Fructose Intolerance Treatment Georgetown SC

Plagued by stomach problems but not sure why? Maybe the reason you suffer from occasional bloating, cramping, or gas is fructose intolerance, a newly discovered culprit in digestive difficulties.The misery starts when the small intestine can’t absorb the sugar fructose that’s found naturally in produce and used to sweeten many sodas and juices. The sugar makes its way to the colon, where it’s fermented, producing methane and hydrogen—the sources of the trouble. Researchers at the University of Iowa found up to 80 percent of the stomach sufferers in their study had this problem. “We’re convinced fructose intolerance is extremely common,” says Robert Summers, a gastroenterologist who worked on the study. People often chalk up their symptoms to irritable bowel syndrome or lactose intolerance, so they’re not getting the right treatment, he adds.

There’s an easy way to find out if you’re fructose intolerant: Ask your doctor for a breath test that can show if your small intestine has trouble absorbing the sugar. The solution’s simple, too: Limit your fructose intake. You’ll probably have to experiment to find out how much is too much; people have different tolerance levels for fructose. Also, it can be difficult to tell how much you’re getting, since many processed foods contain fructose but don’t list the amount on the label. As for fruit, go ahead and reach for a peach (or an apple or a banana); just don’t eat it all at once. Your belly will be happier if you divide it and save half for later.

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