rum
Beverages
Is rum high in polyols?
Is rum 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 rum 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 rum contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where rum fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about rum
Rum is distilled from molasses or fresh cane juice, so it starts out grain free and comes off the still clean: our grades put it at A for gluten and A across every FODMAP column, and at B for sulfites even though the molasses it is made from grades sulfite D. The interesting part of rum is what happens after the still, not during it. White rum is close to a neutral spirit, while dark, aged and spiced rums get sugar, caramel colouring (E150) and whole spice blends added back in, plus cask congeners from ageing. Those additions are things distillation had already removed. Rum grades C for histamine, B for tyramine, B for salicylates and D for low fermentation SIBO, and like any spirit the ethanol itself slows DAO, the enzyme that clears dietary histamine.
Watch for
- Spiced and dark rums are the ones to log carefully: sweetened rums can carry tens of grams of added sugar per litre, and the spice blends lean on cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, which grade salicylate D in our data even though the spirit itself is only B
- Caramel colouring is standard in dark rum and is added purely for colour, so a bottle that looks aged may simply be tinted rather than long matured
- Histamine grades C, and the alcohol blocks the DAO enzyme, so a rum can hit harder than its own histamine number suggests if you already ate something histamine rich
- Low fermentation SIBO grades D and anti inflammatory grades E, which is the usual alcohol penalty rather than anything specific to cane spirit
- The mixer often outweighs the rum.Lime is a histamine liberator at grade D in our data, and cola or fruit juice adds a fructose load the spirit does not have
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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 rum high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat rum if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Alcohol, AIP, and Reflux Diet next for a fuller picture.