Can apples cause constipation?

[gilliflower]

I have recently been told that apples can cause constipation. I have never heard this before and wondered if there is any truth in it. I can't find anything about it on the net. Any ideas? I'd like to challenge my source on this!

[Robinia]

hmmm, I vaguely remember someone saying something like that. I think it's because apples contain a lot of pectin.

[dr b]

From yesterday's Wall St Journal:

"As many as 20% of adults at some point suffer from a painful digestive disorder that is difficult to diagnose and has no cure. Treatment is hit or miss, and many sufferers never seek help because they find the symptoms hard to discuss.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) has long baffled gastro-intestinal experts. Some think it is caused by imbalances in gut bacteria; others point to psychological stress. Now, a small but growing contingent of specialists is focusing on food intolerances as a possible culprit—and a new dietary approach, called the low-Fodmaps diet, is gaining attention around the world.

The theory is that many people with IBS have trouble absorbing certain carbohydrates in their small intestines. Large molecules of those foods travel to the colon, where they are attacked by bacteria and ferment, creating the telltale IBS symptoms of gas, bloating, constipation or diarrhea.

A long list of foods—including dairy products, some fruits and vegetables, wheat, rye, corn syrup and artificial sweeteners—can potentially create such problems in susceptible people. Collectively, they're known as Fodmaps, an acronym that for stands for Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides and Polyols."

The article lists the following fruits as suspects: Apples, Apricots, Cherries, Pears, Watermelon.

Full article is here, but may not be viewable for non-subscribers:

http://online.wsj.com...7023880581820726.html

[boxtops]

They've never caused me a problem - an apple a day is supposed to keep the doctor away, not cause you to need one!

[Sqad]

No.

[rowanwitch]

with the skin ok applesauce used to be given to settle babies with diarhoea

[Sqad]

rowan....yeah! yeah!.......but did it work?

[craft1948]

dr b I suffer from IBS and read an article some years ago about a ballet dancer whose life was literally ruined by the condition.
The University of York subscribed to the theory of certain food intolerances, and took her on as a guinea pig. After narrowing down which foods she should avoid her IBS completely cleared within a year.

[237SJ]

IBS and constipation aren`t the same thing though are they. You might get IBS from apples if you are intolerant to them but that`s not the same as something "bunging you up".

[Rodge2]

I would have imagined fruit would if anything, tend to have the opposite effect.

[boxtops]

Pears do for me - if I can't go, I eat a pear.

[Old_Geezer]

From my limited experience of fruit I'd have thought just the opposite. But I suppose it depends on where you shove the apples.

[Rodge2]

@ boxtops - Apparently stout is very good too if you can't go.

[derekpara]

Old-Geezer. I agree with your last sentence, but I would avoid Cox.

D

[AlBags]

Only if you eat them WHOLE.

[coccinelle]

Stewed apple bungs me up whereas fresh ones don't!!

[Ann]

Thanks, thats a very interesting article Dr b, I have printed it off and will look further into it, I suffer from IBS and am having a particularly painful episode at the moment....... I wonder whether pomegranates fall into the food intolerance group (I have been having this on my porridge for the past 6 weeks) so now am going going to research further. I also eat at least 2 apples a day and a lot of fruit......

[cantatrice]

Eat one kiwi fruit every morning - half an hour before eating or drinking anything else - do not be tempted to have your morning beverage or anything else with the kiwi. This was a cure given, as I understand it, by
Montignac.