Fructose Malabsorption: The Only Guide You Need

Posted in fructose malabsorption on May 1, 2022
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Today you're going to learn about:

Fructose Malabsorption. 

First, I'll explain to you what Fructose Malabsorption is.

Then you'll see what the symptoms of Fructose Malabsorption are.

Followed by how you can get diagnosed and finally I'll tell you what foods are low in Fructose.

Let's dive in!

Did you know you can get tested for Fructose Malabsorption with a simple Home Test Kit?

There is an easy to use "hydrogen breathe test" that you can buy online from Amazon to see if you have Fructose Malabsorption.

The test is completed at home and sent to a laboratory for analysis with the detailed diagnoses results sent back to you via email.

Click here to order a test kit now.  

 

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What is Fructose Malabsorption?

Fructose malabsorption is a condition where the small bowel struggles to absorb the fructose we eat causing digestive symptoms like bloating.

Therefore, Fructose malabsorption is a digestive disorder in which the complete absorption of fructose does not take place in the small intestine.

This poorly absorbed fructose moves through into the large bowel, where it gets fermented by the natural flora present in the intestinal tract.

The fermentation by bacteria produces gas and other gastrointestinal symptoms.

As our body does not require digestive enzymes to digest and absorb fructose in small intestine.

In a normal, healthy persons, only about 25-30 grams of fructose are absorbed at one time.

However, in case of people with fructose malabsorption, less than 25 grams of fructose is absorbed at any given time.

This inadequately digested fructose reaches large intestine where it combines with water due to its osmotic effect.

Here, it is rapidly propelled into the colonic lumen where luminal bacteria ferment fructose to carbon dioxide, hydrogen and short chain fatty acids.

This leads to physiological consequences, including increase in osmotic load, change in gastrointestinal motility, alteration in gastrointestinal flora, and rapid bacterial fermentation.

The clinical significance of these events varies from individual to individual depending upon the response of the bowel to such changes.

Formerly known as dietary fructose inheritance, Fructose malabsorption is completely different from fructose intolerance.

Fructose intolerance is a rare, hereditary disease in which the liver enzymes that break down fructose are deficient.

If left untreated, it can be a potentially fatal condition.

Its estimated that nearly 35 percent of the population struggle to absorb fructose properly, but before we understand more about fructose malabsoprtion - we need to understand what Fructose is!

What is Fructose?

Fructose is a naturally occurring sugar found in honey, vegetables, fruits and grains.

It is a single molecule sugar which many people cannot effectively absorb.

This poorly absorbed small carbohydrate act as dietary fibre or prebiotics, also known as FODMAPs (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols).

Other poorly absorbed sugars included in FODMAPs are lactose, sorbitol, fructans, galacto-oligosacchrides and mannitol.

When the fructose sugar is not properly absorbed in the small intestine, it reaches large intestine where fermentation occurs, and fructose is converted in to fatty acids.

These fatty acids cause gastrointestinal symptoms like bloating, gas, constipation and diarrhea.

What are the Symptoms of Fructose Malabsorption?

fructose bloating stomach pain
The symptoms of fructose malabsorption are actually similar to those of lactose intolerance, food allergies and irritable bowel syndrome.

Common symptoms observed immediately after consumption of fructose-rich foods are:

  1. Bloating and distension
  2. Flatulence
  3. Diarrhea or constipation
  4. Fatigue or tiredness
  5. Stomach pain or indigestion as a result of muscle spasm
  6. Brain fog/ negative emotions
  7. Nausea or vomiting if large quantities of fructose are consumed

Long-term fructose malabsorption symptoms can include:

  1. Craving for sugar, and in rare case aversion to sugar
  2. Poor absorption of minerals and vitamins, resulting in anaemia, malabsorption and poor general health.
  3. Difficulty in gaining weight
  4. Early signs of mental depression
  5. Poor nails, skin and hair
  6. Osteopenia or osteoporosis, caused due to high fructose levels in the diet.

fructose sugars

How is Fructose Malabsorption Diagnosed?

Typically a doctor will refer patients who express symptoms similar to the above for a hydrogen breathe test.

The hydrogen breath test is the fundamental diagnostic test for assessing the identification of dietary fructose malabsorption.

This simple and non-invasive method is a reliable way to diagnose fructose malabsorption.

How does the fructose test (hydrogen breath test) work?

The patient is asked to drink 25 to 30 grams of fructose (dissolved in water) on an empty stomach.

Hydrogen levels are measured at 30 minute intervals in the exhaled breath for the next three hours.

Hydrogen can only be found in the exhaled breath if the fructose is not entirely absorbed by the body.

Hydrogen is released when the bacteria ferment the poorly digested fructose in the large intestine.

The produced hydrogen reaches the lungs via the circulatory system, where it is exhaled into the testing device.

If you suspect that you have Fructose Malabsorption, you should go speak to your doctor about obtaining a refferal for a hydrogen breathe test.

You will most likely be referred to complete a lactose test as well ( I was) given the symptoms of fructose and lactose intolerance can be very similar.

The hydrogen breathe test will most likely be completed at your local hospital or specialist testing clinic.

Alternatively, there is a range of home testing kits for fructose (and lactose) malabsorption that you can purchase online, complete in your home and have the results tested by a laboratory.

I've included a list of online fructose testing laboratories below:

Online Fructose Testing Kits:

USA only

AUSTRALIA only

Another method for diagnosing the symptoms of fructose intolerance is by following an elimination diet.

A diet whereby the patient must elimate all foods containing fructose for 6 weeks.

If the symptoms disappear after eliminating fructose containing foods from the diet, fructose malabsorption is confirmed.

What is the treatment for Fructose Malabsorption and Can it Be Fixed?

Typically the treatment for fructose malabsorption is the low FODMAP diet.

The best resource I've been able to find is Sue Shepherd and Peter Gibson's book "The Complete Low-Fodmap Diet" (see above).

There is no permanent cure for fructose malabsorption, but the condition can be managed by limiting the amount of fructose that is consumed.
The goal of the treatment is to eliminate or drastically reduce symptoms, restore normal digestion and maintain subsequent health and longevity.
Once you are symptom-free for months, you can gradually reintroduce small amounts of foods that previously caused problems.

The dietary strategies to assist with minimising symptoms include:

  1. Avoid foods containing excess fructose;
  2. Reduce the fructose load; and
  3. Avoid foods that contain fructans (Fructans are chains of fructose molecules which end in a glucose molecule).​

Foods that should be avoided by people with fructose malabsorption include:

  • Foods containing more than 0.5 grams of fructose per 100 grams of glucose.
  • Foods containing more than 0.2 grams of fructans per serving.
  • Foods with high fructose to glucose ratio higher than 1.0
  • Foods rich in sorbitol
  • Foods containing high amounts of fructose content like corn syrup.

What food is low in Fructose?

Below, we have compiled a list of foods that most people with Fructose Malabsorption find "Okay to eat" and the foods that are "Best to avoid" eating completely avoided.

Please keep in mind that this list is not extensive and should only be used as a starting point to finding the foods that are causing symptoms of Fructose Malabsorption.

Different people will find that they have different tolerances to different food types.

Fructose Malabsorption Food List for Low FODMAP diet

Okay to eat

Vegetables
Potatoe, Carrot, Celery, Olives, Corn, Cucumber, Lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes

Fruit

Lemon, Lime, Banana, Blueberries, Oranges, Grapes, Passionfruit, Raspberries, Strawberries

Meat

Beef, Turkey, Pork, Chicken, Lamb, Veal, Fish

Fruit

Lemon, Lime, Banana, Blueberries, Oranges, Grapes, Passionfruit, Raspberries, Strawberries

Wheat

Gluten-free bread, Corn Tortillas, Rice Noodles, Rice Puffs, Gluteen-Free Crackers, Rice

Drink

Milk (if you do not have problems with lactose), Coffee (although test this, I can't have it at all!), Tea, Mineral Water, Unsweetened Cranberry juice, Water

Alcohol

Vodka from grain or potatoe is generally the safest. Gin, Whiskey, Rum and Dry White Wines should also be okay in small amounts. I find that I can have Corona Beers and I don't get too bloated.

Best to avoid

Vegetables
Onions, Garlic (enemy #1 for me!), Artichokes, Beetroot, Cabbage, Fennel, Leeks, Peas, Spring Onions

Fruit

Apples, Pears, Cherries, Mango, Honey, Peaches,

Meat

Processed Ham, Bacon and other small good varieties (check the packaging but these meats are often manufactured with sugar or honey).

Fruit

Lemon, Lime, Banana, Blueberries, Oranges, Grapes, Passionfruit, Raspberries, Strawberries

Wheat

Bread, Pasta, Wheat Based Breakfast cereals, Wheat Based Crackers, Wheat Sweet Buiscuits

Drink

Fruit Juice, Vegetable Juice (check for best to avoid vegetables), Soda, Sweetened Drinks, Drinks containing High Fructose Corn Syrup,

Alcohol

Beer, Red Wine.

Note - if you are changing diet to manage your fructose malabsorption intolerance you should do so with the supervision of a dietician who has experience with IBS symptoms.

This will ensure that you are receiving the right amount of nutrients and vitamins in your diet.

A full list of foods that contain fructose can be found here - Food Standards Australia.

Please keep in mind that foods with fructose to glucose ratio of less than 1, should be fine to consume.

Low FODMAP Food Manufacturers

As more and more people are being diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorption specialist food manufacturers are begining to produce food products that are suitable for people following the low fodmap diet.

Brands that make Low FODMAP foods include:

  • Fody Co - all products have been certified as lowfodmap by Monash University.
  • Casa De Sante - sells low fodmap products for people with IBS and digestive sensitivies.

Our Favourite Certified Low FODMAP Products

1. The Low FODMAP Introduction Pack by FODY CO

This is the perfect starter pack to help ease you into the low fodmap diet.

The starter pack by FODY CO includes: Ketchup, Salsa, Pasta Sauce, Thousand Island Dressing, Taco Seasoning and nut based snack bars.

All of the items are tested as Low Fodmap certified so you don't have to worry about eating some onion or garlic!

Click here to see other people's reviews or to order the FODY Introduction Pack online from Amazon.

2. Low FODMAP Spices Starter Kit by Case De Sante

Knowing what spices to use in your cooking can be a little challenging on the low fodmap diet as often garlic and onion are included in our favourite mixes!

This 5 spices starter kid includes: Italian Tuscan Herb Mix, Indian Spicy Hot Seasoning, Mexican Seasoned Mix, Lemon Herb Seasoning and a BBQ Rub.

This product is low fodmap certified and is also gluteen, vegan and salt FREE!

Click here to order the Spices Starter Kit online from Amazon.

 

These two products should give you an idea of the taste of their products and you can order more of the ones you like from there!

Congrats - you've made it to the end of my fructose malabsorption guide!

I'd love to hear about what your experience with Fructose Malabsorption has been - please leave any question or comments below.

Top Photo Credit: http://www.sxc.hu/profile/forwardcom

131 Responses to “Fructose Malabsorption: The Only Guide You Need”

  1. Sher says:

    You should know that many gluten free foods, such as breads, also have either honey or agave syrup - and gums like locust bean gum - which can cause the symptoms to flare up. Many of the organic foods have honey, which causes me to have cramps for almost two days.

    • Sue Ellis says:

      I was diagnosed with wheat intolerance 43 years ago and at that stage not only didn't we know anything about gluten intolerance - we certainly didn't dream of anything like fructose intolerance. After a couple of years struggling to eliminate wheat we struck a balance and as I approached adulthood it seemed to ease... Until 7 years ago when I ended up with B Cell Lymphoma with an enlarged lymph gland twisted around my upper intestine. After that ongoing problems which I again eliminated wheat, but now I had more options and ended up making my own bread with Kamut, Rye and Spelt flours. This helped a little but there was permanent damage from the cancer and increasing problems with pain and digestion etc. Until a chance phrase heard on someone else's radio, "many if not most people going on a gluten free diet because they have difficulty digesting wheat may actually be fructose intolerant" the radio station changed but that phrase changed my life. Still not 100 percent and may never be because of nerve damage done by the cancer, but another suggestion, that Glucose can counteract some of the effects of excess fructose, has me going everywhere with glucose tablets and in the last 12 months I have started using glucose powder instead of sugar in my bread and have taken a step forward that way. I don't miss garlic or onion funnily enough and if cooking for others can use infused oils, but every now and then I run into something I hadn't thought of. This last few weeks it has been beetroot. Mum and I bought some and cooked and pickled it for salads and sandwiches and I WAS enjoying it but all of a sudden my health is going down and I know have to pull back on the beetroot. There is no magic wand, instead it is an ongoing journey of discovery and every now and then you introduce something different and give it a try - it may work, it may not, but it's no good hiding from life - go ahead and give it a try, not everyone is the same and that food may be OK for you but not me, or OK for me but not you. Experiment and enjoy - just keep the glucose sweets close at hand.

      • Jackie says:

        I deffinately got it after taking an antibiotic, how nice. After 11 mo of hell got to a gi doc and I asked him to test me for fm. He instead tested me for sibo, which I had. More antibiotic. Later became so sick, I literally could NOT eat at all!!! Back to doc tested positive for fm. If only he would hv tested me like I asked in the first place. I saved my own life by making home made chicken bone broth !!!! Later added very finely chopped pieces of chicken, later added finely chopped green beans, later added white rice. Then back to eating a fruictoce, fructon free diet. This was a long processes. I was in intestional distress. Now when I consume to much fruictose I get back pain, gas, constipation, skipped heat beats, feel lazy (use to be hyper)and i got osteopenia. I hv read that when you consume fruictose it leeches magnesium from your magnesium receptor sites that are in your intestines. So for me i now alway take a magnesium supplement. This is simply put...AWFUL. Im scarred to try any alcohol.

        • Shelly says:

          My 15 year old was diagnosed with Fruct Mal, at the Mayo Clinic in 2015. His symptoms don't come on right away after he eats or drinks something, sometimes it can take a week. Onions are his biggest culprit, if he has even a sliver it can put him down a week. For instance he had Chicken Tortilla soup (which they were told not make with salsa)last Thursday, he of course ate half the bowl before he saw the onion slivers, and we are down today. I wish there was an enzyme you can give them daily to help counteract the severity of the attacks, or at least push them through quicker. Poor kid I hate when this happens to him.

          • Tine says:

            Is there anyway or anything I can eat with a sweet potato or assorted even a single variety of bean so I don't have symptoms? With beans it isn't so horrific but sweets and fruits, and carrots, yellow potatoes etc all give me pain or massive brain fog. I sleep via drain outs and sometimes get shakes. I've been off table sugar from confusion for so long and haven't properly had a piece of fruit in ages... I just wish for help and my doctors treat me like I've lost my mind and want me to see a shrink thinking it's all in my head for attention. Please, if you know, help.

          • Lisa says:

            Hi Arthur, I'm sure it would be a great help to many of us if you would say more about your diet and tell us what you eat day-to-day.

          • Sherry says:

            I have had problems with almonds also. I don't know the connection with them but I was in bed for days after just one almond.

          • Nita says:

            Is cinnamon safe, and quinoa or buckwheat cereal? I've been suffering without answers for three years and now I'm low white cell count, skinny as a stick and in so much pain from just about everything. I was wondering about the eat anything pills if they really work... Do you think they can help me get my life back so that someday I can even have a muffin or cookie or blueberry or almonds again?

          • Michele Danczyk says:

            I was highly considering purchasing the "EatAnythingRx" as my daughter who is almost 12 was just diagnosed 2 weeks ago but her doctor recommended FructosAid 88 so we are trying that first, so far, it has worked well. Eat Anything Rx is definitely cheaper on Amazon so we will be trying that when this bottle is finished.

    • Deborah A Coccellato says:

      I suffer with multiple sclerosis, and have had digestive issues for like 10 years. I assumed I was lactose intolerant or gluten intolerant... Or food intolerant! I just stopped eating everything that made me ill or bloated, or whatever. I got down to like 122 lbs and was living on tofu and zucchini, apples and peanut butter, and of course black coffee, the strong stuff! My husband finally put his foot down and said you're getting tested for whatever it is you have. They tested me for celiac disease and praise God I was negative for that. Nobody wants more than one autoimmune disorder at once! Just recently my doctor thought maybe I had gastroparesis and sent me to a GI doctor. She tested me for fructose malabsorption and I was off the charts! Now I'm struggling because I'm mainly a vegetarian, and the only thing I can eat safely now is meat! I requested a visit with a dietitian just to get some clarity on what the heck I can eat. I admit I cheat a little. But immediately meet with serious nausea when I totally blow it like with a white chocolate mocha from Starbucks. That's a big fat no way. It's getting close to Thanksgiving, and apple pie is my favorite. I'm pretty sure that's a big fat no way too! Your website has been helpful. Thank you for making it simple. I was thrilled to learn I can eat strawberries and oranges. According to your website I can also eat grapes! Honestly, it's just confusing... Why should I be able to eat grapes? Isn't there like serious fructose in grapes? I cannot wait to talk to a dietitian. I need some explanation for some of this fruit confusion. And some vegetables are off-limits too!? This is the most confusing issue I've ever confronted. MS has nothing on fructose malabsorption!

  2. Tina says:

    I've heard such positive things about the pills 'Eat Anythingrx' has anyone tried it? Are there side effects or does it work perfectly without side effects? I also wanted to know if anyone else has trouble with almonds? And how long a person can go without fruit or sugar before it's a real problem. I had to diagnos myself because the doctors are di%$s and said I need therapy. I've just been avoiding everything that hurts, now I have a low white cell count, and fruits and sweets give me so much pain.

    • Julie says:

      Hi Sherry, I feel your frustration. I was diagnosed at 54 and have had issues all my life but doctors did not have any clue. Hard to find a doctor who really is versed in this issue. I did a lot of research and finally found one close to me. Go to a nutritionist. I found a lot of answers and help with working with a nutritionist. Eliminate, eliminate and I know its hard, but it is really the only way. I have downloaded apps like (Fructose Guide,Monash,Food Intolerances, Fooducate) If your on FB join the group (Fructose Malabsorption - USA) you will get a lot of answers and ask away. Very, very helpful. Hope this helps.

      • Julie says:

        I was diagnosed at 54!! Everything you have described sounds just like what I went and have been going through. its a challenge. Go to a nurtritionist, get apps like: FODMAP, Fructose, Intolerances, sugar rush and I do have Fooducate. I use all of these at different times. I have so many because I was at a loss and I just wanted help. Eliminate, eliminate that is really the only way to figure out what really bothers you. If your on FB join Fructose Malabsorption - USA. A lot of support and ask questions. I feel a lot better, but not 100%. Hope this helps.

        • Kimberly Nye says:

          Kate, I learned of a friend's daughter with a fructose malabsorption. Her GI specialist has instructed her to eat more glucose when too much fructose has been eaten. For example, pixi sticks or koolaid is what this child will always have on hand to help move any extra fructose out of the body. Apparently, glucose is the only thing that moves fructose better. Good luck!

          • Ginny Weiland says:

            Is mannose (a form of sugar) safe for me?

          • Betty Porter says:

            Hi, I'm trying to determine if I have a fructose allergy, an intolerance to fructose or if I'm just fructose intolerant? What is the difference? I suspect that fructose allergy is the term people use to make it easier for people without the condition to understand? Is that correct?

          • Sheryl Coombs says:

            Thanks for providing this comprehensive list of fodmap diet charts! I especially like that fact that they are mostly printable fodmap diet charts and that you can easily print them out and stick them on the fridge, as you point out! I'm surprised that someone hasn't created a fodmap chart 2017 yet, but these low fodmap charts are a great substitute. PDF is the easiest format for fodmap diet charts.

          • Sherry says:

            I have recently been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption. My symptoms have been getting progressively worse for over 5 years. My biggest question is how at age 42 did this problem just pop up. Right now I am so frustrated! I have tried to eliminate fructose from my diet. Not only is in nearly impossible but I am also not feeling better. How long does it take. I feel like I can no longer eat healthy... I am eating so much more fat in eggs, meat etc... HELP I AM FREAKING OUT

          • Danielle says:

            I too believe antibiotics has something to do with this as i was on a ton of them as a kid for ear infections and as an adult with UTIs.... my daughter has been on a ton of antibiotics as a child due to UTIs as well, despite my hesitation, she was in so much pain! I have always been hesitant of antibiotics but more so now that we both have these issues.

          • Danielle says:

            Hello, I too am a mom of a 6 year old who was diagnosed last year with Fruct Mal. It has been so difficult as so many websites contradict each other on what are acceptable amounts of fructose. We were told that we could eat sugar as long as we stayed under 5 grams each serving. I am not sure what to tell you as a year later we are still having symptoms. We go in spurts with her and have missed a lot of school. We were told she may also have anxiety on top of this which is not helping our fructose malabsorption!!! We received a handbook of ok foods vs. avoid foods from the MAYO clinic.... however, we are taking it to the next level and eliminating all fruit for a while until we "reset" her system. I read above some people were actually suggesting sugar HELPS? i have been leary of sugar this whole time but good to know. We use dextrose to counter the fructose... not a lot of luck there yet either. Good luck to you my dear... From: another mom with 6 year old FrucMal sufferer 🙁

    • Carol Bryant says:

      I use Eat Anything with every meal. It allows me to eat very moderate amounts of fructose. For example a small vanilla gelato as dessert. Also helps with lactose intolerance. Read the Amazon reviews.

  3. Brett says:

    It might be worth having a few sessions with a dietician to get his diet on track.

    • Shannon Ryan says:

      Hi Brett
      My 7 year old has fructose malabsorption - he became unconscious after drinking the syrup. We are doing our best on the FODMAP guidelines however have become aware that he is extremely constipated. He will not eat any sweet food at all - this includes all fruit with the exception of an occasional tomato, olives or avocado. What foods can we try to assist him before we have to have medical intervention for him.

      • Dee says:

        After reading your stories, I think FM is my issue. I was told I was simply constipated. My symptoms at their worst were endless belching, wind, trouble swallowing, pressure under my upper left rib, stomach tightness, lower left pressure above the groin, headaches, brain fog, bloated stomach and hips, swelling in my legs and constipation. I would wake up in a full sweat, rip off my PJs and lay on my bathroom floor tiles to cool off. Sometimes I shower in the middle of the night. I would sit in a chair and push up with my hands on the arm rests elongating my torso whiltst lifting my chin in the air to breath. Now, this is not simply constipation.
        I was beginning to avoid eating. It seemed like food was the enemy! I lost 16 pounds and looked like skin on bones. Something had to change.
        I changed doctors.Immediately he sent me to a GI doc who said "I am going to help you." He ordered an MRI, a barium swallow test, a PH test ... 7 tests in all...a colonoscopy... to rule out the worst case possibilities. From stem to stern I function slowly with a weak LES. He also gave me a simple outline of the FOD MaP foods to eliminate. I studied this guideline and went to 3 grocery stores that carried organic whole food and purchased low FodMaP. No dairy. No gluten. No fruit ... Just blueberries. Found an acid free organic coffee that I make ... 2 ounces coffee 8 oounces almond milk.
        Small meals. Starch 2 hours away from veggies and protein. 8 to 10 nuts between meals. Rice or corn cereal with ingredients that are just rice or just corn. Cream rice cereal. Almond milk unsweetened. No chocolate. Maybe a little dark...85% cocoa.
        Personally I can not experiment.Everything must be plain. No spice. Some herbs ... Rosemary, basil in small amounts. Lite olive oil in small quantities for cooking. Eating out is only possible at high end restaurants. Chefs get it... Cooks do not.
        Stress is a big trigger.I can remember having bloating all my life. Things got major league bad after a highly stressful prolonged event in my life 10 years ago at 48. Im 58 now and it is a constant mental workout to track the cumulative intake. Nighttime is always the hardest because the body is dealing with the accumulation of foods from the day. Im trying Pilates now. Before I walked alone. I can not eat a meal before I exercise. Just 2 pieces of gluten free bread or rice bread. Afterwards I eat a meal with protein and spinach... cooked. 5 small meals is best if I can. Not eating after 6pm is best also.
        I have to take an anti anxiety medication at night. It helps a lot. Antacid am and pm. Keeping my weigh up is my goal. In short,lots of sleep, FODMAP, EXERCISE. AND HELP WITH ANXIETY. I also take magnesium by Phillips daily at night. Calms my stomach a bit. I must use 2 saline enema if pressure in the bowel is too great. All of this helps me. I pray. That calms me. Keeps my emotions stable to focus on God.
        I hope this helps someone. Thanks for your stories!
        Oh if I get the shakes i have a little cereal with sugar. White table sugar... About 2 teaspoons. The shakes happen.

        • Brett says:

          I know that I can't stomach apples at all! When I eat apples I can almost feel the acid in my stomach burning. It might be worth getting a fructose test to see if you have an intolerance for fructose. See your doctor to order a fructose test.

          • Wan says:

            I had eaten green apples for a week and then i added apple cider a week later..after that combination..i felt dizzy and stomach ache..then i stopped and went to the doctor but the bloating is still there...do you think this is caused by fructose malabsortion?can consuming a lot of apple causes this bloating?

          • Paula says:

            Is there any point in getting diagnosed? I have known for ten years if I eat fructose I'm in trouble. I've been using FODMAP guidelines for years but have gotten worse in the last three years and deal with constant fatigue. As far as I know there is no treatment for this, and I had to explain to my new doctor what a FODMAP was.

          • Brett says:

            Request a hydrogen breathe test.

          • Andrew Barrett says:

            Not been diagnosed with FM but been through hell last 10 days. Started after eating sweet potatoes night before a run, where I was close to passing out. Went to hospital 2 days latter but every test came out ok. I usually have mild wind but the symptoms since the last week have exacerbated belching, volatile stomach, constant hunger. Kept feeling even worse after having porridge with honey, a couple of hours latter getting severe dizziness, indigestion, weird taste in mouth, nausea, heart palpitations. By yesterday I worked out it must be to do with fructose as I kept geting the symptoms after eating fruit. Doctors and people around me think its in my head and I have been thinking it was eating disorder as i usually eat a low calorie diet but after looking up FM everything fits. How do I get tested?

          • Cristine says:

            Fructose is considered a "natural ingredient". Some plain yogurts have fructose added but are not required to list that because it is natural. You could ask the pharmacist to mix the med with a different flavor but it will taste awful! I suggest take the medicine and follow with charcoal. Or you could find a food high in SUGAR to follow (caramel). When a sugar molecule meets a fructose molecule they reconfigure a new molecule...thus, no pain!

          • Cristine says:

            My daughter had FM since birth. Fructose is included in baby formula which explained the colic, diarrhea and failure to thrive. After insisting on the hydrogen breath test and resulting positive result of 99 in 30 minutes, the doctor apologized to me. This is the best advice: activated charcoal. It is cheap, over the counter and works in 7 minutes of first "bubbles in her tummy". Good luck.

  4. Brett says:

    From what I have read, everyone is different in terms of how much they can tolerate certain foods. If you find that bananas cause you stomach pains, it's probably a good idea to skip them for a while. The information I've seen shows that Bananas contain around 33% fructose to 67% glucose content, meaning that they are tolerable for most people with fructose malabsorption, in small doses.

    • katrina says:

      I have read on multiple sites that one banana actually has more fructose than an apple or a pear...yet, your site states that bananas are on the "safe" list. I recently tried once again to eat a banana for the nutrition content ...but i suffered for the next 24 hours with unbearable stomach pains and other issues. Please clarify this for me...bananas are very high in fructose...or do you have different information other than what i have read? Thank you.

      • Melissa says:

        My 8 yr old daughter has had 3 years with loose bm's and ibs/fruit malasoprbtion symptoms that she isnt aware of after having accidents.

        My daughter's closely related cousins have celiacs, chrones disease, and ibs like problems. Her accidents seems to happen after eating sugary food, hfc's,candy, fruits, etc. 1st dr keeps ecommending miralax for 3 yrs and avoiding these foods. We have but hard w/little kid. And, she doesn't need help w/constipation any more.

        Went for a 2nd opinion, 2nd, dr has recommend a stomach biopsy. I was hoping for a breath test but dr says this is more accurate.

        I am lactose intolerant and seem to have a similar bm problem with artificial sugars, but recognize the stomach rumblings and am able to head to the bathroom.

        My husband and I would like a definite diagnosis of what is causing the problem to help school work w/her diet and for us to give her a better balanced diet.

        From 1st Dr's blood tests, she doesn't have gluten or ibs. I wasn't at 2nd opinion (out of town) and have questions about dangers & will it diagnose why she has ibs, or fruit malabsorption symptoms.

        • Izzy Anderson says:

          I've been diagnosed with fructose malabsorption about a half of a year ago, and I've noticed that eating bread and other products with gluten don't bother me that much in moderate amounts. Is this normal?

          • NK says:

            Hi

            I just wanted to add that I also seem to share the same symptoms and reactions as Pete. I thought that I could tolerate short grain brown rice but this has exacerbated my acne and I would constantly silent fart throughout the day. I am also a coeliac. Yesterday I had some nairn gluten free oat cakes and I have woken up this morning baggy eyed, headache, dry mouth, brain fog and irritable. Not ideal as I am meant to be taking my partner to a food fest! I have read that sugar can balance the symptoms because of the glucose although I am hesitant to explore this. Almond milk is great. I have cold porridge everyday with almond milk with some blueberries and raspberries. I may cut the fruit out altogether as I am concerned about the culmination effect if I was to eat something else during the day. If anyone has a tablet that eases their symptoms I would love to know!

          • Rose says:

            My symptoms start with sneezing, then become a lump in my throat and trouble swallowing. Later on comes the headache, burping, bloating, and gas.

          • Arianne says:

            Eating something that is pure glucose, like 1 tsp. of (cake) icing, or a tsp of sugar dissolved in a cup of water, gets rid of my stomach pain incredibly fast! Pain is gone in five minutes. Occasionally, when I eat something laden with fructose because I didn't know...it'll take 2 tsp and 10 minutes, but it works EVERY SINGLE TIME. Figuring this out has been such a blessing. The logic is there too -- you need glucose to digest fructose, which is why people tolerate foods with a 1:1 ratio no problem.

          • Arianne says:

            I suffer from fructose malabsorption as well. Landed me in the hospital once with 12/10 stomach pain and profuse sweating (from the pain). While there is no "magical tablet" to cure the issue, I have found an instantaneous remedy for those days when I eat a food high in fructose without knowing it (or simply because I bought a random fruit I forgot was on the list). It's simple: I keep a container of Duncan Hines or Betty Crocker icing at home. Whenever I have this pain, I eat 1-2 tsp of icing (1 to start, 2 if really bad) and within 5 minutes....(I kid you not!), the pain is gone. I stumbled across with the thinking "hey, if this is because the glucose to fructose ratio is off balance...and seeing as your body needs glucose to digest fructose, maybe I should try something that is pure glucose". I'm sure a glass of water with table sugar would be just as effective. I chose icing because it tastes pretty good 😉 Try it out. Spread the word. Figuring this out has been a blessing! Works every time. Even when I don't think I've eating something with fructose but have that "known" stomach pain, I try it and 10 times out of 10, it goes away instantly.

          • Arthur says:

            Hi, I am a doctor and medical researcher. For 30 years I have one of the most severe FM cases and cannot tolerate even the slightest fructose amounts. I have it under complete control with a very strict diet. I'd like to caution everyone that even on your llist of permissable foods this is NOT OK for everyone. Tolerance of these foods depend on the amount per serving AND how it is prepared/cooked. Do to the conversions of sugars - something baked may be tolerated but not when boiled. Each person's body is the testing lab. Go by how you feel. It may rake a year to figure out your body but it's worth it. Read everything you can and consider it with caution.

          • Susan says:

            I have fructose malabsorption and osteoporosis. What can I take for the osteoporosis? All meds I researched contain fructose!

  5. Ayanda says:

    Hi i blended bananas,pears,plums and a dash of lemon juice and boy did i poison myself ive been sick morning ,nausea ,bloated,and tired

    • Kbear says:

      I was told that dextrose (commonly sold by brewery supply stores) is helpful for those consuming excess fructose because it binds with the fructose to create glucose. Note: I am no chemist or biologist... but this is what I was told and it has worked for me when I wanted to splurge by eating a 1/2 banana.

      • edith says:

        I have a daughter who was diagnosed with this several years ago. Fortunately I am a mom and nurse which helped to fight to get her diagnosed. We think she has had this condition since birth. Starting with a poor immune system and chronic colic all through infancy and constipation / stomach pain all of her life. This condition has landed her in the ER for excessive pain more than once. Since she has cut all fructose, whenever she accidentally gets it, the attacks are horrific. I have recently read that possibly vit B6 helps. Have you come across any valid research? We have tried probiotics (at the beginning of this journey) and enzymes when we were first trying to figure out what was causing the pain. She's 18 and rail thin now, and deathly afraid to try anything new for fear it will cause debilitating pain. We recently spent a saturday in the ER and much morphine, dilaudid and vicodin later finally were able to control her pain. She was almost admitted to the hospital for intractable pain. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

        • Ronald Rodriguez says:

          Oz is wrong about saturated fat. It is perfectly healthy for us..and is a natural fat that our ancestors were eating long before these new hydrogenated and bad vegetable oils were used in food and put on the market. What is bad are flours and products made from grains. Even whole grain adversely affects blood sugar. Stick with any kind of meat..any kind of natural fat..vegetables..berries and fruit. Those are the foods Mother Nature gave us..not a corporation. And yes..I realize some junk food is delicious..so limit your consumption of sugar, processed and junk food as much as possible. We are only human after all..and it's not easy to stop eating all the foods we have been brainwashed into eating in this country were corporations are more important than people.

          • Rich says:

            on the bloating if after you eat like meat you may have low stomach acid and need HCL with pepsin and drink apple cider viniger to also help break down the food if you have stress the stomach won't produce acid

          • Judy says:

            I was diagnosed 2 years ago with fructose malabsorption and have had minimal useful help from dietitians. I have just had a spell in hospital with uncontrolled rapid heart. Which they came to the conclusion was due to low magnesium despite taking supplement where to now?

          • Eli says:

            Do you know where I can find information on the medical consequences if the FODMAP diet is not followed when one is diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorption? Thank you!

          • Ann Delap says:

            Stomach pain can definitely make you faint. The vagus nerve tells your brain to send blood and oxygen to your stomach when your digestive system is stressed. I should know - after drinking a smoothie in the airport while waiting for a flight, I suddenly experienced bad indigestion, bloating and nausea. We were seated on the plane when I passed out. I wound up in the ER at a hospital in Atlanta where I was diagnosed with vasovagal reaction. Just now coming to the realization that I may have fructose intolerance. Cannot tolerate broccoli, avocado or honey.

          • Belinda Thomas says:

            Hi Renee
            With fructose malabsorption it can also stop your body absorbing vitamins. Perhaps your iron us low. The GP can test for this.

          • Nikki Ruhlman says:

            Anyone out there that has turned their osteoporosis compression fractures around with an FM diet? On my fifth week of diet--persistent painful bladder better, constipation better, hives under control as long as maintain low fructose diet and no meds with sugar alcohols, and not passing kidney stones after a 22-day episode. Need some hope!

  6. Jennifer says:

    I know now and understand that I have had this problem, in various degrees all my life. I had a brush with C-diff and after all the antibiotics they had me on to combat the infection my fructose malsobtion came on full swing. I know for a fect that the antibiotics had a part in it. Also my regular comsumption of Advil for my back pain. I have been able to bring myself back from this before, even before I knew what IT was, even without special diet. It just took time. But this round is much more serious and I must be on a low fodmaps diet. Just begin I g to understand what my body was trying to tell me all these years. I've felt that I was just lazy, my parents thought I was anorexic, because I just didn't want to eat at. I'd rather starve then suffer and when you don't know what's causing it. It's so hard. It's been a long journey to get here. Good luck to everyone.

    • Timothy Herrig says:

      Hi Bret. I've had malabsorption problems following the Magrath Protocol some 10 years ago. Fructose malabsorption diagnosed after a hydrogen breath test in 2008. A few years ago at my annual with my oncologist, my blood was loaded with iron. Liver biopsy revealed Hereditary Hemochromatosis. Any advice on how to combine these two? Thanks for the nice site.

      • Sarah says:

        I was firstly diagnosed with enlarged liver. I had symptoms of bloating for more than twenty years, my symptoms became worse when i approached menaupause in 2014, i had excessive bloating, burping. I put myself on gluten free, but Symtoms continue but I knew that if i eat some fruits and green veges my symptoms were worse but I was eating apple, grapes mango brown rice. In short since march this year stopped all the fruits except lemon, green beans, avocado i occasionally eat banana squash i still put teaspoon sugar in my tea. Symptoms are much better i dont have any pain my liver is gradually decreasing in size though im still burping but I take goat milk

        • Sarah says:

          I was firstly diagnosed with enlarged liver. I had symptoms of bloating for more than twenty years, my symptoms became worse when i approached menaupause in 2014, i had excessive bloating, burping. I put myself on gluten free, but Symtoms continue but I knew that if i eat some fruits and green veges my symptoms were worse but I was eating apple, grapes mango brown rice. In short since march this year stopped all the fruits except lemon, green beans, avocado i occasionally eat banana squash i still put teaspoon sugar in my tea. Symptoms are much better i dont have any pain my liver is gradually decreasing in size though im still burping but I take goat milk

          • Maria says:

            Through a botched operation i Lost 1.2metres of my large intestine had septiceama and acute peritonitis 8 years ago. I was careful with my diet or so i thought apart from my sugar addiction. I was diagnosed with fructose and lactose malabsorption nearly two years ago. There has been improvement but still is a hit and miss affair with the bloating and gasses eventhough i AM Sooo careful. This has been so difficult for me as i AM a sweetaholic and cakeaholic.

          • Melissa says:

            I have not been dx with fructose malabsorption yet. My MD is testing for it. But I have hot flashes after I eat fructose.

          • Lee says:

            Hi - what were you diagnosed with? This is my symptoms 100% but I don't know what to do next 🙁

          • Kristi says:

            i have been suffering with this for over 25 years, and for the last 11 yrs can only eat pasta as a dinner meal, my can eat list is down to approx 6 items. I CANNOT Thank You enough for this info and can't believe I haven't seen this before.
            Thank You!

          • Jessica says:

            I've had digestive issues for years. I use to be gluten free and I found it helped a lot but, then the symptoms started coming back and so I reintroduced it to my diet. I noticed that certain foods like apples or raw onions really bother me as well as anything packaged with sugar alcohols, inulin, or oligosaccharides. I just started taking probiotics and digestive enzymes to see if they help. Where I am confused is if I have to follow a FODMAP diet or just a low fructose and fructans diet. I do not think I have issues with lactose or some of the other sugars and I think my problems are specific to the fructose, fructans, inulin, and oligosaccharides. Would you suggest eliminating all FODMAPS or just the ones I listed?

          • Angela says:

            I honestly can't remember a time when I didn't have stomach issues. Stomach aches when I was a kid. Always feeling nauseous. I just assumed I ate too much, or that I was just lactose intolerant. However, once I was in college, the symptoms got real bad. At the time, me and my family just agreed that maybe it was stress related. I would feel extremely weak and light headed. Vomiting until nothing but stomach acid was coming up, and diarrhea. After a few hours, and with nothing left in my stomach to throw up, I would finally fall asleep in a ball. After sleeping for hours, I would wake up like nothing happened. No stomach aches. Nothing. It got so bad, that my parents pretty much forced me to go to ER. They diagnosed me w/Gastritis. I went to see a specialist, who basically told me to drink more water (which for the past 4 or so years, has been my drink of choice) and eat more fiber. He also suggested that I take Fiber pills. Taking the fiber pills helped for a while, but I wasn't too keen on taking pills for life. So I decided to try and introduce more fiber into my diet by eating more fiber rich foods (aka veggies and fruits). I thought I was really doing fine since I was eating healthy. But my stomach issues never went away. I just learned to deal w/being gassy all the time, always feeling bloated, constipated, nauseous, fatigued, and light headed. I'm not a huge fan of doctors, so I plan to try out the elimination diet for about 3-4 weeks. Hopefully that will help.

  7. Jordan says:

    I definitely notice I get the neurological symptoms mentioned in this article when I eat a ton of fruit. I made the mistake of making myself a big fruit smoothie with bananas, mangos, berries, and a few dates. I got a short burst of energy and it was all downhill from there. I had a massive headache that lasted 4 hours. It pretty much stopped shortly after I ate a steak/veggie/potato dinner. Oddly enough I notice this doesn't happen to the same degree when I eat other forms of sugar. I can eat lots of sweet potatos without getting that massive sugar crash. Very weird

    • Roman G says:

      Hey Brett , I was wondering what happens to you if you have coffee . Are you saying that coffee is related to fructose ? I myself have never been able to tolerate caffine , it just makes me feel more tired and brain fogged . I just made the fructose connection myself . Have been suffering for years from malabsorbtion , brain fog , failure to gain weight , and ulcerative colitis . Went gluten free a month ago now will watch the fructose. Nobody believed it when I told them apples make me feel bad . My doctor even tried to refer me to a psychiatrist .

      • Brett says:

        It is best to see a dietician who is experienced with a low FODMAP diet that can assist you with planning a diet that ensures you get enough nutrients.

        • Ann says:

          Thanks for the info. I was suffering from tiredness and mood swings for years before finally being diagnosed with Fructose Malabsorbtion (although I was told Fructose Intolerance). So happy to have answers. My only question, especially as a breast-feeding Mom is: How do I make sure I'm getting enough nutrients in my diet. Not being able to eat a lot of fruit or veggies leaves me carbo-loading and I'm afraid that I and the baby are not getting a good diet. Any suggestions?

          • Sloane says:

            I have had stomach issues ever since i can remember. Im a 30yr old male and im pretty active. I always had a hard time gaining weight until i was in my late 20's. Most of my family has IBS, so it was not a surprise to me when i started having symptoms at around age 15. My symptoms were always pretty manageable until about 2 years ago.. then all hell broke lose.. I went though a colonoscopy, and they just told me what i already knew.. You have IBS.. Well, i started drinking more water and added more fiber.. Felt better for about 6 months.. then again.. all hell broke lose. I was so sick that it was hard to commute to work, or do anything that makes life enjoyable. I once again went back to the DR. They gave me an endoscopy and confirmed that i did not have celiac's, and said that i have IBS and GERD, gave me some meds and recommended that i try the FODMAPS diet.. i kinda dismissed it for a few weeks, but to my dismay started getting WORSE.. So i was like.. ok.. lets do this. I was lucky that my wife agreed to try out this FODMAP diet.. i have only been on it for 4 days and already feel 90% better.. its crazy how fast i started to feel better. Im still on the illumination part of it.. But im pretty certain that Fructose is the culprit for my sickness. After looking at the ingredients of a lot of the food that i was eating, i quickly realized that most of it has fructose in it, and i was a heavy soda drinker. I now think that the reason i got better the first time was due to the flush i had to do for the exam and the starting of not drinking soda and more water. I know this is getting long.. I just want to say that if you have not tired this diet to find out. DO SO NOW.. i had tried everything and spent so much money and time sick. The soulition is so easy. Im still not sure how im going to modify my diet for the long haul.. My hope are that i can tolerate low fructose foods ok, as the American diet is packed with it and it would be a really hard diet.

          • Sharon says:

            I self diagnosed myself with fructose malabsorption about 6 years ago. I have been trough all the abdominal pain, nausea, constipation, and gas. So occasionally I check the internet for any new info about fructose malabsorption, when I came across your site. I have a question for you. Do you have any instant reactions when eating fructose? Such as hot flashes or flushed feeling.

          • CarliN says:

            I have a sister in law, 2 nephews and 3 nieces with fructose malabsorption, with one of those nephews having it very severely. I'm worried that my 8 month old son might have it, but is there a way to know for sure with a baby? He has a hard time pooping (once he went 16 days), and is now on Miralax. His Dr said he probably has an immature digestive system, and his body will learn as he gets older, but I'm not so sure. He only gets 1/2 -1 jar of baby food a day, usually veggies. Not fruit. Anybody have experience with a baby? What symptoms should I look for in him?

          • Lib says:

            Ugh thank goodness for this! I have been feeling most of the symptoms above after eating apples for the past year or so (since they are pretty much the only fruit offered at uni). So glad I know what to avoid to make my body happier!

          • Laura says:

            Hi, I'm wondering if fermented coconut milk is ok. Does the fructans get eaten up during fermentation? Thanks-

          • lizzie newell says:

            My symptoms and tastes in food seems to fit the symptom list nicely. My sister and mother have similar tastes in foods. It may be genetic. Here's the problem. My mom has Alzheimers and is living entirely on Ensure nutrition shakes. She has gas and diarrhea and her fingernails are growing poorly. Are their low fructose nutrition shakes? If not are their good alternatives?

  8. Jessica says:

    Hi Brett,
    Thank you for sharing your story.
    I was diagnosed with FM about a fortnight ago and so am still struggling with coming to terms with what I can and cant eat. I like most sufferers experienced the stomach pain, bloating and indigestion symptoms but my FM also resulted in daily severe migraines for almost a year before my diagnosis. After doing a lot of research I discovered that even though I thought I was eating a fairly healthy diet full of lots of fruits and vegetables and a lack of preservatives, everything I was eating was actually making me sick. One of the major problems I am facing is lots of different information sources telling me different things about what I can and cant eat. Because of this I have been left having to work with trial and error with me yesterday discovering chocolate is a definite no no from now on as is broccoli and coconut. To top it all off I am a vegetarian so at the moment I am basically living off potatoes and eggs.
    I was wondering if anyone on this page could give me any advice or guidance based on their own personal experiences as I will find this more helpful than the advice from non fm suffering doctors etc.

    • Margaret Nagelk... says:

      Two years ago I was diagnosed with cancer of my right lung. A lobe was removed surgically and thereafter chemo therapy was recommended to "catch" any remaining cancer cells. The by effects of chemo therapy were inhuman and among them was vomiting and swollen abdomen, especially around my waist. I started putting on weight even tho I ate very little. I was recommended to make an appointment with a liver, stomach and intestine specialist. A hydrogen breath test was done and the diagnosis Lactose Intolerance was the result. In June of 2014 cancer was discovered in my other lung. Stereo tactic radio therapy was recommended, which was done in July. My abdomen was still distended, plus pain, flatulence and severe exhaustion. Due to my cancer problem I did not do anything about the abdominal problem. In December 2014, after a CT scan of my lungs to see what the effect was of the radio therapy, my right lung was "clean", the left lung was "burned" due to the therapy but . . 2 more lesions were seen. My next CT scan will be in March '15. This background info may not be interesting to people with intolerance - BUT I must address my intolerance. I was recommended to visit a dietician - which I have done - and now I've started the elimination diet two days ago. Here in the Netherlands it's almost impossible to even read the contents of food packages, maybe I have to just stick to the 'liberal' food list?

      • Kris says:

        I was diagnosed over 10 years ago. It is a constant struggle. I have just recently realized that sorbitol contained in medicinal gel caps brings on the same symptoms, so one more thing for us to be aware of.

        • Joy says:

          I'm thrilled to have found all this info and also to know that others are as confused as I am about what diet to follow. I would be happy to have bloating, gas and burping. My symptoms are so much more severe. It happens every four days to a week. Recently I went for over two months by adhering closely to the diet. My symptoms start with a violently running nose and sneezing. Then violent vomiting till nothing is left in my stomach. After that I have the worst diarrhea I have ever had lasting for at least a day. After I've slept for 12 hours I usually feel fine! Does anyone else have these symptoms?

          • Becky says:

            Dear Brett, I was diagnosed with FM 3 years ago. I am starving, yet I have gained 65 pounds in that 3 years. I'm miserable, but I have a very demanding job and a single mom of two who need me, so I fight on. Doctors in Houston, Texas (huge medical center) simply say.."Little is known about it." There's no real support. Is there anyone doing research on this subject? I need a diet expert who cares and is knowledgeable. Thank you for your blog and honesty.

          • Gina says:

            Did your diet stop the panic attacks? I am in a similar situation and just starting to eliminate foods.

          • Kelly says:

            Hello,

            I'm confused. Why are corn tortillas okay to eat, but not whole corn? I would think that the corn in the tortillas is more concentrated compared to regular corn.

            ???

            Thanks for your website.

          • Emily says:

            I recently tested positive for FM. I'm relieved that I have an answer as to why I was feeling so crappy (literally!) but I'm also dejected that so many of the foods I love are off limits. Not to be dramatic, but I feel like I'm in a state of grief. I drove past a favorite restaurant today and realized that I wouldn't be able to eat there again. It's crazy how attached we become to food.

            I have a few frustrations/questions that I would like to share:
            1. I feel a little bit betrayed by my body. My boyfriend is a vegetarian and I was slowly transitioning to a more vegetable-based diet and feeling good about it. I thought I was making a healthy choice and that my boyfriend and I would be able to share meal times. Now a lot of the foods I have been relying on are no longer allowed. I'm worried that meals with my boyfriend will end up being two separate experiences. Has anyone here tried to eat vegetarian on a low-fructose diet? What would you recommend?

            2. The information available online about FM diets is incredibly inconsistent. I understand that some people have different abilities to tolerate different food and that probably accounts for the discrepancies. Is there a resource online that gives a numerical value to the fructose, fructose:glucose ratios, and fructans? If there was a database that gave those values, I think it would make it easier for each of us to discern our own intolerances without a lot of the guesswork.

            3. If there are people out there in the app-development world, how about working on an app to help keep track of fructose malabsorption issues? An app that would allow its users to track meals, symptoms, and intolerances, as well as maintain a list foods. would contribute greatly to the management of the condition. Has anyone heard of anything like this?

            4. I also think it would also be great to participate in some online forums to share recipes, fructose-friendly food alternates, and even develop strategies for dealing with situations like eating at a friend's or dining out. Does anyone know of such a community?

            5. The development of clearer labelling of High Fructose Corn Syrup on food packaging would be another helpful development and might require the organization of people like us.

            Good luck to everyone!

          • Robena Lasley says:

            Hello Renee, I thought I was the only one with those kind of crazy symptoms. I drank a large banana/fruit smoothie one morning, then went grocery shopping and passed out right in the middle of Walmart. Most embarrassing! If I get too much fructose at one time, I get
            dizzy/unbalanced and my heart starts skipping beats like its gone crazy. I had all kinds of heart tests with them finding no major problems, so I narrowed down my symptoms to when I overindulge with fructose. I try to keep consumption to a minimum, but occasionally it sneaks up on me.

          • Debbie says:

            I too was eating "healthy" the apple a day sometimes two
            Had numerous trips to er with shakes fainting dizzy etc, told I was having panic attacks
            Now three yrs on found out I have fructose intolerance along with gluten lactose and many others main diagnosis scleroderma and severe sleep apnea
            Diet has certainly made my life much easier I still believe our food and lifestyle are our biggest enemies

  9. Brett says:

    Hi Dianna, without having the test, its hard to tell if you have fructose malabsorption or not. It is well worth the short term discomfort of completing the hydrogen breathe tests, than suffering from bloating every day. I strongly suggest that you speak to a doctor and go get tested. I hope this helps. Brett

    • Liz Suarez says:

      I don't know what I have and we don't have testing available in my country but it sounds like you'd understand where I'm coming from.
      I've always had joint paints as a child and had unexplained (not even doctors had a Dx) for recurring stomache pain. In college (about 13 yrs back) I noticed that when I drank beer/soda quickly, some gas like feeling would creep up from my back, rise up to my shoulder, down to my arms and I'd start feeling 'out of breath' and in pain. I thought I was just allergic to beer - like my dad. Then I noticed the same thing with bottled juices too so I avoided them. And then I noticed the same reaction with natural fruit juices especially with Apple and pineapple. Recently, I noticed this with any drink with crib syrup - starbucks, milk tea, etc. And now I can't even eat a small apple without feeling bad after.
      The feeling is really horrible. I am bent over in pain when I take sugary food items especially those with corn syrup. Help. How do I start on my recovery? My doctors have initially diagnosed me with fibromyalgia because of my constant pain but this malabsorption problem could be the real cause. Perhaps there is hope for me to live pain-free.

      • Brenda Wesa says:

        Digestive enzymes are the only way I get through my day. I had lasagne and some cranberry juice and I am suffering today. I always thought i had iBS but now after reading all these comments it is like a light has just come on. Now I know what to avoid. Thank you all for sharing.

        • Karin says:

          Hi Nicole - My daughter was diagnosed 1.5 years ago and I was equally frustrated as the lists of foods to avoid are not consistent. So we started by eliminating the really obvious foods that are sky-high in fructose like fruit juice, dried fruits, apples, pears, and all foods that contain high fructose corn syrup and/or corn syrup as well as honey and maple syrup. Also, for the first few weeks, she did not eat any fruit on an empty stomach. For example, I would suggest she finish her sandwich at lunch before eating any berries or citrus fruit (both are fine for her). She felt significantly better after just 48 hours on the reduced fructose diet. We then did our own trial and error and kept a journal of which foods caused her distress and which were okay. Unlike some fructose malabsorption patients, she is fine with garlic and onions in moderation. Some lists say no honeydew, watermelon, nor grapes, but she is fine with the latter two. Some lists say maple syrup is okay -- not for her! I don't know if this is because it affects different people different ways, or if the information is still evolving. But my advice would be to start by eliminating the obvious food offenders, and keep a journal on the rest. It has worked for us and life has become much easier. She has even been able to add a small apple back to her diet (after one year of no apples), as long as she limits it to once or twice per week. Initially, I spent a lot of time at the grocery store reading ingredient list to make sure no HFCS. But now we know which brands are okay, so I stick with those. She is fine with grain products does not need to adhere to a strict FODMAP diet, thankfully. I hope this helps. The first couple of months are hard as you figure it out, but then it gets much, much easier. I wish your daughter well.

          • Lindsey says:

            We are all part of club that we really don't want to be! Quick warning for those of you that have been tolerating these symptoms for a long time (15 yrs of pain and specialists for me) I now have lots of gallstones that cause almost constant pain due to non diagnosed FM. I also have autoimmune thyroidosis, shouldn't do wheat, green veg or dairy. Love healthy food but I get bloating and gallstone pain now. I've been to nutritionists to try to discover what to eat but to no avail. One thing that you might find helpful is the eating of fruit with fat in the form of nuts or cream if you can take it. It slows down the digestion and reduces bloating. Obviously keep the quantities small but it works for me. Please post any ideas on what we can eat! Good luck all!

          • Nicole says:

            My daughter was just diagnosed. I am very frustrated because every website says something different. The food lists are all a little different.

          • Carole says:

            I have just started on the elimination diet and have been so confused by different information. I just came a crossed your info and feel pretty hopeful. As far as the diet, no problem doing this. I have more info to help me plan meals. Thank you!! I'm on day 2 so I have a way to go.
            This is step 1 to finding answers.

          • Meaghan says:

            I am so glad I came across your site. my two young boys were just diagnosed this morning with dietary fructose intolerance. We had previously thought I was dairy issues and I still need to get that tested. Looking at the list of foods to avoid, it was all that my kids love best. We are just starting our journey and it is overwhelming. I look forward to figuring out now what can be eaten and start a road to healing.

          • Lyn says:

            Holy cow. I've been suffering from the same nasty bloating, gas, nasty belches and vomiting for the last 14 years... We went to specialist after specialist and even had my gall bladder removed at 14 years old! Still nothing. No answers. I'm now 27 and the last few days have been awful for me. I've been caving a ton of sweet stuff lately which is very Uncharacteristic of me (normally I'm not a sweets fan). I decided to do a little google search to see what I could do to relieve this horribly distended stomach of mine... Something I've done before but this time something caught my eye! The words "fructose malabsorption". I had noticed that despite my caving for sugary things I kept getting sick after eating them but really didn't make the connection. I'll be making a call to my doctor to see about getting a hydrogen breath test done and hopefully I can stop suffering after 14 years of hell!

          • Edy says:

            Hi Brett, thanks for your site. And hi fellow sufferers. I tested positive for fructose malabsorption about a year ago. However I can eat tomatoes, lettuce, carrots and green peas. Not tomato juice however, it's sweetened with corn syrup. Also fresh steamed artichokes.

            Just curious... have any other sufferers experienced a sudden fructose intolerance after a heavy dose of antibiotics?

  10. Dianna says:

    Hi Bret, I have been readying about fructose malabsorption, I have been having terrible pain in my stomach, feels like a flu bug, into my small intestines. Terrible gas, bloating, extension etc. than it happens about 1/2 hour after I eat fruit or raw vegetables, Onions, garlic and raw peppers etc. Than the pain sets in about 1/2 and it last for 2 to 3 hours. I usually have to take gas pills and tylenol to help with the pain, than I get extremely tired all day. I just wanted to know if you think this is fructose malabsorption before I go to the doctor for the gruling test? I am afraid to drink this fructose drink for the pain I will have.

    • Brian Rushby says:

      I have been suffering for a very long time. All the symptoms above in the extreme. My doctor doesn't understand and thinks I have "just" IBS. At times the effects can last a week and I feel like I have a severe hangover and have been in a fIght with a gorilla, I also have deep depression and extreme tiredness, can sleep fO4 3/4 days.

      • Deb says:

        My daughter (Phoebe), who just celebrated her 10th birthday was diagnosed with fructose malabsorption disorder three weeks ago. She was on an elimination diet and has been on the low FODMAP diet for two weeks. We have been very careful to follow all the guidelines for returning her to health. This weekend she has had very bad tummy aches just like she used to have prior to beginning the diet. This morning she is throwing up water because that is the only thing she has in her stomach. She has not deviated from the FODMAP diet, so I don't understand what happened. She is also burping a lot. She doesn't want to eat because of how she's feeling, but I have to get her to eat something. Any comments and suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you.

        • Cali says:

          This article was perfect for what I was looking for. My boyfriend is has fructose malabsorption, and we mostly eat just potatoes and meat every night. It's kind of hard understanding that he can't have sugar, and he likes to jump off the bandwagon a lot. Hopefully, I understand it a bit more and can help more. Thanks!

          • Janice says:

            Thank you Brett for your webpage and all who have contributed, I have been on the mission to find out what was causing ... yes you know the bloating, burping, wind, constipation, brain fog, tiredness etc. I have just had the hydrogen test. I had actually had some control over symptoms for a while and then wham with the dose of fructose for the test it is all on again. I reckon I will have it settled again in a few weeks but now finding like others that it goes way beyond fruit. Food combinations, amount eaten, exercise and I am sure there are other factors influence this. Well at least knowledge is power and we can make changes to improve our health.

          • Dave Moran says:

            Hi I was diagnosed ibs years ago then 3 years ago after becoming totally enigmac I underwent a coeliac test which was positive hurray end of problems with stomach pains roids [ 40 years ) but I was still getting bloating etc then I discovered lactose intolerance doctors did not put coeliacs and lactose together which would have solved my main problem everything was going ok till I changed my cereal I started feeling fatigued and thought I had been glutened !! But after a little research I checked my cereal box and the culprit was inulin !! So now I keep any fructose low . Being a coeliac I m able to drink cider but find after a couple of pints I get indigestion is this due to the fructose or something else ? GReat article very informative .

          • H.G. says:

            Pete, Thanks for posting. Your symptoms and the resulting impacts seem very similar to my own. I react to fruits and vegetables but fructans in whole grains, beans, brown rice, etc. are even worse. I was diagnosed with IBS more than 20 years ago; IBS being the catch all for everything digestive that can't be explained. But in the last 2-3 years it became out of control, my body was not holding any nutrients everything was going right through me so I had to do something. Contrary to some posters here I put on weight; burgers and fries were safe, everything healthy seemed to hurt. Also I felt the need to feed it. I physically felt the need to quell the sugar, feed the bacteria; I’m not sure. I connected with a dietitian but ultimately I came to the FrucMal diagnosis myself; using Google. I'm not sure how anyone here in Western Canada could be formally diagnosed since there is no clinical information here. When I mentioned it to my doctor he was not familiar at all; to his credit he did seem to find it very interesting. Day to Day I feel so, so much better than I did before I self diagnosed, IBS symptoms GONE. However when I do stray, a muffin, a sweet alcoholic beverage, or too many onions I pay for it for 2-3 days before it's right again. I can generally handle gluten and dairy but I do avoid them during bad times as they seem to feed the bacteria. It’s interesting to hear that others get that 2-5 inch bloating in there stomach and that I am not alone. I have tried Coconut Oil and it didn't work for me. Also Almond Milk was just OK but high heat pasteurized milk worked better. I hope you are having some luck expanding your menu, please share if you have new discoveries; if you are so inclined. 🙂 H.G.

          • Shona George says:

            Great website. I have found you in the very early hours of this morning after being in pain all night with abdo cramps, tummy gurgling and all that rest. I am currently doubled up on the floor and are waiting for the pain to go away after having some Gastrosooth (buscopan). I'm not sure what has set me off again, i have been symptom free for week! I'm thinking it is the sweet potato i ate last night?? or maybe it was the small plum from yesterday? My journey with fructose malabsorption started 3 years ago after the birth of our 4th child. I have had hospital admissions, trips to specialists, and endless nights of vomitting, what i call 'Niagra fall' diarrhoea, revolting sulphur burps and yes lots pain !!! I found out that i suffer from was fructose malabsorption after a gastro specialist appnt. This has been a long journey for me. It has changed everything about the way i eat. I am still anaemic and on iron tabs, and was a shocking sugar junky!! I have recently cut out coffee, and started eating more greens and eating heaps more nuts; which to my surprise, i now hardly have this mad craving for chocolate! Anyhoo... i have a busy day a head, so i am looking forward for the diarrhoea to pass and these cramps to go away, and to get on with my day.
            Take care all x

          • Barb says:

            Yes, it's helped me, as has this website. Thank you! Yesterday I felt so sick after eating a banana - has never happened before, but I realised ages ago, I couldn't eat an apple on an empty stomach, and only recently, that oranges make me nauseous. Your idea of eating them along with something else with glucose in, would explain why I don't always feel sick. Also I now remember googling about peaches because I felt so sick after eating one. It all starts to fit together! I've just stacked my fridge with soft fruits for a healthier regime. I shall make sure I put some sugar on my yoghurt with them.

          • Jo Dreier says:

            I have suffered from stomach and abdominal bloating and pain for four or five years. In fact, I've landed in the emergency room three times, mostly within the last eight or nine months. The last time I visited the ER they determined that my stomach was distended and as big as a football (apparently it's usually the size of a fist). They had to pump my stomach to relieve the pressure of the gas. It was extremely painful. No one has been able to diagnose what has been going on, in part, I think because my fructose and lactose malabsorption (why is spell check telling me this is the wrong) is complicated by vasovagal syncope (a really nasty reaction to pain that feels like a heart attack sometimes) and by fundoplication surgery I had several years ago. In fundoplication the surgeon reshapes the valve between the esophagus and stomach and one horrible side effect for me has been my inability to throw up or even belch well. Finally, I was referred to a new GI doc, who set me up for a series of breath tests. The last one was fructose, and I was off the charts. I will see doc and dietitian next week to find out what to eat and what to not eat, but this website is very helpful, if a little frightening. Very little fruit from now on forever? Sounds awful. But at least I have a diagnosis. Other than this problem, I'm a slender, health-food eating female in my 60s.

  11. Doris kay says:

    When I first was diagnozed F.I.
    Dr. Told me to reduce frutose and he put me on
    nortripline for pain
    I passed out or fainted at work
    The all took it for dehydration and hot weather
    all test were normal in ER
    General practioner said that nortripline tend to low blood sugar
    and then I feel being on a low sugar diet
    May hav contributed to low blood sugar
    so I am basically trying to keep the sugars low and I think low fiber diet
    I have only been diagnosed three or so weeks

    • Samantha courtney says:

      My 11 yr old daughter had breath test for both lactose and fructose. Scored very high in fructose74 and low in lactose 12. Problem is she seems intolerant to lactose and whilst being on lactose free diet has no symptoms( only symptom severe nausea) she has no symptoms of being fructose intolerant. Don't no what to do. Don't know if she should be on a reduced fructose diet if she has no symptoms.

      • Rachel says:

        Great article with a lot of useful information. I just don't understand what brought this on. I have not had any stomach or digestive issues in more than a couple years and was never fructose malabsorbed(is that a word?) before. I made no changes to my diet (which is very healthy) and one day the stomach pain, bloating, gas, and diarrhea started and has not gone away since (5 weeks ago). It felt like it came out of no where. Any thoughts as to what brings it on? I am starting today on a low FODAMP diet. Hopefully it helps and maybe in the future can eat apples again 🙁 Thanks so much!!

        • emine kumcu says:

          Two things help me with extreme cases, mint tea but I use the mint that you would use in your cooking, loose mint in hot water. I bought one pound of mint just for this purpose. The other thing is apparently fructose and glucose use the same transporter, I eat sugar and that helps me as well. Usually you will have the irritation within 10 - 15 minutes after eating fructose rich food. Immediately have mint tea and have lots of sugar. You can put sugar in the mint tea as well.

          I have to ER twice and found out about fructose malabsorption in my 60s!

          • Emine Kumcu says:

            I think I have fructose malabsorption. symptoms are when i eat foods high in fructose content I have abdominal pain, extreme gas that lasts for about 24 hours, accompanied with fatigue. What is helping me is, adding sugar to my fruits or foods that are high in fructose. What I have read is, fructose malabsorption happens because we don't have fructose transporter. However, if we eat sugar, fructose is carried into the cells by the glucose transporter. This has worked for me every time. If you eat fructose rich foods to empty stomach, the problem is more severe compared to eating them after a meal for instance. I hope this helps at least to some people.

          • tom says:

            Aside from the fodmap diet do you recommend any other diet? it seems the fructose list you provided is so much easier to eliminate and control whereas the fodmap diet eliminates so much. Im fructose and lactose intolerant. I dont care for the dairy but trying to adjust this fructose diet and simplify it somewhat. I have been trying the fodmap diet and now im feeling like im loosing weight not in a good way. I go food shopping and leave empty....
            thanks for any advice

          • Pete M says:

            Hi - I am a FrMal dude - diagnosed about 3 years ago, I found all the info very conflicting out there and found you have to piece it together. I have just been learning about low FOBMAPS and think they are onto something right there. One of the biggest issues out there that I have found is that no one seems to realise the nastiness of fructains in GRAINS - they all go on about fruit and fruit juice, but those darn grains are evil spelt EVIL. I never cook with onions or garlic anymore again fructains not fructose, I have very little capsicum, I limit tomatoes, I don't rot my guts with coke, I avoid white flour as much as possible, I never drink fruit juice, I never eat apples or watermelon anymore at all, I do have blue berries,strawberries, kiwi fruit no worries a little bit of fresh pineapple, small amounts of oranges or mandarins, bananas (some people say should be ripe as - I disagree my practice would say between green and yellow and everything is mellow)Lemon juice is my friend and very alkalising too, some people say broccoli is ok for me its a nightmare, spinnich is awesome, kale is awesome, potatoes all good, but those sweet potatoes and pumpkin are bad with a capitol B for me but if I have a very small amount of one with out the other I will be ok. Its a bit of a journey but you begin to work out what is right for you. Beans, baked beans, lentils, mongbeans etc seem to be messengers from Satan himself - I stay off them. I can deal with small doses of carrots and sometimes a bit more - I know some people cant that are FM. I also wont eat shop brought yoghurt its not good for me or full cream milk which is not milk any more but some concoction of evil powders rehydrated and added to milk and them they all have the crap heated out of them, I don't do skim milk either - I am about to try Almond Milk - I hear it is successful for some people. I never use margarine I only use butter - but I am about to try coconut oil - has any one had success or difficulties with it? A2 milk seems good - I am not lactose intolerant but I just do not like how so called milk feels in my guts. I got some genuine A2 milk direct from the farm recently from a mate - no heat processes etc - straight from the cow and chilled and it was flipping awesome. I don't white wine - bad - a little dry red is ok for me, the odd better quality beer seems to be fine but a European wheat beer or a sweet cider oh nasty nasty. I find that most peoples GF buns and bread are just as evil as normal white flour or other grains, and its full of other nasty crap that is just toxic to people like you and me. I don't do muesli, bran, rye, all bran wheat bix, nutrigrain granola or any of that stuff it will dam near kill me. Watch protein powders they can have hidden fructose and fractins google all the fancy words to find out exactly what the additives are, some of that stuff can make you ill as - there are some organic pea protein powders. Cornflakes and rice bubbles never hurt me or make me ill. Some one said before about fainting on wrong food - darn straight - if I ate Spagetti Bolognaise with garlic onions and heaps of tomato on either brown rice or spaghetti followed by a glass of Chardonnay or Riesling or Savi Blanc or a sweet apple cider followed by apple pie or sticky date pudding - I would be wiped out after 20 minutes almost comatose for about 2 hours, my brain would be foggy for about 12 hours, my guts would swell 2 to 5 inches, I would have extreme abdominal pain, I would fart and burp and stink like anything and it would take me 18 to 48 hours to get over it. This stuff can nock you out man. Hey good website dude - glad someone out here is onto it and got a place for people who have had no idea what the hang is wrong with them can come to after being told for years the have either Celiac, IBS, Diabetes, their Lazy, their Fat, stupid or lying, after being told to eat grains and bran and muesli and all sorts of stuff that was just a toxic cocktail to their body. Thanks heaps Pete

          • Maddy says:

            Hi Brett. I was diagnosed with FM and Lactose Intolerance about 2 years ago. I never really stuck with the elimination diet, so I decided to officially go through with it during the summer. I just had some questions I was hoping you might help me with. How long do you go through with the elimination diet before trying new foods to test your tolerance? I've read a lot of conflicting information lately and was just looking for a straight answer. Also, I've heard people refer to testing foods at the end of the elimination diet, but then having a separate "Test-Phase" following the elimination diet. Are they two different things? I would appreciate any help you can offer. Thanks so much. All of the information you've provided has already been very helpful.

          • Danielle says:

            I was diagnosed in Feb of this year. I have gone Gluten and mainly Fructose free. My main problem now is if I fall off the wagon for some reason, I feel it for a week and it is so hard to sit at a computer at work and have horrible fog head! My eyes don't focus and I feel extremely tired even though I should not be. I was at the Relay for Life this weekend and didn't eat right and paid for it Saturday night and Sunday and have not been right since. There is no one in my area to talk to about FM so I am glad to have found this page!

          • Danielle says:

            I have found that if I start feeling yucky, I can eat a small package of Smartie candy and it helps to counteract the icks.

  12. katie says:

    hi, my 6 year old daughter has recently been diagnosed and we are just getting to grips with cutting out the fructose. I am constantly checking label at the minute until we have a hold of it, if the label doesn't say anything about "fructose" but has the word "sugar" on it is that ok for her to eat??

    • Julie says:

      Hi, enjoying reading your comments and finding fellow sufferers. I'm following a strict low fodmap and low carb diet ( for insulin resistance) but today was out shopping and had GF muffins from Muffin Break......now i am really suffering with pains, bloating, nausea and gas. very uncomfortable. I won't be eating out again anytime soon when the ingredient list is not available, have googled MB site and read the loooong list of ingredients, some heavy duty,banned additives in their muffins. Does anyone have experience with these muffins?

      • Kate says:

        It appears my 13 year old daughter has fructose malabsorption. She is scheduled to breath test, dietician etc. I don't suffer from abdominal pain, but she hasn't been to school for 10 days. While adjusting her diet is there anything we can do to relieve the pain in the short term. Have tried heat packs, warm/hot baths, laxatives, buscopan and now have mix from naturopath - includes cinnamon, licorice, peppermint, chamomile and other things. Poor darling - I just want her to feel better. Sigh... Any advice welcomed.

        • JBD says:

          I was diagnosed with fructose malabsorption a few years ago, and although I try to cut out high fructose foods, I still seem to have problems. Soemtimes when I do eat tomatoes or honey I'm fine - it all feels like a crap shoot - until I tried the Whole30 diet/Paleo diet. OMG I was more bloated, my GI track suffered than ever before! I read all the good things about the diet, but a lot of consists of sweet potatoes, veggies and fruit! I was bummed that this "healthy/clean eating" was actually doing me more harm than good. I'm thinking maybe a digestive enzyme might help? anyone tried these?

          • Brett says:

            Hi Renee, thanks for leaving a comment! I haven't had to go to the emergency room with my conditions luckily. Please ensure that you are seeking professional medical advice if this is happening to you.

          • Renee Wilds says:

            I just recently found out that my fructose test results were consistent with fructose intolerance. I can understand some of my abdominal issues because I have had pains here and there. What I wondering has your intolerance/malabsorption landed you in the ER due to fainting, tachycardia and then just disappear?

          • Jeanette says:

            Can anyone help...I have an 18 month old who is allergic to milk egg soya and all fruits I recently bought her Benylin cough syrup as it contained liquorice etc instead of fruit flavours but my baby rashed all over so I Googled the ingredients and found it contains fructose?? Why is this not mentioned anywhere on the box? and any ideas for medicines I can give her? Thanks

          • vivienne says:

            Ive a similiar long story i have suffered with fructmal for twenty eight years without realising it. Having my son all these years ago triggered it. Ive been back and forth to docters this long being told its ibs sorry we cant really help. I was eating high fructose foods without realisin experiencin diarrohea bloating interupted sleep or no sleep if eating more than my body can tolerate. Last year november read an article online about fructmal online and knew straightaway these were my symptoms. I stopped sugar in tea and coffee and stopped eating fruit. The results were amazing ! No more diarrohea. I did have sibo test which was negative. Im following low fodmap diet although ive still got a way to go im gettin there with better sleep so dont give up hope.

          • jeni says:

            Hi. I have suffered with Ibs since I was a child and because of this had always had a healthy diet. During my pregnancy with my son 9 years ago, I ate tonnes of fruit as it was the only thing I that didn't give me morning sickness. After his birth my IBS was chronic for over a year and I was very run down, I lost half of my hair, had swollen joints, pin and needles, and was extremely fatigued. Eventually I was diagnosed with a B12 deficentcy, I was put on injections and felt great afterwards. As my Ibs continued to be bad and because they couldn't work out what had caused the low B12 they ran lost of tests on my stomach etc, I was given a barium meal and xrays. I had a really servere reaction to the barium drink which is apparently fructose based which is when the Consultant realised that I had fructose malabsorbtion. With days of giving up all fruit I was like a new woman. I occassionally will eat the odd strawberry or grape but any more than that and I suffer for days, personally I find orange juice ok in moderation. If I do eat an apple or fruit now I get a nasty after taste for hours after eating it. My advice would be if you have Ibs its worth cutting out fruit for 2 weeks to see what difference it makes to your life. I am sorry its so long but I always think the whole story is more helpful.

          • Mary says:

            I was told that peanuts and almonds are a fruit anc contain fructose. I have eliminated these from my diet and the symptom of bloating has lessened.

  13. Brett says:

    Hi Sandra. I'm glad the article was of help to you. Sometimes you think you are being healthy (an apple a day right?!) and it turns out you are actually poisoning your body! It would be worth your while speaking to your doctors and arranging a hydrogen breathe test to see if you have Fructose Malabsorption.

    • Brett says:

      Thanks for sharing your story quickchick! Going on a fructose free diet requires a lot of discipline. Cravings for particular foods can be really hard to manage. I'm really impressed that your daughter has been happy to go onto the diet. The benefits of good health are a great trade off for 'plain food' low FODMAP diets usually offer (it's getting better!)....But it must be super hard for her being fructose intolerant and allergic to eggs, nuts and sesame seeds!

      • Brett says:

        Hi Kate, maybe you are relapsing because the fructose food is building in your stomach again? Perhaps it would be a good idea to go on a strict Low FODMAP elimination diet again. Hopefully then the symptoms you are experiencing will die down and you will 'have it under control' once again. I know I go through periods of time where I'm lazy with my diet and start suffering all the symptoms. But I can usually get it sorted by being really strict around what I eat. Exercising daily can also help.

        • Sandra says:

          Hey Brett: Thank you for sharing, and enlightening me. I fancy myself a pretty healthy eater, with my snacks consisting of: multi grain crisps with hummus. Apple with tbps or 2 of almond butter. Grapes for dessert. Almonds with small amount of dried fruit. Mid afternoon I am very tired, barely able to keep my eyes open and a little dizzy, and bloat. I Googled hypo and hyperglycemia, but they didn't fit the bill. Then I found this post which sounds right because my problems are with fruit (I gave up eating raw vegetables years ago for the pain they caused). I also can't have processed sugar in any even small amount. May I whine for a moment, and I'm sure all readers here will agree....everywhere you turn, there's harping on eating healthy. It's just so unfair that when you do, it might not be healthy for YOU! And it's not like I'm choking down these foods - I love them! Well, on to continue my research in what on earth I can snack on since I need to eat 5 times a day. Thanks again for the share. Really enlightening!

          • quickchick says:

            Hi ,I am finding my way on the Fructose free journey too.
            My daughter,14, is on a fructose elimination diet. She has been on it for almost 4 weeks now. All her stomach pain has gone, which is wonderful. The thing is, we were supposed to be reintroducing foods but every time we try this the crippling stomach pain comes back! However, we have had sucess with introducing a small amount of onion.
            She can have two SMALL portions of fruit a day, (banana, pineapple,kiwi,orange,peach)which must not be eaten together and three SMALL portions of veg (mushroom, potato,courgette,pepper
            sweetcorn,swede ) She has no wheat or sugar on this diet. To add to the restrictions, she is also severely allergic to egg, nuts and sesame seeds.
            It is a terrible diet to get accustomed to, but worth all the effort to see my daughter pain free and happy. Most kids would be horrified to go on this diet, but she is just pleased it is helping her.

          • Kate says:

            Hi Brett, I've just been doing a search and came across your website. I was diagnosed a few years ago and generally have it under control however sometimes almost forget that I have it. I'm now suffering from a bloated stomach, excessive burping and stomach pain and looking for an easy answer to be pain free as it's been three days. Unfortunately there's no magic tablet for our issue!
            Would love to know if you have any advice.

          • Ele says:

            Brett, thanks for the note- yes , pain is not fun- was about to get a colon-oscopy again to see what was going on- was eating what i thought was a great diet - mangoes, broccoli, fresh apples , garlic, onions - never have been a soda drinker and eat healthy , so my pain was a mystery. had some surgery 30 yrs ago - they took out my illeocecal valve , so had to go gluten free after that and thought maybe my pain had to do with all that but was relieved when just not eating the fruit , garlic / onions did the trick . i am not one to run to the DR. unless i really need to - and have read about digestion and nutrition for over 40 yrs now- so I am my own dietitian - who knows me better than me? take care, may you continue to eat well and be well, Ele

          • brett says:

            Hi Ele, thanks for leaving a comment!

            Apples and Mango's can make things very uncomfortable for us fructose malabsorption sufferers! The relief you can get from adopting the low FODMAP diet is incredible. It makes you wonder how long you have been putting up with the symptoms of fructose malabsorption for. I certainly wish I'd worked out what was causing my stomach problems a lot earlier (I'll write about this soon...)

          • Ele says:

            oh yeah- was eating apples and mangos and in a lot of pain! been on
            the FODMAP free way of eating for a week and most of my aches and pains are gone- wonderful.

  14. Katrina says:

    I have a question: you state that blueberries are on the "safe" list of fruits, but you also have blueberries on the list of fruits to avoid...it can't be both, so please clarify. Also, carrots are very high in fructose...actually they are known as "fructose sticks".. so why do you have carrots listed on the "safe" list? Please clarify this discrepancy as well.

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