Foods to avoid with sucrose intolerance

Sucrose is the sugar in table sugar and many sweetened foods. If digestion or absorption is impaired, symptoms may include bloating, abdominal discomfort, gas or diarrhoea after eating. Cakes, sweets, sweetened drinks, syrups, desserts and some packaged sauces can contain substantial added sugar. Similar symptoms can have other causes, so a response to one meal does not confirm sucrose intolerance.

Read ingredient lists for sugar, sucrose, cane sugar, beet sugar, syrup and concentrated sweeteners. Compare symptoms with the portion and keep a food diary. Prefer whole foods such as vegetables, grains, eggs, fish or un sweetened dairy products when tolerated. Do not remove broad food groups for a long period without nutrition counselling. Food intolerance testing and a supervised dietary review may clarify the pattern.

Seek urgent help for severe or persistent abdominal pain, repeated vomiting, blood in stool, faintness or signs of dehydration. Book a medical review for ongoing diarrhoea, weight change, nighttime symptoms, poor growth in a child, or symptoms that continue despite dietary changes. Immediate symptoms with hives, swelling or breathing trouble suggest a different type of reaction and require urgent attention.

Could another digestive condition explain my symptoms? Should I have food intolerance testing? How can I reduce sucrose without missing fibre or essential nutrients?