What foods can cause gas? What foods are hard to digest? What foods may lead to bloating or diarrhea?

Apples: A Common Culprit

Apples are a popular fruit, but they can be hard to digest for some people. The natural sugar called sorbitol in apples can cause gas, bloating, and even diarrhea, especially in children. If you have trouble digesting sorbitol, you may want to limit your apple consumption or opt for other fruits.

Watermelon: High in Fructose

Watermelon is a refreshing summertime treat, but it’s high in fructose, a sugar that can be hard for some people to digest. This can lead to gas and other digestive issues. While it’s rare, some people may have a genetic condition called “hereditary fructose intolerance” that makes it even more difficult to process fructose.

Onions, Garlic, and Other Veggies

Certain vegetables, like onions, garlic, broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, contain a sugar called fructan that can cause gas. If you find that these vegetables give you digestive problems, it’s best to avoid them or limit your intake.

Beans and Legumes: Fiber-Rich but Gassy

Beans and legumes are packed with fiber, which is great for digestive health. However, the fiber and natural sugars in these foods can also lead to gas and bloating. Introducing them to your diet slowly can help your body adjust.

Mushrooms and Dried Fruit

Mushrooms contain a natural sugar called mannitol that can cause gas. Dried fruit is high in fiber and fructose, which can also lead to digestive issues for some people.

Coffee and Gum: Air Swallowing Culprits

The caffeine in coffee can stimulate the digestive system and cause an urgent need to use the bathroom. Chewing gum and sucking on hard candies can also lead to gas, as you end up swallowing air while consuming these products.

Managing Digestive Issues

If you find that certain foods are causing gas, bloating, or other digestive problems, it’s best to limit your intake of those items. Introducing high-fiber foods slowly, staying hydrated, and avoiding carbonated beverages can also help reduce gas and discomfort. If symptoms persist, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional.

Why Do Some Foods Cause More Gas Than Others?

The main reasons certain foods can lead to gas are the presence of sugars, fibers, and other compounds that are difficult for the body to fully digest. When these undigested substances reach the large intestine, they are fermented by gut bacteria, producing gas as a byproduct.

What Are the Symptoms of Excessive Gas?

Symptoms of excessive gas can include bloating, abdominal pain, flatulence, burping, and even diarrhea. The severity of symptoms can vary depending on the individual and the specific foods causing the problem.

How Can I Reduce Gas and Bloating?

To reduce gas and bloating, you can try the following strategies:

• Identify and limit consumption of gas-producing foods
• Introduce high-fiber foods slowly to allow your body to adjust
• Stay hydrated and avoid carbonated beverages
• Engage in regular physical activity to aid digestion
• Consider taking over-the-counter gas relief medications or digestive enzymes
• Consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist

What is Fructose Intolerance?

Fructose intolerance is a rare genetic condition where the body has difficulty properly digesting and metabolizing the natural sugar fructose. This can lead to gas, bloating, diarrhea, and other digestive issues after consuming foods high in fructose, such as fruits, honey, and some sweeteners. A simple blood test can diagnose fructose intolerance.

Can Certain Medications Cause Gas?

Yes, some medications can contribute to increased gas and bloating, particularly those that contain sugars or other compounds that are difficult to digest. Examples include certain antacids, antibiotics, and some diabetes medications. If you suspect a medication is causing digestive issues, speak with your healthcare provider about potential alternatives.

When Should I See a Doctor About Excessive Gas?

If you experience persistent, severe, or unexplained gas, bloating, or other digestive issues, it’s a good idea to consult with a healthcare professional. They can help identify the underlying cause and recommend appropriate treatment or dietary changes. Seeking medical advice is especially important if the gas is accompanied by other concerning symptoms, such as unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding, or severe abdominal pain.

15 Surprising Foods That Cause Gas

Medically Reviewed by Minesh Khatri, MD on November 27, 2022

The teachers’ favorite contains sorbitol, a sugar that’s naturally in many fruits. Some people’s bodies can’t absorb it properly, which gives them gas and bloating. It can cause diarrhea, especially for children.

Maybe you’ve enjoyed them fresh, in a juicy cobbler, or dried in teas. Their natural sugar is good for people who want to cut back on sweets, but it’s not always good for the gut. If you have a problem digesting sorbitol, you may feel bloated, have belly pain, or have diarrhea, gas, or nausea.

This popular summertime treat is high in fructose, a sugar in fruit. Your body can have trouble digesting it, so you might get gas. It’s rare, but the problem might be in your genes. Doctors call that a “hereditary fructose intolerance.” A blood test can tell if you have it.

These veggies have a sugar called fructan that helps set off gas. If you don’t feel well after you eat them, just stay away from them.

Spuds are usually a safe choice for a dinner side item. The starch gives some people gas and bloating, though.

These famous fungi can make you get a little funky. Blame it on mannitol, another natural sugar. It can give you gas — and if you eat too much of it, it also can act like a mild laxative.

Love them or hate them, these soft, green veggies have a chain of sugars called galacto-oligosaccharides that feed gut bacteria and cause gas. This can make for a not-so-pleasant post-meal experience.

The caffeine in your favorite daily jolt might be making you bolt to the bathroom. Dial back on the java if you feel an urgent need to go or you get a stomachache after drinking up.

This breakfast superstar has plenty of fiber, which lets you feel full and satisfied all morning. But if you add too much to your diet too quickly, your tummy might get a little uncomfortable. To get more of this important nutrient, introduce it slowly to your eating plan so you don’t overwhelm your system.

They’re crunchy, delicious, and super healthy, but they can also be tough to digest. Veggies like broccoli, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts might make you feel bloated or crampy. If they do, you may want to occasionally swap them for veggies that are less likely to give you gas, like bell peppers, zucchini, or green beans.

The fiber in dried fruit has a lot of things going for it. A handful can work like magic if you’re constipated. These sweet treats, though, are also high in a sugar called fructose, which can give you a tummy ache if you eat too much.

It’s a real treat to dig into one that’s juicy and ripe, but the sweetness inside can sometimes cause problems with your stomach. Peaches have natural sugars called polyols, which may not always get along well with your gut bacteria. Sometimes, that leads to cramps and bloating.

This sweetener, which is found in some low-cal drinks, can be helpful if you’re trying to lose weight. But sugar alcohols can act like a laxative if you take in too much. Check labels to know if a drink has this ingredient. Xylitol and mannitol are examples.

You swallow air as you chew, which brings gas into your gut. “Sugar-free” types of gum often have sorbitol and xylitol as sugar substitutes. Those give some people gas or even act like a laxative.

You swallow air when you suck these treats. Plus, some candies are sweetened with xylitol, mannitol, sorbitol, or other sugars that make some people get an upset stomach.

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15) RuthBlack / Thinkstock

SOURCES:

Diabetic Living Online: “Nutrition: Sugar Alcohols (Polyols). “

FDA.gov: “Select Committee on GRAS Substances (SCOGS) Opinion: Mannitol.”

Fedewa, A. Current Gastroenterology Reports, January 2014.

Food Intolerance Diagnostics: “Fructose (fruit sugar), fructan and other fructo-oligosaccharide intolerances,” “Sorbitol and xylitol (polyol) intolerances,” “Galactooligosaccharides: Galactans, Raffinose, Stachyose”

Health Canada: “Sugar Alcohols (Polyols) & Polydextrose used in foods.”

Hoekstra, J.H. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology, January 1993.

Johns Hopkins Medicine: ” Gas in the Digestive Tract.”

Kulkami, R. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, January, 1990.

Mayo Clinic: “Bloating, belching and intestinal gas: How to avoid them,” “Gas and gas pains,” “Artificial Sweeteners and Other Sugar Substitutes,”

“Intestinal Gas.”

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: “Gas in the Digestive Tract,” “What I need to Know About Bowel Control.”

Nittynen, L. Scandinavian Journal of Food and Nutrition, June 2007.

Tan, Y.H. Microbios, 1994.

Tufts Medical Center: “Fructan Intolerance.”

University of Michigan Health System: “Helpful hints for controlling gas (flatus).”

University of Virginia Health System: “Low-Fructose Diet.”

Wille, D. European Journal of Pediatrics, December 2010.

Cleveland Clinic: “Best and Worst Foods for IBS.”

International Foundation for Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders: “Dietary Fiber.”

University of Michigan Health System: “Low FODMAP Diet Introduction.”

© 2022 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved. View privacy policy and trust info

11 Foods to Avoid During Digestive Problems and Disorders

Indigestion can be miserable, so you want to do what you can to clear up your digestive problems. Start with good food choices, and avoid these hard-to-digest foods.

By Christine BahlsMedically Reviewed by Kareem Sassi, MD

Reviewed: June 21, 2017

Medically Reviewed

Some people treat their bodies like a Ferrari; others, like a clunker. A Ferrari body is given a healthy diet with the right mix of carbohydrates, fats, proteins, water, salts, vitamins, and soluble and insoluble fiber — all requirements for avoiding indigestion. “If you’re missing any of those, it’s a problem,” says Benjamin Krevsky, MD, MPH, director of gastrointestinal endoscopy and professor of medicine at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia.

Getting the right fuel enables the body to work more efficiently. And when you’re having indigestion, which includes symptoms like nausea and bloating, what not to eat becomes just as important. Here are foods to avoid when you’re having tummy troubles.

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Dairy Products

Matt Armendariz/Offset.com

One food group that can be hard to digest is dairy, mainly because of lactose, the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. When lactose isn’t digested properly, such as in people with lactose intolerance, gas and bloating result. If you consume too much lactose, it goes into the large intestine, and diarrhea can develop or worsen. When you’re dealing with digestive problems, it may still be okay to eat yogurt and hard cheeses because they have no lactose, or you can try lactose-free milk.

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Acidic Foods

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Tomato sauce and citrus fruits, such as lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruit, are acidic and can irritate the stomach lining, causing digestive problems. Many people don’t realize that carbonated beverages are also acidic. When you have an upset stomach, avoid acidic foods, says Krevsky.

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Fatty Foods

Marti´ Sans/Stocksy

Fatty foods stimulate contractions in the digestive tract, which can either slow down the emptying of the stomach and worsen constipation, or speed up movement, leading to or worsening diarrhea. The effect can depend on the type of fat and your tendency toward constipation or diarrhea. When you’re experiencing a bout of indigestion, put low-fat foods on the menu and eat small meals spaced throughout the day, which can put less pressure on your stomach. Avoid high-fat culprits, like butter, ice cream, red meat, and cheese, at least for a while.

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Fried Foods

Joshua Resnick/500px.com

The problem with fried foods is the same as with fatty foods — they can move, undigested, through the body too quickly, leading to diarrhea, or stay in your digestive tract too long, causing you to feel full and bloated. Many fried foods are low in fiber and take longer to digest. So if you’re dealing with either diarrhea or constipation, you’ll want to avoid fried foods for a while. The conventional wisdom, according to Krevsky, is that when you have indigestion, you should avoid fried foods because they tend to slow down the emptying of the stomach.

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Processed Foods

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If you’re constipated, you should avoid processed foods because they lack fiber, which helps regulate bowel movements, Krevsky says. Processed foods also often contain preservatives and artificial coloring, Kim says, and people with allergies or sensitivities to these additives will feel their effects during bouts of digestive trouble. Note that some packaged foods also contain lactose, which can give you gas and worsen any discomfort you’re already going through.

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Artificial Sweetener

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The artificial sweetener perhaps most associated with digestive problems is sorbitol. It’s a hard-to-digest sugar found naturally in some fruits, including prunes, apples, and peaches, and is also used to sweeten gum and diet foods. Once sorbitol reaches the large intestine, it often creates gas, bloating, and diarrhea. If you have diarrhea, read food labels so that you can avoid sorbitol, Krevsky says.

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Alcohol

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If you’re feeling nauseated, the last thing you should have is an alcoholic drink. “It will probably make you sicker,” Kim says. As Krevsky explains, alcohol is toxic to the stomach lining and changes liver metabolism. Drinking too much can cause indigestion, among other health problems. Moderation is key.

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Caffeine

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Caffeine stimulates gastrointestinal tract motility, making contents move more quickly through your system, and excessive amounts can give anyone diarrhea, Krevsky says. So if you already have diarrhea, caffeine will only worsen your digestive problem. He also warns against simply switching to decaf coffee because it still has some caffeine. Remember that tea, soda, and chocolate are other sources of caffeine, and should be put on hold until tummy troubles go away.

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Sweet or Salty

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The body doesn’t like trying to digest foods that are super sweet or salty — it likes moderation. When you’re sick, “You want something that’s easily digested,” Kim says. “Some people are affected by sugar levels when they are nauseous.” Chocolate, a sweet-tooth favorite, can be a culprit in many digestive problems, including heartburn and the more serious GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

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Spoiled Foods

Brigitte Sporrer/GettyImages

Many refrigerated foods can go bad, such as dated items like eggs, dairy products, and meat. Bacteria like salmonella and E. coli can also pass from raw meat to veggies and fruits. Eating tainted foods can cause digestive problems or worsen existing ones, including diarrhea and vomiting. Be aware of the symptoms of food poisoning — muscle pain, fatigue, and abdominal cramps — because food poisoning can be life threatening, Krevsky says.

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Spicy Foods

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If you’re experiencing nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, you’ll want to avoid food choices that stimulate the digestive system, and these include spicy foods, says Jung Kim, a registered dietitian and specialist with Clinical Nutritional Support Services at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Spicy foods are “incredibly variable,” says Dr. Krevsky — they have no effect on some people, but cause indigestion for others. In general, you should choose bland foods when you’re having digestive problems, and be sure to avoid spices if you’re sensitive to them.

Who should not eat apples and why: harm and unpleasant consequences – March 25, 2023

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Many consider apples to be a healthy snack, but in reality they are not

Photo: Maxim Serkov / NGS42

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Apples are considered to be a healthy snack and one of the healthiest foods in general. With vitamins, essential substances and other pleasant properties. But what if you eat apples too often in search of benefits? Will it only get better or will health problems begin? Maybe there are those who do not have them at all? To whet your appetite, we will tell you that apples are not a snack at all, but a complete meal.

The main health benefits of apples are antioxidants. Just because of them, apples began to be called rejuvenating – they really protect us from aging. And also – from diseases of the vessels and heart and from cancer. More powerful than apple extract, cancer cells are blocked only by cranberry extract. Of course, you can’t cure any diseases with apples, but you will certainly help your body cope with some ailments.

— Thanks to vitamins and minerals, apples strengthen the cardiovascular system and improve brain function, help with stress and fatigue. In general, in order to reduce nervous excitability in general, it is recommended to include in your diet foods such as ripe sweet apples, asparagus, sweet oranges, fresh red carrots, pumpkin, beets and celery greens, says gastroenterologist Galina Bartashevich. – In addition, apples help to increase the level of hemoglobin, which is useful for anemia and after a large blood loss, remove excess salt and water from the body, help lower blood pressure, which is why it is useful for hypertensive patients.

Galina Bartashevich — gastroenterologist of the highest category, pediatric gastroenterologist, nutritionist, candidate of sciences.

Useful properties of apples

org/Person”> Infographics: Vitaly Kalistratov / City portals

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The color of products (including apples) can tell a lot about them. For example, red and yellow apples have more carotene, while green apples have more iron.

— Green products carry a strong energy complex, which especially strengthens the human internal system and gives the body the ability to better absorb all other products, says nutritionist Inna Zorina. Green is the color of calmness. When taking these products, a person’s nervous system and heart rhythm are restored, anxiety is reduced, blood vessels are cleansed, and blood pressure returns to normal.

Inna Zorina — dietician-nutritionist, weight correction trainer, healthy nutrition specialist.

If you choose between red and green apples, then green ones will be more useful. Have you noticed that juice is made mainly from green apples? They simply have more valuable substances, they do not cause allergies, they can be given even to small children.

You can often come across advice to eat apples as a snack. There is even a nutritional joke: if you want to eat, eat an apple; if you don’t want an apple, you don’t want to eat. But apples are more of a dessert than a meal. And it is better to eat them (just like desserts) after the main meal.

– A snack from an apple, as well as from any fruit in general, is not very good. Even sometimes harmful, says endocrinologist Zukhra Pavlova. Still, the most important nutrient in our diet is protein. Because it cannot be obtained from anywhere except from food. Well, or from your own muscles, which is a bad option. Therefore, the ideal snack must contain protein. Because both proteins and carbohydrates can be synthesized from protein. And from an apple you get only fructose and glucose. Oh, and dietary fiber. So in a break between work, you can eat, say, an egg, and then an apple.

Zukhra Pavlova – doctor – endocrinologist-andrologist, candidate of medical sciences.

– Fructose quickly satisfies the feeling of hunger, but then dramatically reduces the level of malonyl-CoA. This substance is an essential component of the cell cycle of energy production and the regulator of energy balance in the brain, adds Galina Bartashevich. – This leads to an increase in appetite. And glucose, on the contrary, increases the level of malonyl-CoA and reduces appetite.

Thus, fruit snacks strongly stimulate the center of hunger and by the next meal a person runs the risk of eating more than planned.

Eating apples before meals is also not a good idea for appetite. Fruits change the acidity in the mouth, and this is an important stage in our digestion. Therefore, the plan is this: we start eating with alkaline foods (for example, vegetables), and finish with fruits.

And it’s a really bad idea to eat apples on an empty stomach. This can lead to bloating and exacerbation of gastrointestinal diseases.

Since we got to the diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it’s time to list those who are contraindicated in apples.

— Raw apples are undesirable for people with peptic ulcer, especially duodenal ulcer. Since the acid contained in them will once again irritate the mucous membrane, says Galina Bartashevich. – But heat treatment will help reduce the amount of acids. For example, if you bake apples, they will have less effect on the mucous membranes of the digestive system.

In what cases apples can be contraindicated

Infographics: Vitaly Kalistratov / City portals

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The standard recommendation from nutritionists is two to three apples a day. Not more. It’s all about tartaric acid and fiber. In excess, they can even lead to gastritis. And also in calories. Apples, of course, look light and safe, but in fact, as in the case of any other food eaten not out of hunger (and even in excess), they are not absorbed by the body, and calories will go into reserve.

Well, do not forget that it is best to eat apples with a peel. As well as the other 5 vegetables and fruits that should never be peeled. It is in the apple peel that contains the maximum amount of nutrients.

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Find out how much an apple is digested in the human stomach. ..

How much an apple is digested in the human body depends on various factors. We will tell about them further.

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The body will cope with the digestion of an apple quickly, provided that you did not eat anything other than an apple (during this meal).

If you ate a piece of meat or dough (flour, bread) before or during an apple, then the apple will stay in the stomach much longer

An apple with meat will be digested not for half an hour, but for six full hours. And this is the minimum.

How to prepare an apple

The body will digest the whole fruit the fastest. If the fruits are baked or boiled, absorption will slow down.

Stomach problems

A person with low acidity should not eat apples, especially unripe ones.

Do not eat unripe apples. They can provoke an exacerbation of gastritis

Interestingly, people with stomach diseases digest apples much more slowly. They also cause heartburn in many people.

Meal time

Nutritionists advise eating apples before lunch, then they will be digested faster. And the question of how much an apple is digested will definitely not become relevant.

How long does it take to fully digest an apple

So, the digestion time of an apple in minutes: 30 minutes or about half an hour.

The process of assimilation of an apple proceeds quickly – due to the high content of carbohydrates in apples

Carbohydrates from apples are digested in the stomach on average in an hour. But that’s not all.

Further, the partially digested food is sent to the intestines, where the process of assimilation of useful substances lasts approximately 40 minutes.

How much an apple is digested in children

Children’s gastrointestinal tract works a little faster than adults. In the intestines of the child, food is in 30 minutes.