What is fructose mal-absorption?

So what is a fructose? It is a sugar found naturally in certain foods like wheat, honey, onions, and apples; just to name a few.

So therefore Fructose mal-absorption is a digestive disorder in which sufferers are lacking the appropriate, let’s call them "fructose taxis". These little guys are responsible for moving fructose through our intestines and when they are “on strike”, fructose concentration increases causing inflammation and deterioration.

Symptoms of Fructose mal-absorption are not that dissimilar to IBS (irritable bowel syndrome); bloating, intermittent constipation and diarrhoea, nausea, cramps and stomach pain.
Diagnosis of Fructose mal-absorption can be done via a test called "hydrogen breath test". The general outcome of the test is to locate unabsorbed fructose in the intestinal tract. The procedure for the breath test in simple steps is: blow into the breathalyser device (just like being tested for blood alcohol reading by police), after that first reading, you drink a high sugar drink and about 15 minutes after consumption you do another breath test to see if your reading has changed. You do this same procedure for a couple of hours.

If your practitioner finds a change in your reading, they will advise you to avoid certain foods to decrease symptoms and hopefully to make you feel on top of the world again!


Foods to avoid:

Apple

Pear

Mango

Watermelons

Prunes

Figs

All Dried Fruit (dried fruit has higher sugars than fresh fruit)

Honey

Any fruit based products including drinks
Coconut products
Wheat products including pasta, bread, biscuits and sauces.