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Overview

About Pomegranate

Pomegranate arils are one of the more anti-inflammatory fruits you can eat, rich in polyphenols, yet they are high FODMAP because of excess fructose.

That is the catch: the same jewel-like seeds that are so good for you can bloat or loosen a sensitive gut once you get past a small handful. They also carry a moderate salicylate load, so a big bowl is not a free pass for everyone.

Sensitivities

How Pomegranate scores

Watch for

What trips people up

  • High in excess fructose, which is the main reason pomegranate reads as high FODMAP and can trigger bloating, gas or diarrhea in larger portions
  • Moderate salicylate content, worth noting if you already react to aspirin or other salicylate-rich foods
  • Strongly anti-inflammatory and low in histamine, so the problem is almost always the fructose load rather than the fruit itself

Diet fit

Where it fits

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FAQ

Common questions about Pomegranate

Is pomegranate low FODMAP?

Not in typical amounts. Pomegranate arils are high in excess fructose, which pushes them into the high FODMAP range. A very small scattering of seeds may be tolerated, but a full bowl commonly causes bloating or diarrhea in people with IBS.

Pomegranate is healthy, so why does it upset my stomach?

The gut symptoms are not a sign the fruit is bad for you. Pomegranate is packed with anti-inflammatory polyphenols, but it also contains more fructose than glucose. That fructose excess is poorly absorbed by some people and ferments in the gut, which is what causes the bloating and looser stools.

References

Read the background

Ratings reflect the Triggerbites ingredient database and may vary with portion size and preparation.