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lemongrass
Herbs & Spices
Is lemongrass high in polyols?
Is lemongrass 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 lemongrass 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 lemongrass contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where lemongrass fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about lemongrass
Despite the name, lemongrass is not a citrus and contains no lemon. It is a tropical grass, and the lemony aroma comes from citral, a compound it happens to share with lemon peel. That distinction is worth stating clearly, because people avoiding citrus often cut lemongrass out of Thai and Vietnamese cooking for no reason. The grades back that up: histamine A, and only a mild liberator at B, where lemon and lime are strong histamine liberators. It is also clean on FODMAPs, fructans, gluten, lactose, dairy protein, nightshade, nickel, sulfite, glutamates, lectins and SIBO fermentation, and it is anti-inflammatory friendly and AIP compliant. The one honest caveat is salicylate at C, the moderate level typical of aromatic herbs, with oxalate a mild B alongside it.
Watch for
- Salicylate C is the only meaningful grade.Aromatic plants concentrate salicylates, and lemongrass is no exception, though a bruised stalk simmered in a broth and then lifted out is a much smaller dose than a paste with the stalk blended in
- It is not citrus, so avoiding it as part of a citrus elimination is a wasted restriction.There is no citric acid and none of the citrus proteins involved in true citrus reactions
- The dish is usually the trigger, not the stalk.Recipes that call for lemongrass almost always carry garlic, shallot, fish sauce or shrimp paste too, and those are far higher on FODMAP, histamine and glutamate than the herb is
- Form changes the dose sharply.A whole stalk is a flavouring you remove before eating, a curry paste means you eat all of it, and lemongrass tea or essential oil is more concentrated again
- Oxalate B is mild and only relevant if you are counting oxalate strictly and drinking lemongrass tea regularly rather than cooking with a stalk
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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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Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is lemongrass high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat lemongrass if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Salicylates, Low Salicylate, and Histamine Liberators next for a fuller picture.