acorn nuts
Nuts & Seeds
Is acorn nuts high in polyols?
Find out whether acorn nuts is high or low in polyols, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
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Sensitivity notes
Why polyols food checker matters
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
- Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
Triggers
Diets
Serving size, prep, and portion notes for acorn nuts
Acorns are one of the very few foods you cannot simply eat off the tree. Raw acorn is loaded with bitter tannins, which is why every traditional acorn food (Korean dotorimuk jelly, dotori guksu noodles, Native American acorn flour) begins by leaching those tannins out in water. Once leached, the trigger profile becomes a straightforward nut profile: acorns are high in nickel and high in lectins, borderline on salicylates, oxalate and FODMAPs, and only mildly anti-inflammatory despite the antioxidant reputation oak nuts have picked up online.
Watch for
Unleached acorn is the real hazard, and it is chemistry rather than allergy. The tannins are astringent enough to irritate the gut lining and commonly cause nausea and stomach cramping, so anything you eat should have been leached or bought as processed acorn starch / High in nickel. Nuts and seeds are among the largest dietary nickel contributors, and milling acorns into flour concentrates the kernel, so acorn noodles are a bigger nickel load than the portion size suggests / High in lectins, which is worth knowing if under-processed nut flours are already a pattern for you. Cooking and the leaching step both help, but the raw kernel is the worst version / Moderate for FODMAPs and for SIBO, so a full bowl of acorn noodles behaves differently from a small side of acorn jelly. Log the portion, not just the food / Borderline on both salicylates and oxalate. Neither is high enough to lead with, but if either is already one of your patterns, acorn belongs on the watch list rather than the safe list
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Polyols Guide
Everything you need to know about polyols sensitivity and smart food choices.
Polyols (sugar alcohols) are found naturally in some fruits and vegetables, and are used as artificial sweeteners. They're poorly absorbed and can cause digestive symptoms, especially in IBS sufferers.
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 Polyols sensitivity:
View all safe options
These foods have moderate levels and may be tolerated in small amounts:
These foods are high in polyols and may trigger symptoms:
View full list
If you're sensitive to Polyols, consider these strategies:
- 1Avoid sugar-free products with sorbitol, mannitol, xylitol, maltitol
- 2Stone fruits are naturally high in polyols
- 3Cooking doesn't reduce polyol content
- 4Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- 5Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
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 acorn nuts high in Polyols?
Polyols: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.
Can I still eat acorn nuts if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.
What else should I check?
Check Paleo AIP, Nickel, and Lectin next for a fuller picture.