yogurt
Dairy & Alternatives
Is yogurt high in polyols?
Find out whether yogurt 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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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 yogurt
Yogurt has a reputation as the dairy that people with lactose trouble can get away with, and the grading only half agrees. Plain yogurt is graded high in lactose, the same band as milk, and high FODMAP with it, because culturing eats some of the sugar but nothing like all of it. What the live cultures genuinely do is carry their own lactase into your gut, which is a real reason a bowl of yogurt can sit better than a glass of milk even though the lactose load is similar. Fermentation charges for that favour elsewhere: yogurt grades borderline for both histamine and tyramine where fresh milk grades clean, and it grades poorly for SIBO. So yogurt can genuinely be the easier dairy for your digestion and the harder one for your head at the same time.
Watch for
Graded high in lactose, the same as milk. Live cultures supply lactase that helps at the moment of digestion, but plain yogurt is not a low-lactose food and a large bowl still counts. / Borderline for histamine and for tyramine, both a consequence of fermentation that fresh milk does not have. Flushing, headache or a blocked nose after yogurt points here rather than at the lactose. / Graded poorly for SIBO: lactose plus live bacteria is an unhelpful combination in a gut that is already fermenting too high up / Still graded high in dairy protein, so yogurt is no help whatsoever for a cow milk protein allergy, and it grades incompatible with an EoE elimination diet / Strained yogurt sits lower in lactose because the whey drains away with the sugar in it, while flavoured yogurt usually gains fruit puree, syrup or added inulin and lands higher in FODMAPs than the plain version
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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 yogurt high in Polyols?
Polyols: low signal for most people.
Can I still eat yogurt if I'm sensitive to Polyols?
Usually fine in normal portions.
What else should I check?
Check Lactose, Lectin, and Low Fermentation next for a fuller picture.