“An apple a day keeps the doctor away”. How many times have we heard this? It turns out we’ve been lied to! Well, not so fast. In general, fruit such as apples is a healthy choice. But it might not necessarily be the right choice for you. Especially if you’re like me and have IBS. Read on to find out why.
Why have apples historically been called a healthy choice?
Like I said, they really might be a good choice for you! Each person is an individual and our bodies all work in unique ways. Apples are high in the following nutrients:
· Vitamin C
· Potassium
· Quercetin
· Catechin
· Chlorogenic acid
Why would apples not be a good choice?
Apples are high in fructose. Fructose is a type of FODMAP. FODMAP foods are usually intense triggers for IBS. FODMAP stands for “fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols”. Now that’s a mouthful. So what does it actually mean? A food that is high in FODMAP has a type of carbohydrate that is easily fermented by the gut. And what do we get with fermentation? The end product is gas. So for someone with IBS, high FODMAP foods can cause lots of gas, abdominal pain, diarrhea, and constipation.
So if you don’t have IBS, you can likely eat an apple as part of a healthy diet. But if you do have IBS, you will probably suffer if you include too many apples in your diet. If you have IBS and are looking for more information on FODMAPs, click “Contact” at the top of this page and book your appointment with Dr. Corina today. She will be more than happy to guide you through the low FODMAP diet.