Mucus, a translucent, jelly like substance that appears in the stool is produced by mucous glands that line the small and large intestine.

Mucus in Otherwise Normal Bowel Movements

Certain amount of mucus is regularly present in normal stools in healthy persons. Mucus in normal semi-soft stools may appear in bellow conditions:

Hemorrhoids

Internal hemorrhoids are common cause of mucus in the stool. Mucus is usually not mixed with the stool. Other typical symptoms in hemorrhoids are:

• Anal itching
• Blood in the stool
• Constipation
• Soft anal mucosa may protrude out from the anus

continue reading What Causes Mucus in the Bowel Movement?

Short-Chain Carbohydrates May Cause Chronic Bloating and Diarrhea

It was found out that certain people complaining about abdominal bloating, excessive gas, chronic diarrhea or constipation, diagnosed with ‘dyspepsia’, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or functional bowel disease (FBD), actually cannot tolerate certain short-chained carbohydratescalled FODMAPs (1).

continue reading Low-FODMAP Diet – Foods to Avoid in IBS and Bloating

What Is Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)?

Hereditary fructose intolerance (HFI) is a rare genetic disease in which fructose cannot be properly metabolised in the body. Affected person suffers from a bad abdominal reaction (bloating, diarrhea, generalized malaise) after eating fructose-containing foods. HFI is an autosomal recessive disorder of fructose metabolism, due to a deficiency of fructose-1-phosphate aldolase – an enzyme that converts fructose into glucose in the liver. Incidence of HFI is estimated at 1 / 22-58,000 people (1).

HFI should be differed from fructose malabsorption.

continue reading Rare Genetic Disorders: Hereditary Fructose Intolerance (HFI)

Nutrition Guide For Fructose Malabsorption

In the table below there are lists of foods – safe to eat, to try, and to avoid in fructose malabsorption (FM), according to several dietitians’ and fructose malabsorbers’ recommendations. The list may serve only as the orientation, since absorption of fructose and other nutrients may vary considerably among individuals with FM, so everyone should make lists of not/allowed foods and their tolerable amounts, according to personal experience. In small children, fructose absorption often improves with age.

continue reading Nutrition Guide for Fructose Malabsorption

Amount of Fructose, Glucose, Sorbitol and Fructans in Foods

Foods, problematic in fructose malabsorption (FM) are: 

• High in fructose
• High in sorbitol
• Have high fructose-to-glucose ratio (>1)
• High in fructans or other FODMAPs (problematic only for some persons with FM)

continue reading Foods, High in Fructose, Sorbitol, Fructans and FODMAPs