Why do apples cause bloating and upset stomach?
Apples are rich in nutrients that have a beneficial effect on the gastrointestinal tract, but sometimes they can cause bloating. It's important to understand why fruit causes bloating and what causes it.
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Why do apples cause indigestion?
Apples can cause flatulence—excessive gas accumulation in the stomach and intestines. This usually occurs in people who eat them in large quantities. Bloating is often accompanied by heaviness, pain, belching, and a bitter taste in the mouth.
Normally, the gastrointestinal tract should contain approximately 900 cubic centimeters of gases, which are essential for the proper functioning of the body. If they are released too frequently, this is abnormal.
- If you experience bloating after eating apples, it could be due to the dietary fiber found in the peel. This fiber plays an important role in digestion. Once it enters the body, it expands and acts like a "sponge."
- Fiber itself is not digested, but it helps remove accumulated waste and toxins from the body. It increases intestinal peristalsis.
- Consuming large amounts of fiber can disrupt the digestive system, leading to bloating. When the intestinal walls contract significantly, food is unable to be digested. Its particles remain intact, leading to gas formation.
Properties of apple pectin
Bloating can be caused not only by fiber but also by pectin. When it enters the intestines, it takes on a gel-like consistency, preventing the absorption of sucrose. A moderate amount of pectin has a positive effect on metabolism. High pectin concentrations can lead to intestinal fermentation and bloating.
Bloating is most often caused by raw apples; to solve this problem, it is recommended to bake them in the oven.
Compatibility of apples with other fruits and products
Apples can also cause bloating due to improper combinations with other fruits and foods. This directly impacts the effectiveness of digestion.
It is not advisable to combine apples:
- with potatoes;
- meat;
- bread;
- nuts;
- legumes;
- eggs.
Flatulence can also occur due to improper consumption of fruits. It is not advisable to eat them on night, since after 6 pm the synthesis of gastric juice decreases.
Eating an apple before bed can trigger active fermentation in the gastrointestinal tract, causing bloating in the morning.
It's recommended to eat apples a few hours after a heavy meal. Eating them before a meal can cause fermentation, heartburn, and bloating.
Malic acid can come into contact with foods eaten, making negative symptoms more pronounced.
The risk of flatulence increases after age 40. This is due to increased iron accumulation in tissues and the body's rejection of new iron.
Different apple varieties contain different amounts of fiber and pectin, so their effects on the body vary. This should be taken into account to avoid flatulence. The problem can be solved, but to do so, it's necessary to understand its cause. There are many effective remedies for bloating.
Other causes of flatulence after eating apples
If you eat apples in moderation and don't combine them with unsuitable foods, the risk of bloating will be minimal.
- Excessive gas formation may indicate a malfunction of the pancreas, when it does not synthesize a sufficient amount of enzymes to digest food.
- Bloating can be caused by diabetes. diabetes, dysbacteriosis, pancreatitis, cholecystitis.
- With gastritis, for example, the stomach begins to bloat due to increased acidity when malic acid enters the stomach. The condition worsens, and in addition to flatulence, pain and heartburn develop.
- Excessive gas formation after eating apples can also occur after a course of antibiotics. Beneficial microflora in the intestines is reduced, and digestion and absorption of nutrients are impaired.
- Flatulence can occur with a sharp decrease in gastric tone or when eating fatty foods along with apples. Stress negatively impacts bowel function, causing spasms. If underlying medical conditions are involved, flatulence will persist even after eliminating apples from the diet. In such cases, consulting a doctor is essential.
Foods that cause excess gas should be consumed in small quantities. Foods containing coarse fiber take longer to digest. They remain in the gastrointestinal tract longer, complicating many chronic diseases.
To eliminate excess gas, a doctor may prescribe sorbents. However, such therapy should not last longer than four weeks, otherwise it can damage the intestinal microflora.
Preventing flatulence after eating apples
- To avoid flatulence after eating apples, eat no more than three per day. Large quantities of the fruit can disrupt digestion, as they contain a lot of fiber and pectin.
- Only fresh and washed fruits should be eaten. Contamination by pathogens from contaminated fruits can lead to intoxication, the destruction of healthy intestinal microflora, and fermentation.
- All fruits must be ripe. Unripe apples are rich in fruit acids, which have a laxative effect and can cause heartburn and high acidity. Overripe fruits begin to decompose, which can lead to intestinal fermentation.
- If the acidity of the stomach is high, you should give preference to sweet varieties of apples; if it is low, you should give preference to sour varieties.
- To avoid bloating, it's best to peel, core, and cook fruit. Be sure to remove any damaged, rotten, or wormy spots from apples.
- Fruits can be eaten not only fresh, but also in the form of jam, preserves, cutting off the peel before cooking.
