Problems Digesting Sugar?

[jjc]

I have been gluten free for a year and am doing pretty well, but I've noticed in the last couple of months that I have problems whenever I eat anything sweet (even fruit). What kinds of test can my doctor run to determine what kinds of sugar I can eat? I hate the thought of not eating ANY sugar at all. Aren't fruits supposed to be healthy sugar and not give me that much of a problem? I am in college and this is getting hard to deal with.

[Imanistj]

The sugar in fruit is just as fattening as table sugar. Diabetics have to be aware of the sugar intake they get from fruit as well as other foods. Fruit is loaded with vitamins so taking in sugar from fruit is far better for you than getting it from candy. If you are not diabetic or don't have a problem digesting a specific kind of sugar, a well balanced diet can include both fruit and an occasional sweet dessert. Moderation in all things. Gee, I wish I could follow that advice I just ate an apple and I still want "something sweet."

[YoloGx]

I agree--its a bummer not to be able to eat sugary things in this sugar full world. However such is life for some of us, and in the long run our health benefits are worth it since without sugar we usually are a lot healthier than many others around us.

I too haven't been able to eat sugar, fruit, honey etc. without ill effect for some time. Instead I use gluten-free and lactose free stevia for sweetener.

It has been frustrating not eating sugars at times, esp. not to be able to eat fruit either. I have a bad reaction otherwise (itchy flaky with both whitened and reddened "elephant" skin in my nethers as well as flaky itchy ears) which seems to be from candida or fungal overgrowth.

Many people who have celiac as well as other conditions (esp. if one has had antibiotcs--and who hasn't??) have this problem. The thing is to starve the yeast etc. so no sugars and a low carb diet with very limited ground up flours. Whole grains are better than something ground up since it takes longer whole for it to convert into sugar. It helps too to eat lots of green vegetables and make one's own blended vegetable drinks. It really revives one with a big energy boost much better than sugar ever could.

I have gradually gotten more used to not eating sugars--so now it really isn't so hard like it was. The only fruits I eat regularly are lemons (in lemon aide --with stevia-- as well as a condiment on vegetables etc. since with this condition it also tends to make one adversely susceptible to vinegar too).

Recently I have added olive leaf extract and tea to combat the systemic fungi. It really is helping quite a lot. I now can occasionally have blueberries without ill effect. Besides the olive leaf I take oregano oil capsules, caprylic acid, and eat lots of garlic. Plus I take enterically coated acidophilus to build up my good flora and thus better combat the candida or fungal overgrowth.

Another recent addition has been taking a small amount of bitters (dandelion with gentian root) before my meals. It helps not only with better digestion and detoxifying the liver but also against vaginal discharge and anal itching.

Good luck with this. You are not alone.

Bea

[lcarter]

There is such a thing as Fructose Malabsorption [the sugar most frequently found in fruit], which is a digestive disorder of the small intestine in which the fructose carrier in enterocytes is deficient. But, do not confuse FM with Hereditary Fructose Intolerance if you look it up on the internet, cause that's a genetic inborn error that shows up in newborns and concerns a different pathway. FM is sometimes seen along with Celiac and Lactose Intolerance. FM medical tests are similar to the test for lactose intolerance, requiring a hydrogen breath test for a clinical diagnosis. The breath test is simple - you ingest a measured amount of the offending sugar and then breath samples are taken in a laboratory. Sometimes stool tests are done too. In fact, they can check all types of sugars this way and it is simple to do. A big offender in the diet and found everywhere is High Fructose Corn Syrup, which must be removed from your diet. By the way, the symptoms of FM are very similar to the digestive disorder part of Celiac - which could be a possibility for those of us who have continuing problems on a gluten free diet. Hope this helps.

Check out this site:

Open Original Shared Link

[YoloGx]

  lcarter said:

There is such a thing as Fructose Malabsorption [the sugar most frequently found in fruit], which is a digestive disorder of the small intestine in which the fructose carrier in enterocytes is deficient. But, do not confuse FM with Hereditary Fructose Intolerance if you look it up on the internet, cause that's a genetic inborn error that shows up in newborns and concerns a different pathway. FM is sometimes seen along with Celiac and Lactose Intolerance. FM medical tests are similar to the test for lactose intolerance, requiring a hydrogen breath test for a clinical diagnosis. The breath test is simple - you ingest a measured amount of the offending sugar and then breath samples are taken in a laboratory. Sometimes stool tests are done too. In fact, they can check all types of sugars this way and it is simple to do. A big offender in the diet and found everywhere is High Fructose Corn Syrup, which must be removed from your diet. By the way, the symptoms of FM are very similar to the digestive disorder part of Celiac - which could be a possibility for those of us who have continuing problems on a gluten free diet. Hope this helps.

Check out this site:

Open Original Shared Link

That info on fructose malabsorption looks interesting! Thanks.

I may have a doctor check into whether or not I have fructose malabsorption sometime.

Meanwhile any sugar at all bothers me similarly--though I can have a little honey once in a blue moon without quite as much distress. Definitely saved for the holidays!

Bea

[jackay]

I am wondering, too, if I have fructose problems. I will definitely bring this concern to my doctor at my next appointment. I love fruit and eat a lot of it for the calories. I sure hope that it isn't causing some of my problems along with the glucose. If I have to give up fruit my calorie intake will definitely be less. I have lost so much weight and have absolutely no appetite. I do love fruit so can eat it even when I am not hungry.

I did test positive to dairy so can't get calories from that. Nuts are causing problems, too. It is difficult since I need to avoid all the high calorie foods.

[jjc]

Thanks for the info about fructose malabsorption! I may look into getting tested for it!