Does fruit give you a tummy ache?

nbischoff15
nbischoff15 Posts: 35
in Food and Nutrition
This topic has probably already been posted, but I didn't see it when I searched.... so thought I would start a new topic.

Just wondering if any of you have this issue, and if so, what do you do?

I am NOT a fan of fruits and veggies, but am trying to incorporate more of them into my daily intake.... you know, because they are good for you. The problem is that about an hour after I eat fruit (apple, banana, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, etc)... my tummy starts hurting. Stomach cramps. Not 'gassy cramps', but more stomach ache where I am almost nauseous. A couple hours later.... I start feeling better. But still - those 2 to 3 hours are miserable.

I am not eating a LOT of fruit - usually just as either a mid-morning or mid-afternoon snack, and usually just a small apple, or small banana, or 3/4 cup of berries. So far, it hasn't seemed to matter what type of fruit, or what time of day.

Has this happened to any of you? If so - does it get better ever? Any ideas or helpful hints would be greatly appreciated. :)
Thanks.
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Replies

  • DexterDarko
    DexterDarko Posts: 235
    That hasn't happened to me. o.O

    Whenever I eat fruit I feel the complete opposite, alive and powerful. You might have an issue, or perhaps a mistaken coincidence? If it persists for too long I would do some research o.o
  • Graelwyn75
    Graelwyn75 Posts: 4,404 Member
    Nope, never had an issue. It is most likely because you are not used to the fibre intake.
  • kimberliiw
    kimberliiw Posts: 242 Member
    Apples kill my stomach, but I'm okay with other fruits.
  • nbischoff15
    nbischoff15 Posts: 35
    :) At first, I thought it was just bananas.... so stayed away from them for YEARS. :) The last few weeks though (since I consciously started buying and actually EATING more fruit), I've noticed that the others are the same.

    Good thought about the fiber intake, that certainly could be part of it. :)
  • pkw58
    pkw58 Posts: 2,038 Member
    try eating it in smaller quantities at a time.. like 1/2 a banana or 1/2 a cup of berries. the same thing happens to me if I eat more than what would be considered 1/2 a serving by most people.
  • makemewannadie
    makemewannadie Posts: 401 Member
    I'm the same with straight up lettuce leaves (any kind of lettuce) makes me really bloated ): fruit i'm fine with though, although I don't eat a lot (only apples/bananas/most berries and then some dried fruit).
  • CRLG93
    CRLG93 Posts: 1
    Apparently Banana's are high in fructose, which does shut off your body's "full" signal, and can affect you in other ways as well. So the more fructose you eat, the more you tend to feel hungry. I'm not sure what other fruits have fructose in it, but maybe this could be why you're experiencing these pains :)
  • nbischoff15
    nbischoff15 Posts: 35
    Thanks for the comments.... I might try eating 'less' at a time and see if that makes a difference. :)
  • Antlady69
    Antlady69 Posts: 204 Member
    Yes, I have that too. Unfortunately, because I actually like fruit. But the more acid-y they are, the less I can eat of them. One normal-sized apple is already too much for me; if I want to eat apples (without one half going bad), I have to get small ones.

    Veggies are no problem if I steam or lightly fry them. Raw, however, they can cause problems too. So I'm focusing on vegetables in my "diet" (don't like that word) and eat fruits only very occasionally.
  • MrSJWinship
    MrSJWinship Posts: 37 Member
    This happens to me with raw apples and carrots. Its painful cramps like an hour after. Im glad to know im not the only one.
  • uwdawg07
    uwdawg07 Posts: 372 Member
    Apples and grapes bother my stomach, but if I eat them in small quantities and not on an empty stomach I'm fine.
  • Bdn75
    Bdn75 Posts: 10 Member
    There is such a thing as fructose intolerance. Some people just can't eat fruit.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose_malabsorption says it's only stuff that has more fructose than glucose, but I have a friend that just can't eat fruit at all (or claims she can't).

    Maybe get yourself tested?
  • Bdn75
    Bdn75 Posts: 10 Member
    Also, there is no reason you MUST eat fruit. Veggies have everything you need that you can get from fruit!

    Would be a bummer though because fruit is yummy!
  • Crayvn
    Crayvn Posts: 390 Member
    There is such a thing as fructose intolerance. Some people just can't eat fruit.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructose_malabsorption says it's only stuff that has more fructose than glucose, but I have a friend that just can't eat fruit at all (or claims she can't).

    Maybe get yourself tested?

    ^^^^ this....and also this -

    http://www.livestrong.com/article/409379-i-have-stomach-cramps-after-eating-fruit/
  • nbischoff15
    nbischoff15 Posts: 35
    Thanks! I will check out the article links. Also - kind of nice to know I'm not the ONLY one that this happens to. :)
    I haven't noticed it with veggies.... then again, I LIKE the taste of fruit much better than veggies, so am really hoping to find a combination or way to eat them without the stomach cramps. :)
  • nbischoff15
    nbischoff15 Posts: 35
    I'm kind of leaning toward it being a high-fiber issue in certain fruits rather than fructose intolerance.... from the articles, looks like fructose is a common additive in other non-fruit/packaged foods as well... and breads, pastas, regular soda (back when I was drinking it) don't seem to be an issue.

    Thanks again for the posts - this definitely gives me an area to research further and some things to try! I appreciate it!
  • electricmeow
    electricmeow Posts: 68 Member
    I'm sure it has to do with fiber as you are sensing as well.

    If you're curious in an eastern approach (I've been more interested in this lately) You may want to check out Ayurveda, or "the science of life". It's from India and goes hand in hand with yoga. Sounds to me you would be considered a "Vata" body constitution. Here's one link of many you can check out. You can also do a quiz, if you're interested.
    http://www.chopra.com/vata

    But in summary, if you were to be "Vata" it would say:

    Since Vata is drying, cooling and light, favor foods that are oily, warming, or heavy. The best tastes to pacify Vata are sweet, salty and sour. Minimize foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent.
    (Many fruits like apples, unripe bananas, cranberries are actually considered astringent instead of sweet)

    Favor sweet, heavy fruits such as: bananas, avocados, mangoes, apricots, plums, berries, coconut, figs, grapefruit, orange, lemon, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapples, rhubarb, kiwi, dates, nectarines and dried fruits.

    Eat fewer dry or light fruits such as apples, cranberries, pears, and pomegranates. To ease digestion, fruits are best eaten lightly cooked or sautéed or eaten alone.

    Cooked vegetables are best. Raw vegetables should be minimized. Favor Asparagus, beets, and carrots. Other vegetables may be taken in moderation if cooked in ghee or extra virgin olive oil, including peas, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potatoes.
  • Crayvn
    Crayvn Posts: 390 Member
    I'm sure it has to do with fiber as you are sensing as well.

    If you're curious in an eastern approach (I've been more interested in this lately) You may want to check out Ayurveda, or "the science of life". It's from India and goes hand in hand with yoga. Sounds to me you would be considered a "Vata" body constitution. Here's one link of many you can check out. You can also do a quiz, if you're interested.
    http://www.chopra.com/vata

    But in summary, if you were to be "Vata" it would say:

    Since Vata is drying, cooling and light, favor foods that are oily, warming, or heavy. The best tastes to pacify Vata are sweet, salty and sour. Minimize foods that are pungent, bitter, or astringent.
    (Many fruits like apples, unripe bananas, cranberries are actually considered astringent instead of sweet)

    Favor sweet, heavy fruits such as: bananas, avocados, mangoes, apricots, plums, berries, coconut, figs, grapefruit, orange, lemon, melons, papaya, peaches, pineapples, rhubarb, kiwi, dates, nectarines and dried fruits.

    Eat fewer dry or light fruits such as apples, cranberries, pears, and pomegranates. To ease digestion, fruits are best eaten lightly cooked or sautéed or eaten alone.

    Cooked vegetables are best. Raw vegetables should be minimized. Favor Asparagus, beets, and carrots. Other vegetables may be taken in moderation if cooked in ghee or extra virgin olive oil, including peas, broccoli, cauliflower, zucchini, and sweet potatoes.


    omg!!! mine said......Based on your results, you are a PITTA: *cries* :p


    wait..no..total final results is im a Kapha...whew...
  • ValerieMartini2Olives
    ValerieMartini2Olives Posts: 3,024 Member
    If you eat it on an empty stomach and don't eat anything for a half hour or longer, you won't get a stomachache.
  • kr1stadee
    kr1stadee Posts: 1,774 Member
    Apples make my stomach growl and I feel hungry lol
    I usually eat them first as a snack
  • opuntia
    opuntia Posts: 860 Member
    Do you have the same problem if you cook the fruit and veg, or only if it's raw? I don't get this problem, but I've heard it's quite common with certain fruits like apple, and that cooking the fruit can make it easier on the stomach.
  • cutiepie590
    cutiepie590 Posts: 4
    Maybe your alergic?
  • nbischoff15
    nbischoff15 Posts: 35
    I actually have been eating fruit on an empty stomach, usually as a late mid-morning snack. The stomach cramps come on about 15-30 minutes later and last about an hour to hour and a half..... I am leaning toward a fructose intolerance - but need to just "test the waters" a bit more with different fruits and amounts. :)

    I am going to check out the Chopra link right now!
  • Lilmonyb743
    Lilmonyb743 Posts: 2
    I would say it has to do with fiber and your body not use to it. Fiber not only causes cramps but can do it without any gas.
  • wolfchild59
    wolfchild59 Posts: 2,608 Member
    Nevermind - just saw that fructose malabsorption had already been posted.

    But don't discount it just because it doesn't happen with breads and other items. For me, it's strictly fruit that does it. And it's nothing to do with the fiber for me, because I get plenty of fiber on a day to day basis, with or without fruit.
  • mensasu
    mensasu Posts: 355 Member
    Any type of pear will have me on the ground in a fetal position from pain. If I eat an apple every day or have too many raspberries on a daily basis, by about day 5 I start to get diarrhea. I can eat watermelon and cantaloupe but honeydew will give me an upset stomach. All other fruits are fine with me unless they are "underripe". So I like to mix up my fruits.

    I find for apples the Russets give me less problem than all the others so I'm not sure exactly why. And I love all types of berries so I try to have a mixture and not just raspberries. (My sister gets hives from strawberries.)
  • Inebriated
    Inebriated Posts: 271
    Apples and grapes bother my stomach, but if I eat them in small quantities and not on an empty stomach I'm fine.
  • kmmagik
    kmmagik Posts: 25
    YES!!! I have a big problem with fruit! I love it and try to eat it all the time but more often than not I end up regretting it. I have a lot of GI issues my doctor says IBS but that's what they say when they don't know what else it is. Bananas are the worst for me but really anything more than a couple bites of most fruits just leave me in pain. I do put raisins in my oatmeal but I think the fact that I cook them with the oatmeal helps for whatever reason. I have the same problem with a lot of vegetables, too, and I'm a vegetarian so don't feel bad. You're not alone!
  • hwendyh
    hwendyh Posts: 6
    I am just so happy to know that I am not alone.
    I have been telling people that I can't really have fruits not because I am trying to be different.
    they generally cause me Stomach cramps and I feel nauseous after especially apply. sometimes I even have symptoms like food poisoning, ex headache and diarrhea.
    now I can tell people I have fructose malabsorption. :D
  • NaturoPath3
    NaturoPath3 Posts: 2
    I saw a gap in posts of over a year so I figure I add my 2 cents now, 1.5 years after the post started.

    I am almost 50, male and discovered an opinion that's out there about staying away from processed foods, animal products and eat raw fruits and vegetables or juicing the same (not exactly but somewhat related to Dr. Max Gerson). I have a hosts of symptoms and malaises some of which I suffered from for years cleared 90% or better by focusing on this. Rashes, tight muscles causing hip and back pains, mouth sores, shortness of breath due to stress/nerves, ringworms, body weakness, voice weakness...

    So I eat an unlimited amount of nothing but fruits in the daytime, I can eat 2lbs in one sitting, and in the evening I have a mix of raw vegetables and anything else I like, including meat/chicken/fish (I have to have some fun sometime).

    Now to the point, I too get the pain within 15-30 minutes after watermelon, pineapple or grapes (perhaps others as well) but only sometimes and not too severe and typically only when I eat a large amount. It goes away after 15-30 minutes.

    My take on it: As per the naturopaths, fruits detox the body. If I get pain, perhaps the toxins cause my body to react badly or perhaps the pain is part of the cleansing process.

    Anyone?

    Good luck

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