The IBS Trigger You’re NEVER Warned About

Dealing with irritable bowel syndrome is a special kind of misery…

One second, your IBS leaves you doubled over with cramps… and the next, it has you sprinting for the bathroom.

Your doctor has probably told you to watch what you eat… and look for “trigger” foods.

And that’s good advice – but there’s one trigger he’s probably never warned you about.

Because it’s coming from foods we think are healthy.

A French research team has added to the chorus of voices warning about a possible – and surprising – trigger for IBS.

Fructose.

Yep, the same fructose you get from your favorite fruits.

The researchers found that many people with IBS have trouble absorbing fructose. So the fructose stays in your gut, drawing in water and getting fermented by bacteria.

The end result can be gas, bloating, pain, and diarrhea.

I wrote about some of the problems with fructose in my June newsletter (current subscribers can access that here).

Unlike glucose, which is used directly by the body’s cells for energy and is tightly regulated by insulin, fructose is primarily metabolized in the liver.

That’s important, because the liver bypasses several metabolic control points – and fructose ends up acting more like a fat than a carbohydrate in your body.

It can increase oxidative stress, inflammation, and even uric acid production.

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Isn’t fruit healthy?”

Well, it’s complicated. Eating a moderate amount is OK for most people. But we have access to fruit 24/7 today, unlike our ancestors, and our bodies really aren’t designed to handle it.

The smart thing to do is to only eat fruit that’s in season where you live, and stick to low-fructose fruits like berries, kiwi, and citrus. Always eat whole fruits instead of juices or smoothies that can deliver concentrated doses of fructose.

Keep your fructose consumption in check (and avoid high-fructose corn syrup like the plague), and monitor your IBS symptoms. You might just end up noticing some unexpected relief.

View Sources

Melchior C, Douard V, Coëffier M, Gourcerol G. Fructose and irritable bowel syndrome. Nutrition Research Reviews. 2020;33(2):235-243. doi:10.1017/S0954422420000025