If your stomach pain always starts within a few hours after eating a green apple, you may be reacting to something in this fruit. Try keeping track of the foods you eat and your symptoms to identify patterns. If you experience stomach pains that don't go away no matter what you do, consult a health care professional to make sure that you are not dealing with more serious health problems.
Excess Fructose
Green apples are rich in fructose. All fruits contain fructose, glucose and sucrose in different proportions, and green apples have the particularity of containing more fructose than glucose. This is not a problem for most people, but if you have fructose malabsorption, whether you are aware of it or not, this excess fructose can be responsible not only for your stomach pain, but also for bloating, diarrhea or constipation. If fructose malabsorption is a problem for you, you may experience similar symptoms when eating pears, cherries, mangoes, or foods sweetened with honey or high-fructose corn syrup.
Sorbitol
Green apples are rich in sorbitol, a type of sugar that can also result in stomach pains and other gastrointestinal problems. Sorbitol is a sugar alcohol naturally not only found in green apples, but also red apples, watermelon, pears, apricots, peaches, nectarines and plums. Some people have problems digesting both fructose and sorbitol, and sorbitol actually impairs fructose absorption, which makes it a problematic fruit if you are dealing with these types of sugar intolerances.
Salicylates
Salicylates constitute a natural food chemical found in many fruits and vegetables as well as nuts, herbs and spices. Although it is natural, it can be responsible for your stomach pain and can also induce hives, headaches, and other stomach or bowel problems, according to the Allergy Unit of the Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Food sensitivities to salicylates and other natural food chemicals are difficult to identify. Talk to a health care professional specialized in this field to get advice on how to follow an elimination diet that will help you determine your personal tolerance.
Get Tested
If you suspect that some foods like green apples are causing your tummy issues, ask your doctor to refer you for a hydrogen breath test. This test can help you determine whether you have fructose malabsorption, sorbitol malabsorption or both. Testing needs to be done on separate days, but by knowing which compound in green apples is responsible for your stomach pain, you will know what other foods in your diet should also be eliminated to help you live pain free. Ask for the help of a registered dietitian to figure out what diet may be best suited for you and your condition.
References
- "Journal of Gastroenterology & Hepatology"; Evidence-Based Dietary Management of Functional Gastrointestinal Symptoms: The FODMAP Approach; Peter R. Gibson and Susan J. Shepherd; 2010
- Metabolic Solutions Inc.: Hydrogen Breath Test for Fructose Malabsorption
- "IBS -- Free at Last!: A Revolutionary, New Step-by-Step Method for Those Who Have Tried Everything. Control IBS Symptoms by Limiting FODMAPS Carbohydrates in Your Diet"; Patsy Catsos; 2009
- "The Low FODMAP Diet -- Reducing Poorly Absorbed Sugars to Control Gastrointestinal Symptoms"; Eastern Health Clinical School -- Monash University; 2010
- Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Allergy Unit; Salicylates, Amines and Glutamate Booklet Introduction; June 2009
