Basil
Basil: low in histamine and salicylate. If you're sensitive to any of these, check it against your profile before eating.
Intolerances
- Histamine (+liberators / DAO inhibitors)Low
Basil contains no histamine. Pesto is the exception that makes the point: basil is the one herb eaten as a portion rather than as a seasoning, and a leaf is still water and fibre rather than protein. Herbs are among the few things on this axis that can be used freely, and what SIGHI publishes for them is a compatibility rating rather than a content.
Sources· 1
- SIGHI — Swiss Interest Group Histamine Intolerance, food-compatibility list, for the entry, its rating and its letters
- SalicylateLow
Fresh basil leaf is low in salicylate. Dried basil is a different food: drying takes the water out and leaves the salicylate behind, and a measurement of culinary herbs by RP-HPLC found its highest concentrations in dried basil and cumin, ahead of dried oregano and cloves. A teaspoon of the dried herb is therefore not the handful of fresh leaves.
Sources· 1
- Gajewska D., Kęszycka P.K. & Szkop M., Food & Function 10 (2019) 7037–7041, salicylate content of culinary herbs and spices by RP-HPLC with fluorescence detection — a ranking of the herbs it measured, not a figure per 100 g
- TyramineNone
- SucroseNone
- FODMAPsNone
- LactoseFODMAPsNone
- OligosaccharidesFODMAPsNone
- SorbitolFODMAPsNone
- FructoseFODMAPsNone
- NickelNone
- OxalatesNone
- GlutenNo
Intolerance levels are based on our documented scientific sources. See sources →
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Frequently asked questions
Which intolerances does basil affect?
Basil is notable for histamine and salicylate. Clear on tyramine, sucrose, FODMAPs, lactose, oligosaccharides, sorbitol, fructose, nickel, oxalates and gluten.
Does basil contain histamine?
Basil contains only low levels of histamine. Basil contains no histamine. Pesto is the exception that makes the point: basil is the one herb eaten as a portion rather than as a seasoning, and a leaf is still water and fibre rather than protein. Herbs are among the few things on this axis that can be used freely, and what SIGHI publishes for them is a compatibility rating rather than a content.
Does basil contain salicylate?
Basil contains only low levels of salicylate. Fresh basil leaf is low in salicylate. Dried basil is a different food: drying takes the water out and leaves the salicylate behind, and a measurement of culinary herbs by RP-HPLC found its highest concentrations in dried basil and cumin, ahead of dried oregano and cloves. A teaspoon of the dried herb is therefore not the handful of fresh leaves. Amounts vary by brand and recipe, so always check the label of the exact product.
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