If you are on a fructose free diet, determining what foods are safe to eat can be complicated. Many foods have hidden fructose, or have other sugars that break down into fructose in the body. Developing a well-balanced fructose free diet can be a challenge, but it is far from impossible. Many healthy, tasty foods are still allowed on a fructose free diet.
Reasons
The main reason to go on a fructose free diet is to avoid complications caused by fructose intolerance or malabsorption problems. Hereditary fructose intolerance is a genetic condition diagnosed in early childhood in which a person does not produce the enzyme necessary to digest fructose. Children with this disorder can develop kidney or liver disease if they continue to consume products with fructose. Fructose malabsorption is not as serious, but can cause abdominal bloating and pain due to difficulties absorbing fructose in the intestines. People with fructose malabsorption might not need to totally avoid fructose, but may be able to limit intake to small amounts.
Foods to Avoid
Someone on a fructose free diet should avoid consuming fruit, fruit juices, maple syrup and honey, since fructose is found in pure form in these foods. High fructose corn syrup contains fructose, so foods made with it are forbidden. Sucrose, also known as table sugar, is broken down into fructose and dextrose in the body, so it must be avoided as well. Some meats, such as ham and luncheon meats, are cured in sucrose or honey and should be avoided. Sweet vegetables, including sweet potatoes, tomatoes and carrots, and products made from these vegetables all contain fructose. Bread, cereals, desserts, sodas and sauces made with fructose or sucrose can also pose a danger to people with a fructose intolerance.
Foods to Eat
If you are on a fructose free diet, you can drink milk or consume any dairy products that have not been sweetened with sucrose or fructose. Natural milk products contain lactose, but not fructose or sucrose. Most meats are safe on a fructose free diet, including beef, pork, lamb, poultry and seafood. Eggs, pasta and rice are fine for a fructose free diet. Leafy green vegetables, green beans, potatoes, green peppers, asparagus, celery and cruciferous vegetables, such as cabbage and broccoli, are safe for people who cannot eat fructose. It is safe to eat desserts, sodas and snacks made with artificial sweeteners such as saccharine, aspartame and sucralose.
Considerations
Most disorders that require a fructose free diet are diagnosed in early childhood, so you are unlikely to develop a sudden need for this type of diet as an adult. If you suspect that you or your child reacts negatively to fructose, talk to a doctor about blood and urine tests that can diagnose fructose digestion problems. If you are on a fructose free diet as recommended by a doctor, work with a dietitian to ensure that you get enough vitamins and minerals. Many of the foods you need to avoid on a fructose free diet, such as fruits and some vegetables, are high in essential nutrients that you might not get enough of without supplementation.
