Foods for a Fructose-Restricted Diet

Fructose malabsorption is a common cause of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms, such as abdominal pain, gas and changes in bowel movement. If your digestive system does not handle fructose well, a fructose-restricted diet may help improve your symptoms. Even though fructose is found in many fruits a variety of foods is allowed on a fructose-restricted diet.

Fruits

Although all fruits contain fructose, the fructose-restricted diet only eliminates foods that contain more than half of their sugar in the form of fructose, such as watermelon, apples, cherries, mango and pears. Dried fruits and fruit juices are also not allowed. However, most people can tolerate a limited number of servings of low-fructose fruits, such as bananas, blueberries, strawberries, kiwifruits and citrus fruits, especially if spaced throughout the day.

Vegetables

Only a few vegetables are high in fructose. Avoid sugar snap peas, asparagus and artichokes to keep your fructose intake low and prevent gastrointestinal side effects. All other vegetables should be well-tolerated, including cauliflower, mushrooms, tomatoes, broccoli, squashes and lettuce, unless you are also intolerant to other short-chain carbohydrates in the same family as fructose. If this is the case, consult a registered dietitian for help identifying these foods in your diet.

Protein

All protein-rich foods are safe on a fructose-restricted diet, unless they are prepared with fructose-containing ingredients. Choose fresh, plain red meat, chicken, turkey, fish and seafood. Eggs and cheese are also appropriate low-fructose options. Mango salsa, applesauce or dried fruits often served in salads or as accompaniments to protein dishes are not safe for people with fructose malabsorption.

Fats

You can safely add healthy fats to your fructose-restricted diet. Extra-virgin olive oil, avocado, nuts and nut butter are rich in a heart-healthy kind of fat called monounsaturated fat. Avoid processed salad dressings, mayonnaise and commercially prepared guacamole since they often contain high-fructose sweetener such as high-fructose corn syrup.

Carbohydrates

White potatoes, sweet potatoes,  oatmeal and quinoa are excellent sources of carbohydrates that fit a fructose-restricted diet.  If you want something sweet for dessert, low-fructose fruits and dark chocolate are healthy choices. Keep an eye on the amount of sugar you consume, because even safe sweeteners can cause symptoms if consumed in excessive amounts.