kukui nuts
Nuts & Seeds
Is kukui nuts high in polyols?
Is kukui nuts 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.
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Compare kukui nuts 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 kukui nuts contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where kukui nuts fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about kukui nuts
Kukui is the Hawaiian name for the nut of Aleurites moluccanus, the state tree of Hawaii and the same nut sold across Southeast Asia as a curry-paste thickener. The thing to know first is that raw kukui is not food. The kernel contains phorbol esters and saponins that act as a violent purgative, and Hawaiian tradition used one or two roasted nuts deliberately as a laxative. Roasted and pounded into salt it becomes inamona, the classic seasoning for poke. On the trigger grades kukui reads like other oily nuts: high in nickel, borderline for oxalate and fermentability, and otherwise low in histamine, low in lectins and rated anti-inflammatory.
Watch for
- Raw kukui is toxic, not merely unpleasant.Phorbol esters of the tigliane type are powerful cathartics, and ingesting raw kernels brings on nausea, cramping abdominal pain, vomiting and heavy diarrhoea, with dehydration and electrolyte loss if enough is eaten
- Even properly roasted, kukui stays laxative in quantity.A pinch of inamona on poke is the traditional dose. Eating them by the handful the way you would eat macadamias is where people get into trouble
- High in nickel, which is the one grade that behaves like an ordinary food trigger here and matters if you are managing systemic nickel allergy
- Borderline for oxalate and for SIBO, so it counts toward those budgets, though the portions kukui is normally eaten in are small enough that this rarely leads
- Beware weight-loss capsules and slimming teas sold as candlenut or nuez de la India.They rely on the raw nut precisely for its purgative effect and have caused serious poisoning
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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 kukui nuts high in Polyols?
Polyols: higher signal - consider smaller servings or swaps.
Can I still eat kukui nuts if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Best to avoid or test carefully with a small amount.
What else should I check?
Check AIP, Low Fibre, and Gastroparesis Diet next for a fuller picture.