Eating certain foods may trigger diarrhea if your body is not able to digest them properly. If you experience diarrhea for a few days without improvement, replace lost fluids by drinking plenty of water and consult your doctor for help identifying the problem. If the doctor rules out infections and other causes, you may have a food intolerance. Avocado is among the foods that some don't tolerate well, and it can cause diarrhea and other similar symptoms in sensitive individuals.
Sorbitol Malabsorption
If you think that avocado may be causing your diarrhea, you can ask your doctor to refer you for a sorbitol hydrogen breath test, which is similar to the test that diagnoses lactose intolerance. At the beginning of the test, you take a specific dose of sorbitol. A technician then measures levels of hydrogen in your breath at specific intervals in the following hours. If the levels of hydrogen exceed a certain level, it indicates that you haven't absorbed the dose of sorbitol and bacteria in your intestines are fermenting it. High hydrogen levels corresponds to a diagnosis of sorbitol malabsorption.
Testing
If you think that avocado may be causing your diarrhea, you can ask your doctor to refer you for a sorbitol hydrogen breath test, which is similar to the test that diagnoses lactose intolerance. At the beginning of the test, you take a specific dose of sorbitol. A technician then measures levels of hydrogen in your breath at specific intervals in the following hours. If the levels of hydrogen exceed a certain level, it indicates that you haven't absorbed the dose of sorbitol and bacteria in your intestines are fermenting it. High hydrogen levels corresponds to a diagnosis of sorbitol malabsorption.
Other Sorbitol-Rich Foods
Avocado is one of many foods rich in sorbitol. If avocado results in diarrhea for you, you are also likely to react to other sorbitol-containing foods, which include mushrooms, cauliflower, apples, pears, plums, blackberries, cherries and fruit juices. Sugar-free products, such as sugar-free ice cream or sugar-free chocolate, often contain sorbitol and other similar sugar alcohols. Always read the ingredients and avoid products containing sorbitol, mannitol, maltitol and isomalt.
Keep a Journal
A food journal can help you figure out the cause of your diarrhea and other gastrointestinal problems. Write down everything you eat and drink along with your symptoms and notes about your bowel movements. Most people can't remember what they ate yesterday, so writing it down will help identify the source of your gastrointestinal issues. Avoid avocados and other foods that cause symptoms. If you have problems with sorbitol-containing foods, you may also be sensitive to other foods containing lactose, fructans, fructose and galactans. Meet with a registered dietitian for help figuring out what foods to avoid.
References
- National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Diarrhea
- • "Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology"; Evidence-Based Dietary Management of Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach; Peter R. Gibson, et al.; 2010
- "Journal of the American Dietetic Association"; Fructose Malabsorption and Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Guidelines for Effective Dietary Management; Susan J. Shepherd, et al.; 2006
- Shepherd Works: Hydrogen Breath Testing
