Chronic stomach aches from eating sweets may be a sign of fructose intolerance. Fructose intolerance is a condition that causes digestive complications whenever you eat fructose. Fructose is the most common sugar used in sweets. Fructose naturally occurs in fruits, syrups and honey and can also be man made. Fructose intolerance is a serious medical condition because it can lead to further complications. If you have fructose intolerance and you continue to eat fructose, complications can lead to death.
Fructose Intolerance
As with most food intolerances, fructose intolerance is caused by the inability to digest fructose. This is primarily because your small intestines fail to produce the aldolase B enzyme. Without this enzyme fructose is not absorbed in your body, where it is typically used for energy. The undigested fructose remains in your gut and can cause irritation and inflammation, leading to stomach aches and other digestive symptoms. Without the fructose being absorbed into the body, your blood sugar can drop and harmful substances can build up in your liver.
Symptoms
Symptoms of fructose intolerance may begin as minor symptoms, related to other food intolerances, such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, abdominal cramping, fullness, bloating and excessive gas. These symptoms will develop between a half an hour and four hours after eating fructose. More complicated symptoms that will develop as your condition grows worse include jaundice, irritability, sleepiness and convulsions. Talk with your doctor about any symptoms that develop after eating sweets. Some symptoms may be a sign of a more serious condition.
Avoidance
If you are diagnosed with fructose intolerance, you will need to stop eating sweets and other foods that contain fructose. Common sources of fructose include fruit, fruit juice, high-fructose corn syrup, table sugar, powdered sugar, breads, baked goods, honey, regular soda, flavored water, sweetened milk, powdered sugar, brown sugar, sorbitol and sports drinks. You will need to adapt a sugar-free diet, using artificial sweeteners instead of table sugar to sweeten your foods and beverages. Talk with a dietician to determine which foods with natural sugar are safe for consumption.
Consideration
Fructose intolerance is passed down from your family line. If both of your parents have this condition, you have a 25 percent chance of having an intolerance to fructose, according to MedlinePlus. If left untreated, this condition can lead to liver failure and death. Always remain under a doctor's care if you're diagnosed with fructose intolerance.
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