Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsBananas and Stomach PainBananas and IBSBanana AllergyFructose IntolerancePreventing Symptoms
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Bananas and Stomach Pain
Bananas and IBS
Banana Allergy
Fructose Intolerance
Preventing Symptoms
Bananas can make your stomach hurt due to several possible causes, includingirritable bowel syndrome(IBS), a common disorder causing abdominal pain, cramping, gas, bloating, and other gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
You also may experience stomach discomfort if you have a fructose intolerance or a rare banana allergy. Bananas contain sorbitol, which can sometimes lead to gas, bloating, and diarrhea, too.
This article will explore why bananas may cause GI symptoms, even though they’re generally easy to digest and considered helpful when treatingnausea.It will present some ways to minimize any unpleasant effects when eating bananas.
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Although bananas are generally well-tolerated, some people experience bloating and gas after eating them. One reason a person may experience discomfort after eating bananas is due to their soluble fiber content. Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is more readily fermented in the colon than insoluble fiber. This can lead to gas and bloating in some people.
Bananas and Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Bananas are a common trigger food for people with IBS because, when bananas break down in the stomach, they can cause excess gas.
Ripe bananas are considered to be high inFODMAPS(fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols). If you’re following a low FODMAP diet to manage your IBS, you may want to avoid or limit ripe bananas. However, unripe bananas are considered to be a low FODMAP food.
Are Bananas Acidic?
Banana allergies are rare, affecting less than 1.2% of people globally. Many people with a banana allergy are also allergic to pollen or latex because they share similar protein structures.
A person with a banana allergy may experience wheezing, narrowing of the throat, or hives within minutes of eating the fruit. They may also experience nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea.
What Fruits Cause the Most Gas?Fruits such as bananas, peaches, apples, pears, apricots, and dried fruit all contain sorbitol, which the body has difficulty digesting. Excess sorbitol intake can lead to gas and bloating.
What Fruits Cause the Most Gas?
Fruits such as bananas, peaches, apples, pears, apricots, and dried fruit all contain sorbitol, which the body has difficulty digesting. Excess sorbitol intake can lead to gas and bloating.
Bananas and Fructose Intolerance
A person withfructose intolerancehas difficulty digesting fructose. People with this intolerance should restrict or limit fructose in their diet.
Fructose malabsorption occurs when the body cannot digest or absorb fructose the way it should. This causes bloating gas and abdominal discomfort.
Hereditary fructose intolerance is a very rare condition due to a mutation (genetic change) that results in the person being unable to break down fructose in the liver. This condition often causes more severe symptoms and requires additional treatment besides removing fructose from the diet.
Most people can tolerate small amounts of fructose found in fruits like bananas. They often have more difficulty tolerating large amounts of fructose found in honey and high fructose corn syrup.
What Is Fructose?Fructose is a very sweet, simple sugar found in fruit, fruit juice, and honey. It’s also found in table sugar.
What Is Fructose?
Fructose is a very sweet, simple sugar found in fruit, fruit juice, and honey. It’s also found in table sugar.
How to Prevent GI Symptoms From Bananas
Alternatively, if you believe you have fructose malabsorption, you can also try temporarily removing high fructose foods, including bananas, from your diet. Once you begin to feel better, you can slowly add foods that contain fructose back in. This can help you pinpoint the foods that are causing the problem.
However, resistant starch is fermented slowly, so it usually does not cause as much gas as other types of fiber.Ripe or cooked bananas have less starch and more simple sugars, making them easier to digest.
Drinking more water and gradually increasing your fiber intake can also reduce GI side effects.
Should You Eat Bananas on an Empty Stomach?Bananas are high in carbohydrates and natural sugars, which may lead to increased hunger and overall blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Consider pairing bananas with protein and healthy fats to feel full and better manage your blood sugar.
Should You Eat Bananas on an Empty Stomach?
Bananas are high in carbohydrates and natural sugars, which may lead to increased hunger and overall blood sugar levels in people with diabetes. Consider pairing bananas with protein and healthy fats to feel full and better manage your blood sugar.
Summary
Although bananas are generally easy to digest and often recommended for nausea and diarrhea, everyone may not tolerate them. Bananas are high in fructose, sorbitol, and soluble fiber, making them a common trigger for people with existing gastrointestinal issues.
Additionally, if you are not used to eating a high-fiber diet, you may find it helpful to gradually increase your fiber intake and drink more water to alleviate unpleasant symptoms. If you suspect you have an intolerance, IBS, or malabsorption, it is essential to speak with your healthcare provider for an evaluation.
11 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Bananas and nausea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT diet: recovering from an upset stomach.Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.Colon gas & flatus prevention.Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Monash University.Bananas re-tested.Dayıoğlu A, Akgiray S, Nacaroğlu HT, Bahçeci Erdem S.The clinical spectrum of reactions due to banana allergy.BMB. 2020;5(2):60-63. doi:10.4274/BMB.galenos.2020.04.013Family Medicine Austin.Banana allergy: symptoms and risk factors.UW School of Medicine and Public Health.Fructose-restricted diet.Erickson JM, Carlson JL, Stewart ML, Slavin JL.Fermentability of novel type-4 resistant starches in in vitro system.Foods. 2018;7(2). doi:10.3390/foods7020018The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes.What is resistant starch.University of Hawaii.Cooking banana.
11 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.MedlinePlus.Bananas and nausea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT diet: recovering from an upset stomach.Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.Colon gas & flatus prevention.Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Monash University.Bananas re-tested.Dayıoğlu A, Akgiray S, Nacaroğlu HT, Bahçeci Erdem S.The clinical spectrum of reactions due to banana allergy.BMB. 2020;5(2):60-63. doi:10.4274/BMB.galenos.2020.04.013Family Medicine Austin.Banana allergy: symptoms and risk factors.UW School of Medicine and Public Health.Fructose-restricted diet.Erickson JM, Carlson JL, Stewart ML, Slavin JL.Fermentability of novel type-4 resistant starches in in vitro system.Foods. 2018;7(2). doi:10.3390/foods7020018The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes.What is resistant starch.University of Hawaii.Cooking banana.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
MedlinePlus.Bananas and nausea.American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT diet: recovering from an upset stomach.Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.Colon gas & flatus prevention.Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007Monash University.Bananas re-tested.Dayıoğlu A, Akgiray S, Nacaroğlu HT, Bahçeci Erdem S.The clinical spectrum of reactions due to banana allergy.BMB. 2020;5(2):60-63. doi:10.4274/BMB.galenos.2020.04.013Family Medicine Austin.Banana allergy: symptoms and risk factors.UW School of Medicine and Public Health.Fructose-restricted diet.Erickson JM, Carlson JL, Stewart ML, Slavin JL.Fermentability of novel type-4 resistant starches in in vitro system.Foods. 2018;7(2). doi:10.3390/foods7020018The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes.What is resistant starch.University of Hawaii.Cooking banana.
MedlinePlus.Bananas and nausea.
American Academy of Family Physicians.BRAT diet: recovering from an upset stomach.
Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology.Colon gas & flatus prevention.
Capili B, Anastasi JK, Chang M.Addressing the role of food in irritable bowel syndrome symptom management.The Journal for Nurse Practitioners. 2016;12(5):324-329. doi:10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007
Monash University.Bananas re-tested.
Dayıoğlu A, Akgiray S, Nacaroğlu HT, Bahçeci Erdem S.The clinical spectrum of reactions due to banana allergy.BMB. 2020;5(2):60-63. doi:10.4274/BMB.galenos.2020.04.013
Family Medicine Austin.Banana allergy: symptoms and risk factors.
UW School of Medicine and Public Health.Fructose-restricted diet.
Erickson JM, Carlson JL, Stewart ML, Slavin JL.Fermentability of novel type-4 resistant starches in in vitro system.Foods. 2018;7(2). doi:10.3390/foods7020018
The Johns Hopkins Patient Guide to Diabetes.What is resistant starch.
University of Hawaii.Cooking banana.
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