My daughter has fructose intolerance. Can you tell me which foods have fructose so that she can avoid them?
Answer From Katherine Zeratsky, R.D., L.D.
Fructose is a sugar found naturally in fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables and honey. Fructose is also a basic component in table sugar (sucrose), and high-fructose corn syrup is used to sweeten many processed foods and beverages.
When your digestive system doesn't absorb fructose properly, it can cause abdominal pain, diarrhea and gas.
People who have fructose intolerance should limit high-fructose foods, such as juices, apples, grapes, watermelon, asparagus, peas and zucchini. Some lower fructose foods — such as bananas, blueberries, strawberries, carrots, avocados, green beans and lettuce — may be tolerated in limited quantities with meals.
Read product labels carefully and avoid foods containing:
- Fructose
- High-fructose corn syrup
- Honey
- Agave syrup
- Invert sugar
- Maple-flavored syrup
- Molasses
- Palm or coconut sugar
- Sorghum
Consult a registered dietitian for a complete list of foods your daughter should eat or avoid if she has fructose intolerance. The dietitian can also help create a healthy diet plan for your daughter to make sure she gets the nutrients she needs.
Jan. 21, 2022
- Food allergies and intolerances 105: Fructose malabsorption. American Gastroenterological Association. http://www.gastro.org/info_for_patients/food-allergies-and-intolerances-105-fructose-malabsorption. Accessed Nov. 7, 2016.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Fructose malabsorption. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2012.
- Fructose intolerance. Nutrition Care Manual. Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. http://nutritioncaremanual.org/index.cfm. Accessed Nov. 9, 2016.
- Mason JB, et al. Overview of the treatment of malabsorption. http://www.uptodate.com/home. Accessed Nov. 7, 2016.