eel
Seafood
Is eel high in fodmaps?
Is eel high or low in fodmaps? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
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Compare eel across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why fodmaps food checker matters
FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates that can cause digestive distress in sensitive individuals. They include fructose, lactose, fructans, galactans, and polyols. These sugars are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and ferment in the colon, potentially causing bloating, gas, and discomfort.
- Start with a 2-6 week elimination phase, removing all high-FODMAP foods
- Keep a detailed food and symptom diary to track your reactions
- Reintroduce one FODMAP group at a time to identify your specific triggers
- Remember that threshold varies - you may tolerate small amounts
- Work with a dietitian trained in the low-FODMAP diet for best results
Sensitivities
What eel contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where eel fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about eel
Eel is a fatty, gelatinous fish that carries moderate histamine and moderate tyramine, which puts it on the caution list for histamine intolerance and for anyone on a MAOI tyramine-restricted diet. But for most people the trigger is not the fish at all: unagi and kabayaki are glazed in a soy-and-mirin sauce, and standard soy sauce is a wheat food, a soy food, and a fermented one carrying its own histamine and tyramine load. The eel grades clean on gluten. The dish as served almost never does.
Watch for
- Unagi sauce is brewed soy sauce plus mirin and sugar.Unless it is a tamari version, that is wheat, and it stacks fermentation-derived histamine and tyramine on top of the fish
- Moderate tyramine, so eel appears on tyramine-restriction lists given with MAOI antidepressants.Smoked and jellied eel, both traditional preparations, sit higher again
- Escolar is not eel.It gets muddled with eel and butterfish on menus and in sushi cases, and its wax esters cause an oily, orange, urgent diarrhoea (keriorrhoea) that has nothing to do with any eel trigger
- Eel is never served raw.Fresh eel blood contains a heat-sensitive toxin, which is why every traditional preparation grills, steams or smokes it first
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FODMAPs Guide
Everything you need to know about fodmaps sensitivity and smart food choices.
FODMAPs are fermentable carbohydrates that can cause digestive distress in sensitive individuals. They include fructose, lactose, fructans, galactans, and polyols. These sugars are poorly absorbed in the small intestine and ferment in the colon, potentially causing bloating, gas, and discomfort.
Sensitivity varies widely. What triggers one person may be fine for another. Track your reactions to find your personal threshold.
These foods are generally well-tolerated for FODMAPs sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods are high in fodmaps and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to FODMAPs, consider these strategies:
- 1Start with a 2-6 week elimination phase, removing all high-FODMAP foods
- 2Keep a detailed food and symptom diary to track your reactions
- 3Reintroduce one FODMAP group at a time to identify your specific triggers
- 4Remember that threshold varies - you may tolerate small amounts
- 5Work with a dietitian trained in the low-FODMAP diet for best results
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
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Get the AppFAQ
Is eel high in FODMAPs?
FODMAP rating: Low FODMAP. Low FODMAP: usually easier for most people, still watch portion size.
Can I still eat eel if I'm sensitive to FODMAPs?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Fish, Vegan, and Vegetarian next for a fuller picture.