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steak
Meat
Is steak high in polyols?
Is steak 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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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 steak contains
FODMAPs
Histamine & Amines
Plant compounds
Irritants
Additives
Allergens
Diet fit
Where steak fits
Therapeutic diets
Lifestyle diets
Religious diets
What to know about steak
A fresh steak, cooked and eaten the same day, is a clean protein: low in histamine, not a histamine liberator, low salicylate and free of gluten, dairy and nickel. The trigger question people really search is about aged steak, and that is where it changes. Dry-aged and long-aged cuts develop histamine over weeks of aging, so a dry-aged ribeye is a very different food from a fresh-cut sirloin. Doneness matters too: rest a hot steak and eat it fresh, and heavily charred, well-done searing adds a bit to the inflammatory side even though it does not change the chemistry triggers.
Watch for
- Fresh steak is low histamine, but dry-aged and long-aged cuts build histamine during aging: choose fresh-cut steak over dry-aged if you are histamine sensitive
- Like all cooked meat, steak accumulates histamine as leftovers, so the reheated portion is more of a risk than the freshly grilled one
- Heavy char from very high-heat searing sits on the mildly pro-inflammatory side; a good sear with a proper rest is fine, blackened well-done less so
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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?
Download Triggerbites to log meals, track symptoms, and discover your unique triggers.
Get the AppFAQ
Is steak high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat steak if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Alpha-gal, Vegan, and Vegetarian next for a fuller picture.