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pawpaw

pawpaw

Fruit

Is pawpaw high in glutamates?

Glutamates status
Safe

Find out whether pawpaw is high or low in glutamates, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.

Sensitivity notes

Why glutamates food checker matters

Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.

  • MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
  • Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
  • Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates

Triggers

HistamineSafe
Histamine LiberatorsLow
FODMAPsSafe
FructansSafe
GOSSafe
FructoseLow
PolyolsSafe
GlutenSafe
LactoseSafe
Dairy ProteinsSafe
NightshadesSafe
SalicylatesLow
OxalatesSafe
NickelSafe
SulfitesSafe
NitritesSafe
GlutamatesSafe
TyramineSafe
CaffeineSafe
LectinSafe
Low FermentationSafe

Diets

GlutenFit
InflammationFit
VeganFit
VegetarianFit
Paleo AIPFit
MediterraneanFit
DASH DietFit
EoE CompatibleFit
FODMAPsFit
Low FermentationFit
Priority ingredient notes

Serving size, prep, and portion notes for pawpaw

Start with the name, because it decides everything else. In North America pawpaw means Asimina triloba, the largest fruit native to the United States: a stubby green pod with custardy yellow flesh that tastes of banana, mango and vanilla, in season for a few weeks in autumn and too fragile to ship. In Australia, the UK and much of Africa and the Caribbean, pawpaw is the everyday word for papaya, which is a completely unrelated fruit with its own page and a very different trigger profile. This page is about Asimina. Its FODMAP row is genuinely good news and sets it apart from its relatives: A for total FODMAPs, fructans, GOS and polyols, with only a mild B for excess fructose, so it grades low FODMAP where cherimoya grades E and sugar apple grades D. It is also A for histamine content, tyramine, oxalates, nickel, gluten, lactose, dairy protein, free glutamates, sulfites, nitrites and nightshades. The caution is the family one. Pawpaw is an Annonaceae, the same family as cherimoya, sugar apple, atemoya and soursop, and like them it produces annonaceous acetogenins including annonacin, concentrated overwhelmingly in the seeds, skin and twigs rather than the pulp. Do not eat the seeds or the skin, and never blend a pawpaw whole.

Watch for

Never eat the seeds or the skin, and never put a whole pawpaw through a blender or food processor. The acetogenins that give the Annonaceae their seed warning are concentrated in exactly those parts, and pawpaw twigs are a commercial source of acetogenin extract. Scoop the pulp off the large brown seeds and discard them intact / Some people get a straightforward gastrointestinal reaction to pawpaw itself: nausea, cramping, vomiting or diarrhoea within hours, even from a small amount. It is well known enough among growers to be one of the reasons the fruit never went commercial, and it is not a FODMAP effect. If pawpaw has done this to you once, it is not a fruit to keep retrying / Handling the fruit and skin in quantity has been reported to cause contact dermatitis in pickers and processors. Relevant if you are peeling a crate of it rather than eating one / Annonacin has been measured in Annonaceae fruit pulp, and the epidemiological signal linking heavy habitual Annona consumption to atypical parkinsonism comes from populations in Guadeloupe eating soursop fruit and leaf teas near daily over years. No equivalent finding has been published for pawpaw. The proportionate reading is to enjoy pawpaw as the short seasonal treat it is rather than turning it into a daily smoothie habit / Overripe pawpaw goes from custardy to fermented very quickly. The fruit grades A for histamine, but flesh that has turned dark, sharp or yeasty is a different food and worth skipping if amines are your issue

Learn More

Glutamates Guide

Everything you need to know about glutamates sensitivity and smart food choices.

Glutamates, including MSG, are flavor enhancers found naturally in many foods and added to others. Some people report sensitivity causing headaches, flushing, or other symptoms, though research on 'MSG syndrome' is mixed.

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 Glutamates sensitivity:

View all safe options

These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:

These foods are high in glutamates and may trigger symptoms:

View full list

If you're sensitive to Glutamates, consider these strategies:

  • 1MSG goes by many names - look for 'glutamate' on labels
  • 2Naturally high in soy sauce, fish sauce, and aged cheeses
  • 3Tomatoes and mushrooms are naturally high in glutamates
  • 4Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins contain glutamates
  • 5Fresh, unprocessed foods are generally lower

Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.

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FAQ

Is pawpaw high in Glutamates?

Glutamates: low signal for most people.

Can I still eat pawpaw if I'm sensitive to Glutamates?

Usually fine in normal portions.

What else should I check?

Check Histamine Liberators, Fructose, and Salicylates next for a fuller picture.