hearts of palm
Vegetables
Is hearts of palm high in polyols?
Find out whether hearts of palm 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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Compare hearts of palm 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 hearts of palm
Hearts of palm are the tender inner core of a palm stem, sold almost entirely canned or jarred in brine. They are one of the quietest things in the pantry on trigger grades: low FODMAP across fructans, GOS, fructose and polyols, no histamine and no histamine liberator flag, no salicylate, gluten, lactose, nightshade, sulfite, nitrite or free glutamate reading. Oxalate and nickel are the two moderates. Because they arrive in a can, people assume the usual canned food problems apply, and mostly they do not: the pack is acidified brine, not fermentation, so this is not an aged or histamine building food. The real caveat is sodium in the liquid, which rinsing solves. The other thing worth knowing is upstream of your plate: single stemmed wild palms are killed to harvest the heart, while farmed multi stemmed peach palm regrows and is the sustainable source.
Watch for
The brine is the variable, not the vegetable. Around half a cup of canned hearts carries roughly 300mg of sodium, so drain and rinse if you are tracking blood pressure, fluid retention or reflux. / Oxalate rates moderate. Nowhere near spinach territory, but hearts of palm are usually eaten as a bulk salad component rather than a garnish, so count them if you are building a genuinely low oxalate day. / Nickel rates moderate, which only matters for systemic nickel allergy. Acidic canned foods in general are worth watching in that context because the contents sit against metal for months. / No histamine or histamine liberator flag, so canned does not mean high histamine here. What does matter is what happens after opening: move leftovers out of the can and use them within a few days, the same rule as any opened canned vegetable. / No sulfite flag on the grades, and the usual pack is water, salt and citric acid, but marinated or flavoured versions add their own ingredients. Read the jar rather than assuming the plain profile carries over.
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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 hearts of palm high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat hearts of palm if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Oxalates, Nickel, and Histamine next for a fuller picture.