Can Too Much Fruit Make Your Stomach Cramp?

Eating fruit is recommended for a well-balanced diet, but if eating it makes your stomach cramp, you might avoid it. Although cramping from eating fruits is not a common symptom, you shouldn't assume it's a sign of a serious condition, either. Eating a lot of fruit in one sitting can cause gas pains and cramping from the large amounts of fiber. Certain digestive conditions—such as hereditary fructose intolerance and irritable bowel syndrome—could cause stomach cramping after eating a lot of fruit.

Gas Pains

Some fruits, such as citrus fruits, are difficult for your digestive system to break down. Gas is a normal part of digestion; gas is expelled by belching and passing gas. Any gas that’s not expelled can build in your digestive system, leading to gas pains and bloating. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse states that trapped gas can cause sharp pains that come and go. The pain may be felt anywhere in the abdomen and could cause a cramping sensation. If you’re prone to excessive gas, talk with your doctor about using a digestive enzyme that could help prevent gas pains.

Fiber

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Certain fruits are high-fiber foods that can cause bloating, gas and stomach cramping. Some common high-fiber fruits include apples, raspberries, pears, strawberries, oranges, figs, raisins and bananas. The more of those fruits you eat in one sitting, the more chances you have of developing cramping afterward. Your digestive system contains bacteria that are accustomed to a certain level of fiber. If you suddenly increase the amount of fiber in your diet, you might experience excessive gas, bloating and abdominal cramping.

Hereditary Fructose Intolerance

Hereditary fructose intolerance occurs when your digestive system lacks the enzyme to break down fructose—a simple sugar found in fruits and used in processed foods and as table sugar. If both your parents have this condition, you have a 25 percent chance of being born with it, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Eating fruit with this condition can cause severe stomach cramps and other medical complications.

Irritable Bowel Syndrome

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Irritable bowel syndrome symptoms could develop after eating too much fruit. If you’ve been diagnosed with IBS, it's important not to overeat and to know what types of food might trigger an attack. IBS symptoms include cramping, stomach pain, chronic diarrhea or chronic constipation. There is no cure for IBS, so avoiding foods that trigger your symptoms is the best prevention method.