anise
Herbs & Spices
Is anise high in polyols?
Find out whether anise is high or low in polyols, see its exact rating, and check its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility all in one place.
Related checkers
Compare anise across criteria
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 anise
Anise, more precisely aniseed, is the seed of Pimpinella anisum, and it is graded E for salicylates: the top of the scale. Aromatic seeds concentrate a lot of plant chemistry into very little weight, and aniseed is one of the densest salicylate sources in an ordinary spice rack. Nickel sits at C, moderate. The other half of the story is the naming. Aniseed is not star anise, which is the fruit of Illicium verum from an unrelated plant family, and it is not fennel, although all three taste of liquorice because they share the aroma compound anethole. That shared taste is why they get substituted for one another in recipes and confused in a trigger log. Beyond salicylate, aniseed is quiet: FODMAPs A, histamine A, gluten A, glutamates A, sulfite A, tyramine A, lactose A.
Watch for
Salicylate E, the highest band. If you are running an RPAH or failsafe style elimination, aniseed is a spice to remove entirely rather than to portion down, and it is easy to overlook because the amounts look tiny / Nickel C, moderate. Worth noting if you are trialling a low-nickel diet for systemic nickel allergy, since seeds and spices sit in the middle of that range rather than the bottom / The label word "anise" is ambiguous. It can mean aniseed, star anise, or an anise-flavoured extract or oil, and star anise is graded separately here. Recording which one you actually ate is the difference between a usable pattern and noise / Anise-flavoured spirits carry the load in liquid form. Ouzo, pastis, sambuca, raki and absinthe are flavoured with anise or star anise, so an evening reaction may be salicylate plus alcohol rather than either alone / Much liquorice confectionery is flavoured with anise oil rather than liquorice root, so people avoiding liquorice for other reasons may still be meeting aniseed
Explore related in Herbs & Spices
Compare similar foods to build a personalized list of swaps that work for your system.
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.
Want personalized tracking?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is anise high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat anise if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Salicylates, Nickel, and Inflammation next for a fuller picture.