- White chocolate (cocoa butter only): generally tolerated for MCAS, but still contains salicylates
- Carob: sometimes suggested as substitute, but moderate salicylate
”Natural Flavors”
Black box ingredient — could be anything. Impossible to isolate triggers. Avoid in all products when possible.