27 Foods that Contain Natural Aspirin

When most people experience headaches, joint pain, or other aches in their body, they turn to aspirin or another anti-inflammatory drug.

Aspirin was originally derived from the herbs meadowsweet and willow bark and later synthesized by the pharmaceutical industry to create a patentable product, which they do to increase profits. When natural compounds are synthesized in a laboratory and then marketed as drugs, they typically cause side-effects that the food and herb sources do not usually cause.

Unfortunately the list of side-effects on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (also called NSAIDs) is lengthy and not worth the risk for most people.  It ranges from gastrointestinal irritation to death.  Fortunately, there are many foods that contain salicylates or salicylic acid, which is the active ingredient in aspirin.

Before you pop that pill, consider the many fruits, vegetables, and herbs that contain natural aspirin:

Apples
Avocados
Blueberries
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Cherries
Chili peppers
Cucumbers
Currants (including dried currants)
Dates
Eggplant
Figs
Grapefruit
Grapes
Kiwi
Licorice (the herb, not the candy)
Meadowsweet (an herb)
Paprika
Peaches
Plums and prunes
Radishes
Raspberries
Spinach
Strawberries
Turmeric (the spice)
Willow bark
Zucchini