Watermelon And Honey Sensitivies?

[revenant]

I've been wondering why I have been feeling good one day, and then almost like i've been glutened the next, but a less severe reaction. I've already removed gluten lactose eggs artificial flavoring and corn from my diet for over the last 2-3 weeks. The first 3 because I felt symptoms, corn just to be safe.

I've been having my normal gluten symptoms the last 2 days but worse than previous this week, and I ate some raw honey only to find that I felt upper stomach acidity/pain and got pain in my neck and back of my head. Chest pain/tightness too. It was the same kind of pain I always get when I eat watermelon, with watermelon it's a lot more severe, upper stomach acidic feeling and then 10 minutes of severe full body muscle, chest pain and joint pain. It goes away after 10 minutes. This is a reaction unlike I usually have because it's very severe for 10 minutes, I can't even move for 10 minutes because I'm in too much pain. Does it sound like it could be another sensitivity? Would this be that common fructose sensitivity you all talk about?

I also have this reaction with I drink soda, but I figured it was the artificial flavors. Could it be the sugar?

Also. Is it normal to have this many sensitivities when you're only gluten intolerant? (I haven't been diagnosed, I just guessed I was intolerant rather than celiac)

[T.H.]

the same reaction with honey and soda sets of a 'corn' red flag for me.

Quite a few honey companies have started to cut their honey with corn syrup. Unfortunately, some of them (even really expensive ones) do it illegally, without noting it on the label. There are many complaints by people in the honey industry to investigate it, at the moment.

[revenant]

the same reaction with honey and soda sets of a 'corn' red flag for me.

Quite a few honey companies have started to cut their honey with corn syrup. Unfortunately, some of them (even really expensive ones) do it illegally, without noting it on the label. There are many complaints by people in the honey industry to investigate it, at the moment.

Hmm that's very interesting and good to know. But I don't think this is it in this case. The honey I have is really raw, crystalized and with pollen in it and such. It seems pretty reliably pure.

[gf-soph]

Honey and watermelon are both big problems for people with fructose malabsorption. Soda would be a problem most likely because of the high fructose corn syrup in most soft drinks.

With those 3 things all causing problems it sounds like it is a good idea for you to do some research into fructose malabsorption as well as what are known as FODMAPS. The good thing is that it's not something that you have to totally cut out of your diet, you just need to work out how much you can tolerate.

There's a lot of information out there, but to get you started here are some other problem foods for fructose from a handout my dietician gave me.

Foods that have more fructose than glucose

* Apple, pear, guava, honeydew melon, mango, nashi fruit, pawpaw/papaya, quince, star fruit (carambola), watermelon

* Honey, High-fructose corn syrup, Corn syrup solids, Fructose, Fruit juice concentrate

Foods with a high fructose load

* Dried fruit: apple, apricot, currant, date, fig, pear, prune, raisin, sultana

* Fruit juice, canned packing juice,

* Fruit pastes and sauces: tomato paste, chutney, relish, plum sauce, sweet and sour

sauce, barbecue sauce

* Fruits with high sugar content: cherry, grape, persimmon, lychee, apple, pear, watermelon

* coconut, dried fruit bars, fortified wines, sucrose sweetened soft drinks, or excessive consumption of confectionary

[revenant]

Honey and watermelon are both big problems for people with fructose malabsorption. Soda would be a problem most likely because of the high fructose corn syrup in most soft drinks.

With those 3 things all causing problems it sounds like it is a good idea for you to do some research into fructose malabsorption as well as what are known as FODMAPS. The good thing is that it's not something that you have to totally cut out of your diet, you just need to work out how much you can tolerate.

There's a lot of information out there, but to get you started here are some other problem foods for fructose from a handout my dietician gave me.

Foods that have more fructose than glucose

* Apple, pear, guava, honeydew melon, mango, nashi fruit, pawpaw/papaya, quince, star fruit (carambola), watermelon

* Honey, High-fructose corn syrup, Corn syrup solids, Fructose, Fruit juice concentrate

Foods with a high fructose load

* Dried fruit: apple, apricot, currant, date, fig, pear, prune, raisin, sultana

* Fruit juice, canned packing juice,

* Fruit pastes and sauces: tomato paste, chutney, relish, plum sauce, sweet and sour

sauce, barbecue sauce

* Fruits with high sugar content: cherry, grape, persimmon, lychee, apple, pear, watermelon

* coconut, dried fruit bars, fortified wines, sucrose sweetened soft drinks, or excessive consumption of confectionary

Thank you a lot!

I guess it's completely normal for me to feel like this is the last thing I've kept in my diet that I love to pieces. Sugary sugary fruit. Go figure!!!

[cassP]

yes- sounds like classic fructose malabsorption!!

i actually can handle a little honey with my fruit or yogurt, and a small amount of watermelon- but pears/apples/dates, etc... and other stuff on that fodmap diet can almost give me WORSE pain than gluten

as far as the soda- the High Fructose Corn Syrup would be too much fructose.. & also Caramel Color has been an issue for some people

[T.H.]

Yeah - seems like that would be. I've heard of corn allergic people reacting to honey because the bees were fed corn syrup (just like the pollen gets into the honey, the corn does, too), but I believe most people I know who had that issue were very, very sensitive to corn. I would imagine you would already have other issues if you were that sensitive to corn, ya know?

Darn - not that one wants to have an issue, but it's nice when we can find the answers.

[Mari]

I did a quick search for watermelon sensitivity - it shares antigens which cause allergic reactions with grasses and ragweed. Sometimes when I get muscle stiffness after eating too much watermelon it has disturbed the acid/base balance in my body. It helps to take some baking soda in water.

Honey contains mold toxins which can cause various symptoms. You can take Vit. C daily and larger doses if you have symptoms. Bringing honey to a boil destroys some of the toxin and also adding 1/4 tsp Vit. C to jar and mix well. If sensitive to molds then avoid foods such as cheese, breads unless fresh and stored in paper (can be frozen), discard any fruit with mold as the toxins diffuse through the fruit and check for any molds growing in your environment - in walls, under sinks or any damp places.

Whenever I eat honey I develop gas and bloating. The honey feeds the intestinal bacteria which produce large volumes of gas.

[julandjo]

When I eat honey I get the exact same symptoms you mentioned! It's horrible! I'm chiming in though because I eat a LOT of apples (3 a day usually) with no problem, so in my case I do not suspect a fructose problem. I too buy raw honey, and after reading these responses I wonder if the bees are fed corn syrup; I'm very very sensitive to corn (even if dextrose is the last ingredient in something, I get sick). Hmmm, interesting...