cloves
Herbs & Spices
Is cloves high in gos?
Is cloves high or low in gos? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
Related checkers
Compare cloves across criteria
Sensitivity notes
Why gos food checker matters
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates found mainly in legumes and some vegetables. They're a FODMAP that can ferment in the gut, causing bloating and discomfort in sensitive people.
- Canned and rinsed legumes are lower in GOS than dried
- Start with smaller portions and build up tolerance
- Some people find beano-type enzymes helpful
- Firm tofu is lower in GOS than silken tofu
- Sprouted legumes may be better tolerated
Sensitivities
What cloves contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where cloves fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about cloves
Cloves are essentially a delivery system for eugenol, which makes up the overwhelming majority of the essential oil and gives clove its numbing, medicinal bite. That density is why clove sits in the very high band on salicylate elimination lists when compared gram for gram against other foods, and yet our practical rating for cloves is moderate rather than high, because nobody eats them by the gram. Three cloves in a pot of stew or a pinch in a spice mix is a real but small exposure. Clove oil, taken neat, is a completely different quantity of the same compound.
Watch for
- Moderate salicylates in the amounts people actually cook with, but the concentration by weight is extreme, so a heavily cloved mulled wine, chai or spice rub is a much bigger hit than a single stuck-in-an-onion clove
- Clove oil is not the same exposure as ground clove.Concentrated eugenol is a mucosal irritant, and swallowed in quantity it is genuinely toxic, which is why dental use is a drop on a cotton bud and not a spoonful
- Eugenol is a recognised contact allergen and appears in fragrance patch-test panels, so mouth and lip reactions to clove-flavoured toothpaste or mouthwash are a documented pattern that has nothing to do with digesting food
- Mild ratings on free glutamates, oxalates and histamine liberation, and clean on histamine content, gluten, FODMAPs, lactose, nickel and sulfites
Explore related in Herbs & Spices
Compare similar foods to build a personalized list of swaps that work for your system.
GOS Guide
Everything you need to know about gos sensitivity and smart food choices.
Galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS) are carbohydrates found mainly in legumes and some vegetables. They're a FODMAP that can ferment in the gut, causing bloating and discomfort in sensitive people.
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 GOS sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in gos and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to GOS, consider these strategies:
- 1Canned and rinsed legumes are lower in GOS than dried
- 2Start with smaller portions and build up tolerance
- 3Some people find beano-type enzymes helpful
- 4Firm tofu is lower in GOS than silken tofu
- 5Sprouted legumes may be better tolerated
Pro tip: Keep a food diary to track your reactions. The Triggerbites app makes this easy with automatic pattern detection.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is cloves high in GOS?
GOS: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat cloves if I'm sensitive to GOS?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Salicylates, Low Salicylate, and Histamine Liberators next for a fuller picture.