chimichurri
Condiments & Sauces
Is chimichurri high in polyols?
Is chimichurri high or low in polyols? See its exact rating, how much counts as a portion, and its FODMAP, salicylate, oxalate and diet compatibility in one place.
Related checkers
Compare chimichurri 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
- Avocado portion size matters - small amounts may be fine
- Cauliflower and mushrooms are common triggers
Sensitivities
What chimichurri contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where chimichurri fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about chimichurri
Chimichurri is the honest answer to "what is a cleaner steak sauce", and mostly it lives up to that. It is just parsley, oregano, raw garlic, vinegar, olive oil and a pinch of chili, so it carries no gluten, no dairy, no lactose, no added sugar and clean grades for oxalate and nickel, which is more than can be said for creamy peppercorn, barbecue or sweet steak glazes. The catch is the garlic. It goes in raw and uncooked in real quantity, and that pushes chimichurri to a high fructan and FODMAP grade despite the sauce being fresh and unprocessed. There is a second, quieter issue: parsley and oregano are two of the most salicylate-dense herbs in a kitchen, so a spoonful of chimichurri concentrates more salicylate than the same spoonful of almost any other green sauce. Fresh and clean is not the same as low-trigger.
Watch for
- High fructan and high FODMAP grade, driven almost entirely by raw garlic.Nothing about the sauce is cooked, so the fructans are never diluted or driven off, and a tablespoon over steak is a meaningful dose
- Moderate salicylate grade from the herb bill.Parsley and oregano are both salicylate-rich, and chimichurri packs them in far denser than a garnish would
- Moderate histamine liberator grade with mild histamine and tyramine ratings on top, mostly from the red wine vinegar.Homemade chimichurri that has been maturing in the fridge for a week is a different proposition from one made an hour ago
- Poor SIBO grade, so if your bloating starts within an hour of the meal rather than overnight, the sauce is worth suspecting alongside the meal itself
- Mild nightshade and sulfite grades from the chili flakes and the vinegar respectively.Low for most people, but worth logging if you already react to both
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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.
Want personalized tracking?
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Get the AppFAQ
Is chimichurri high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat chimichurri if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Jain, Buddhist Vegetarian, and FODMAPs next for a fuller picture.