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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Do you often feel bloated and tired after eating? You may be one of the many people who suffer from fructose intolerance. This is a condition that occurs when the body cannot digest fructose, a type of sugar found in some vegetables, fruits, and honey.
Fructose intolerance can cause various symptoms, including abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting. If you think you may have fructose intolerance, it is important to see a doctor for diagnosis and treatment. In this blog post, we will discuss all you need to know about fructose intolerance.
Types of fructose intolerance
There are two types of fructose intolerance:
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Hereditary fructose intolerance- It is a rare genetic disorder that causes the body to be unable to break down fructose. This type of fructose intolerance usually develops in infancy or early childhood.
Children whose parents suffer from fructose intolerance have a 25% chance of inheriting the condition. It usually happens when the aldolase B enzyme is missing or does not work properly.
Symptoms of hereditary fructose intolerance include abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, and vomiting within 30 minutes to two hours after eating foods that contain fructose. If left untreated, the condition can lead to weight loss, malnutrition, and liver damage.
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Dietary fructose intolerance- This type of fructose intolerance is more common and develops mostly in adulthood and can be affected by stress, Crohn’s disease, celiac disease, alcohol consumption, and certain medications.
Unlike hereditary fructose intolerance, which is caused when the aldolase B enzyme stops working, dietary fructose intolerance happens when the cells in the intestines responsible for breaking down fructose are damaged. This makes it difficult for the body to process and absorb fructose.
Dietary fructose intolerance can cause symptoms such as abdominal pain, diarrhea, stomach aches, and vomiting after eating foods that contain fructose.
How do you know you have fructose intolerance?
Experiencing symptoms such as abdominal pains, stomach pains, bloating, nausea after eating fruits or taking honey can all be signs of fructose intolerance, but how can you be certain? Well, the best way to find out is to take a fructose intolerance test.
A fructose intolerance test is a simple and quick way to determine if you have the condition. The most common test used is the hydrogen breath test. This test measures the amount of hydrogen in your breath.
Hydrogen is produced when the body breaks down sugar, so if you have fructose intolerance, you will produce more hydrogen than someone who does not have the condition.
Other tests that may be used to diagnose fructose intolerance include blood tests, stool tests, and pancreatic function tests.
How is fructose intolerance treated?
There is no cure for fructose intolerance, but there are treatments available that can help manage the symptoms. The best way to treat it is to avoid foods and drinks that contain fructose.
This can be difficult because fructose is found in many different foods, including fruits, vegetables, honey, and processed foods. It is important to read food labels carefully and avoid foods that list fructose as an ingredient.