bonito
Seafood
Is bonito high in polyols?
Find out whether bonito 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 bonito
Bonito, sold as katsuobushi, is skipjack tuna that has been simmered, smoked over weeks, fermented with mould and dried to something close to hardwood before being shaved into paper thin flakes. Every one of those steps builds histamine, and the grades reflect it: bonito is high in histamine, high in free glutamate and moderate for tyramine. That combination explains a reaction pattern people find baffling, because a bowl of clear Japanese soup looks like the blandest thing on the menu while being one of the more concentrated amine and umami hits in the kitchen. Skipjack is also a scombroid species, the family most associated with histamine formation in fish. Outside the amines it is a genuinely clean food: no FODMAPs, no gluten, no lactose, no nightshade, and it grades strongly anti inflammatory.
Watch for
High histamine. Smoked, fermented, dried and from a scombroid fish, so bonito ticks every box that raises histamine, and even a small pinch of flakes carries it because the product is essentially dehydrated / High free glutamate. Bonito is the savoury backbone of dashi and the classic dietary source of inosinate, which multiplies the umami effect, so it can provoke the same headache and flushing pattern people associate with added MSG / Moderate tyramine, which matters if you are on an MAOI or track migraine triggers alongside histamine / Dashi is not vegetarian, and this surprises people constantly. Unless a broth is specifically kelp only, miso soup, noodle broths, savoury custards and most Japanese dressings contain fish / Instant dashi granules and mentsuyu concentrates usually stack added glutamate and soy or wheat derived ingredients on top of the bonito, so the packet version is a different exposure from the flakes
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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 bonito high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat bonito if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Vegan, Vegetarian, and EoE Compatible next for a fuller picture.