ras el hanout
Herbs & Spices
Is ras el hanout high in glutamates?
Is ras el hanout high or low in glutamates? 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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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
- Yeast extract and hydrolyzed proteins contain glutamates
- Fresh, unprocessed foods are generally lower
Sensitivities
What ras el hanout contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where ras el hanout fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about ras el hanout
Ras el hanout is the North African house blend whose name translates roughly as head of the shop, meaning the best a spice merchant has to offer. That is also why it is difficult to grade: there is no standard recipe, and a jar can run from a tidy dozen spices to more than thirty, taking in cinnamon, cumin, coriander, ginger, cardamom, nutmeg, mace, cloves, dried rose petals and, in most commercial versions, chilli or paprika. We grade it D for salicylates, and the blend is exactly why. No single spice in there is the culprit; the salicylate load is cumulative, and a spoonful of ras el hanout delivers what would otherwise be five or six separate additions. Nightshade comes in at C, entirely down to the chilli and paprika that many but not all blends include. Beyond those two the picture is reassuring: gluten A, lactose A, FODMAPs A, histamine A, nickel A, sulfite A, with oxalate and free glutamate both sitting at B. If a Moroccan tagine or a spiced roast leaves you flushed or itchy and the meat and vegetables have already been cleared, the blend is the ingredient to isolate.
Watch for
- Salicylate D, and it is the blending that gets it there.Any one of these spices might be manageable alone, but a heaped teaspoon of the mix stacks a dozen aromatic sources into one dose
- Nightshade C from the chilli or paprika most commercial blends carry.Some traditional versions contain none at all, so this grade depends on the jar in front of you
- The recipe is not standardised anywhere.Two jars from different vendors can differ by twenty ingredients, which means a blend you tolerated once may not behave the same way next time
- Read the ingredient list for garlic powder and onion powder.The classic blend is graded A on fructans, but supermarket versions frequently add both, which quietly turns a low FODMAP seasoning into a high one
- Oxalate B and free glutamate B, both minor on their own, though the salt content of pre mixed blends is often substantial and unlisted per serving
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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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Get the AppFAQ
Is ras el hanout high in Glutamates?
Glutamates: moderate signal - portion size matters.
Can I still eat ras el hanout if I'm sensitive to Glutamates?
Try smaller portions and space it out.
What else should I check?
Check AIP, Salicylates, and Low Salicylate next for a fuller picture.