The Gut "Connections to Health & Disease"

Should individuals with existing gastrointestinal problems eat bananas?

Bananas

• Bananas can be easy to digest and are often recommended for nausea and diarrhea, however, not everyone can tolerate them. (MedlinePlus. 2021)
• Bananas are high in fructose, sorbitol, and soluble fiber, which makes them a common trigger for gastrointestinal problems.
• Additionally, individuals not used to eating a high-fiber diet may find it helpful to gradually increase fiber and drink more water to alleviate unpleasant symptoms.
• If there is a suspicion of intolerance, IBS, or malabsorption, it is recommended to speak with a healthcare provider for an evaluation.
• Bananas can make the stomach hurt due to:
• Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
• Cramping
• Gas
• Bloating
• Other gastrointestinal (GI) problems.
• Individuals can experience stomach discomfort if there is a fructose intolerance or a rare banana allergy.

Stomach Pain

• Bananas are used to replenish potassium and other essential nutrients lost from vomiting or diarrhea.
• Some individuals can experience bloating and gas after eating them.
• One reason is because of their soluble fiber content.
• Soluble fiber dissolves in water and is more readily fermented in the colon than insoluble fiber.
• This can lead to gas and bloating. (Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. 2018)
• Bananas also contain sorbitol - a naturally occurring sugar that acts as a laxative and can cause gas, bloating, and diarrhea when consumed in large amounts. (U.S. Food and Drug Administration. 2023)

Irritable Bowel Syndrome - IBS

• Bananas can be a common trigger food for individuals with IBS.
• This is because as bananas break down in the stomach, they can generate excess gas. (Bernadette Capili, et al., 2016)
• Bananas are also high in fructose/simple sugar especially when they have overripened.
• Individuals who have IBS are advised to avoid bananas because they can trigger many of the same side effects as undigested lactose/sugar in milk. (Johns Hopkins Medicine. 2023)
• Ripe bananas are considered to be high in FODMAPS - fermentable oligosaccharides, disaccharides, monosaccharides, and polyols.
• Individuals following a low FODMAP diet to manage IBS may want to avoid or limit consumption.
• Unripe bananas are considered to be low-FODMAP food. (Monash University. 2019)

Allergy

• Banana allergies are rare and affect less than 1.2% of the global population.
• Many individuals with a banana allergy are also allergic to pollen or latex because of similar protein structures. (Dayıoğlu A, et al., 2020)
• An individual with a banana allergy may experience wheezing, narrowing of the throat, or hives within minutes of eating.
• They can also experience nausea, abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea. (Family Medicine Austin. 2021)

Fructose Intolerance

• An individual with fructose intolerance has difficulty digesting fructose.
• Individuals with this intolerance should restrict or limit fructose. (UW School of Medicine and Public Health. 2019)
• Fructose malabsorption is when the body cannot digest or absorb fructose correctly. This causes bloating gas and abdominal discomfort.
• Hereditary fructose intolerance is very rare. It happens when the liver cannot assist in the breakdown of fructose.
• This condition often causes more severe symptoms and requires additional treatment besides removing fructose from an individual's diet. (UW School of Medicine and Public Health. 2019)
• Most can tolerate small amounts of fructose found in fruits like bananas.
• There is often more difficulty tolerating large fructose amounts found in honey and high fructose corn syrup. (UW School of Medicine and Public Health. 2019)

Prevent GI Symptoms

• If experiencing gas, bloating, or abdominal discomfort after eating bananas, consider limiting the portion size.
• For example, instead of eating one or more bananas a day, try eating half of a banana to see if symptoms resolve.
• Alternatively, if there is a belief that there is fructose malabsorption, try temporarily removing all high-fructose foods.
• If the body begins to feel better, slowly add foods that contain fructose.
• This can help you pinpoint the foods that are causing the problem. (UW School of Medicine and Public Health. 2019)
• If you're eating bananas that are too green or unripe, you may also experience stomach discomfort.
• Unripened bananas contain high amounts of resistant starch. In large quantities, this can cause mild symptoms like gas and bloating. (Jennifer M Erickson, et al., 2018)
• Resistant starch ferments slowly, so it usually does not cause as much gas as other fiber types. (The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes. 2020)
• Ripe or cooked bananas have less starch and more simple sugars, making them easier to digest. (University of Hawaii. 2006)
• Drinking more water and gradually increasing fiber intake can also reduce GI side effects. (The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes. 2020)

Gut Dysfunction

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified healthcare professional or licensed physician and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from various disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and directly or indirectly support our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has reasonably attempted to provide supportive citations and identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please contact Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

MedlinePlus. Bananas and nausea.

Jackson Siegelbaum Gastroenterology. Colon gas and flatus prevention.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Sorbitol.

Capili, B., Anastasi, J. K., & Chang, M. (2016). Addressing the Role of Food in Irritable Bowel Syndrome Symptom Management. The journal for nurse practitioners: JNP, 12(5), 324–329. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nurpra.2015.12.007

Johns Hopkins Medicine. 5 foods to avoid if you have IBS.

Monash University. Bananas re-tested.

Dayıoğlu A, Akgiray S, Nacaroğlu HT, Bahçeci Erdem S. The clinical spectrum of reactions due to banana allergy. BMB. 2020;5(2):60-63. doi: 10.4274/BMB.galenos.2020.04.013

Family Medicine Austin. Banana allergy.

UW School of Medicine and Public Health. Fructose-restricted diet.

Erickson, J. M., Carlson, J. L., Stewart, M. L., & Slavin, J. L. (2018). The Fermentability of Novel Type-4 Resistant Starches in In Vitro System. Foods (Basel, Switzerland), 7(2), 18. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods7020018

The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes. What is resistant starch?

The University of Hawaii. Cooking banana.

The central nervous system - CNS controls body and mind functions, voluntary movements, including walking, and involuntary movements, specifically the breakdown of foods and waste removal. Studies have found associations between spinal problems and gastrointestinal-GI tract/stomach issues that include:

• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Difficulty controlling bowel movements
• Diarrhea
• Nausea
• Vomiting

Treating the underlying cause through chiropractic, non-surgical spinal decompression, and health coaching can bring pain relief, realign/heal the spine and alleviate stomach issues.

Spinal Problems and Stomach Issues

The spinal cord sends nerve signals throughout the body, including to and from the digestive system. Two types of nerves control the digestive system, extrinsic and intrinsic.

Extrinsic nerves

• Connect the digestive organs with the brain and spinal cord.
• Release chemicals that contract or relax the digestive system muscles.

Intrinsic nerves

• Are a sub-nervous system of the intestinal tract.
• The nerves activate when the walls of the intestines become filled with food.
• They control the production of digestive juices.
• The nerves relay signals to speed up or slow down the food’s movement through the gut. 

The intrinsic system can function independently and work without communication from the extrinsic nerves. However, the stomach and esophagus/food pipe depends on information from the extrinsic nerves. If there is injury, damage, or interference with the extrinsic nerve supply to the stomach, it can lead to stomach issues. Spinal cord injuries and compressed or herniated discs interrupt the communication between nerves/systems, which can lead to digestive and bowel problems, including:

• Feeling full quickly after eating.
• Stomach pain
• Constipation
• Decreased appetite
• Difficulty moving waste through the colon or large intestine
• Hard stools
• Tenesmus - the sensation/feeling of having to have a bowel movement even though there is none.

Herniated Discs

Herniated disc/s usually occurs in the neck or low back spinal area. Symptoms include:

• Neck pain
• Back pain
• Pain spreads from the lower back through the buttocks, legs, and feet.
• Pain spreads from the neck through the shoulders, arms, and hands.
• Muscle weakness
• Muscle spasms
• Tingling or burning sensations
• Numbness

Chiropractic Spinal Decompression

Chiropractic decompression therapy stretches the spine and manipulates its position to take pressure off the nerves and spinal discs. The decompression process creates negative pressure in the discs that retract herniated or bulging discs, allowing oxygen, water, and other healing nutrients to enter the disc and throughout the spine. The spinal decompression will help alleviate the stomach issues. Consultation from a health coach/nutritionist will recommend a diet that will aid in the disc/s healing, which is anti-inflammatory and easily digestible until the stomach problems are fully resolved.

DRX Patient Testimonials

General Disclaimer *

The information herein is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional, or licensed physician, and is not medical advice. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions based on your research and partnership with a qualified healthcare professional. Our information scope is limited to chiropractic, musculoskeletal, physical medicines, wellness, sensitive health issues, functional medicine articles, topics, and discussions. We provide and present clinical collaboration with specialists from a wide array of disciplines. Each specialist is governed by their professional scope of practice and their jurisdiction of licensure. We use functional health & wellness protocols to treat and support care for the injuries or disorders of the musculoskeletal system. Our videos, posts, topics, subjects, and insights cover clinical matters, issues, and topics that relate to and support, directly or indirectly, our clinical scope of practice.* Our office has made a reasonable attempt to provide supportive citations and has identified the relevant research study or studies supporting our posts. We provide copies of supporting research studies available to regulatory boards and the public upon request.

We understand that we cover matters that require an additional explanation of how it may assist in a particular care plan or treatment protocol; therefore, to further discuss the subject matter above, please feel free to ask Dr. Alex Jimenez or contact us at 915-850-0900.

Dr. Alex Jimenez DC, MSACP, CCST, IFMCP*, CIFM*, ATN*

email: coach@elpasofunctionalmedicine.com

Licensed in: Texas & New Mexico*

References

Browning, Kirsteen N, and R Alberto Travagli. “Central nervous system control of gastrointestinal motility and secretion and modulation of gastrointestinal functions.” Comprehensive Physiology vol. 4,4 (2014): 1339-68. doi:10.1002/cphy.c130055

Holmes, Gregory M, and Emily N Blanke. “Gastrointestinal dysfunction after spinal cord injury.” Experimental neurology vol. 320 (2019): 113009. doi:10.1016/j.expneurol.2019.113009

Lara, F J Pérez, et al. “Thoracic disk herniation, a not infrequent cause of chronic abdominal pain.” International surgery vol. 97,1 (2012): 27-33. doi:10.9738/CC98.1

Papadakos, Nikolaos, et al. “Thoracic disc prolapse presenting with abdominal pain: case report and review of the literature.” Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England vol. 91,5 (2009): W4-6. doi:10.1308/147870809X401038