You Get A Little Shaky
‘There are a wide range of symptoms that can happen if you are not tolerating sugar well you could experience hyperactivity or shakiness a while after eating foods high in sugar,” Stagg says. If you feel shaky not just energized after eating sugar, it might mean your body doesn’t handle it well. Looking at the type of sugar you eat, the amount, what you eat it with, and how you eat it might help you feel better. But as Jones emphasizes, seeing a doctor or allergist and working with a dietitian are the best ways to not only know for sure if you have an allergy or intolerance, but manage it, too.
There are a lot of signs to look out for if your think you may have a sugar intolerance that go beyond a simple sweets-induced headache. The best way to really test out whats causing any annoying symptoms is an elimination diet if you feel better cutting out sugar, it may be a sign your body does not love trying to digest the stuff due to an intolerance.
Experts:
Charmaine Jones, registered dietitian and founder of Food Jonezi
Vanessa Rissetto, registered dietician
What Causes Lactose Intolerance
The body digests lactose using a substance called lactase. This breaks down lactose into 2 sugars called glucose and galactose, which can be easily absorbed into the bloodstream.
People with lactose intolerance do not produce enough lactase, so lactose stays in the digestive system, where it’s fermented by bacteria.
This leads to the production of various gases, which cause the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance.
Depending on the underlying reason why the body’s not producing enough lactase, lactose intolerance may be temporary or permanent.
Most cases that develop in adults are inherited and tend to be lifelong, but cases in young children are often caused by an infection in the digestive system and may only last for a few weeks.
Complications Of Lactose Intolerance
Milk and other dairy products contain calcium, protein and vitamins, such as A, B12 and D.
Lactose also helps your body absorb a number of other minerals, such as magnesium and zinc.
These vitamins and minerals are important for the development of strong, healthy bones.
If you’re lactose intolerant, getting the right amount of important vitamins and minerals can prove difficult.
This may lead to unhealthy weight loss and put you at increased risk of developing the following conditions:
- osteopenia where you have a very low bone-mineral density left untreated, it can develop into osteoporosis
- osteoporosis where your bones become thin and weak, and your risk of breaking a bone is increased
- malnutrition when the food you eat does not give you the nutrients essential for a healthy functioning body this means wounds can take longer to heal and you may start to feel tired or depressed
If you’re concerned that dietary restrictions are putting you at risk of complications, you may find it helpful to consult a dietitian.
They can advise you on your diet and whether you require food supplements.
Your GP should be able to refer you to an NHS dietitian free of charge. Or you can contact a private dietitian.
The British Dietetic Association has information on how to find a private dietitian.
Page last reviewed: 25 February 2019 Next review due: 25 February 2022
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Why Some People Feel Strange After Eating Sugar
When sugar enters the body, it causes your blood glucose level to rise, which then prompts the pancreas to release insulin to help move that glucose from the bloodstream into the cells, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. A large release of insulin can also result in a sugar crash later on, which you may experience as a headache, nausea, or gastrointestinal upset, Lauren Harris-Pincus, M.S., RDN, author of The Everything Easy Pre-Diabetes Cookbook, tells SELF.
Some people may experience this more drastically than others, especially if theyre prone to high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, which happens when theres a buildup of excess glucose in the bloodstream. This is typically an issue for people with diabetes or prediabetes, but its possible to have these conditions and not even know it, so its worth knowing the symptoms to watch out for. Signs of high blood sugar include fatigue, increased thirst, frequent urination, headaches, and blurred vision, among others.
But it’s also possible that you’re having a reaction to the sugar itself, which can happen if you have an allergy or intolerance to certain ingredients.
Sugar Alternatives And What To Eat If You Have Sugar Cane Intolerance
It used to be much harder to avoid sugar in your diet, but in recent years many UK supermarkets and restaurants have embraced the free from lifestyle. You can now find lots of sugar-free food alternatives and recipes, so if you have an intolerance to sugar its easier than ever to still eat what you want.
A sugar intolerance diet plan will usually include lots of whole grain foods and vegetables low in sugar and saturated fat. Some sugar and cane sugar alternatives include:
If you find that youre specifically intolerant to lactose sugar, you may also want to avoid things like butter, cheese, cream, milk and yoghurt.
Of course, you may be able to find sugar-free versions of some of these foods that can be successfully incorporated into your diet. If youre unsure of what to eat with a sugar cane intolerance, get in touch with YorkTests expert intolerance* nutritional specialists for advice.
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Food Allergy For Beginners: Sugars
What is a Sugar?
Sugar is one those loaded words that can have a variety of meanings. For example sugar can mean sucrose, the white granules you put in your coffee, or it can refer to the level of glucose in your blood, as in: I need to up my insulin because my blood sugar is sky high after putting all that sugar in my coffee.
Sugar can also refer to carbohydrates , one of the three categories of chemicals, along with fats and proteins, which make up the food we eat.
Carbohydrates can be single molecules or joined together to form large chains. Single molecules are called monosaccarides and include glucose, galactose and fructose. Any two of these simple sugars combined are called disaccharides. For example, sucrose is a disaccharide combing the two simple sugars glucose and fructose. Lactose is a disaccharide containing glucose and galactose. Polysaccharides are long chains of monosaccharide joined together and are used in plants and animals for structure and storage. Sugar is stored as starch in plants and as glycogen in animals.
Monosaccharide glucose
Sugars can combine with proteins to form glycoproteins and with fats to form glycolipids.
Its All About Glucose
Can You Be Allergic to Sugar?
The short answer is no. Simple sugars and disaccharides such as sucrose and lactose are not allergens and cannot cause true allergic reactions.
Lactose Intolerance
Brian Millhollon, MD
Sugar Substitutes May Be A Good Option For Those With Sugar Allergy Or Intolerance
Many kids who have a sugar intolerance or allergy are able to consume foods with sugar substitutes without issue.
Therefore, according to MedicalNewsToday, when replacing foods filled with sugar with a substitute, the following sources of sweetener should be looked for:
In some instances, there will be an intolerance to an artificial sweetener as well. Because of this, it is recommended to start by introducing one sweetener at a time so that if there is a reaction it is clear what the cause is.
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Types Of Food Allergies
True food allergies can be divided into two main types:
- Immunoglobulin E mediated. In this type of food allergy, your bodys immune system makes IgE antibodies that react with certain food. Antibodies are a type of blood protein used by your immune system to recognize and fight infection. An IgE-mediated allergic reaction usually occurs within several hours of eating the food allergen and can include mild to severe symptoms, including anaphylaxis (
10 ).
However, around 90% of children will outgrow the condition by the time theyre 3 years old, making it much less common in adults.
A cows milk allergy can occur in both IgE and non-IgE forms, but IgE cow milk allergies are the most common and potentially the most serious.
Children or adults with an IgE allergy tend to have a reaction within 530 minutes of ingesting cows milk. They experience symptoms like swelling, rashes, hives, vomiting, and, in rare cases, anaphylaxis.
A non-IgE allergy usually has more gut-based symptoms like vomiting, constipation, or diarrhea, as well as inflammation of the gut wall .
A non-IgE milk allergy can be quite difficult to diagnose. This is because sometimes the symptoms can suggest an intolerance and there is no blood test for it .
If a diagnosis of a cows milk allergy is made, the only treatment is to avoid cows milk and foods that contain it. This includes any foods or drinks that contain:
How To Know If Youre Allergic To Sugar
While an intolerance to a certain type of sugar is fairly common, its extremely rare to have a true allergy to sugar. In fact, there seems to just be one documented case of fructose-induced anaphylaxis, which was published in a 2018 letter to the editor in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice1.
That said, there have been some limited reports of people having allergic responses to sugar substitutes. As SELF previously reported, stevia and the sugar alcohol erythritol can cause sensitivity reactions, such as burning throat and coughing, in some people. The research on this is scarce, but one 2007 Allergy study2 describes two cases of anaphylaxis in infants after they came into contact with stevioside, an extract from the stevia plant.
A sugar allergy is so rare its almost nonexistent, but it would be verified by antibodies, says Freirich. So if you think youre having an allergic reaction to sugar or any other food, you should seek immediate treatment. Then your primary care provider or allergist can carry out allergy testing.
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Cane Sugar Vs Refined Sugar
The difference between cane sugar and refined sugar is in the processing, with refined sugar being more processed than cane. According to a 2014 article published in Mother Jones, refined sugar is boiled several times to remove all the molasses, while cane sugar is boiled only once. The remaining molasses in the cane sugar adds color, flavor and a trace amount of nutrients.
How To Prevent And Treat Sugar Allergies In Children
Some allergy specialists believe early allergenic food introduction is the key. And that it may prevent allergies before they even become a problem. So when its time to introduce your baby to solid foods, consult with a doctor. They may be able to walk you through an allergenic food introduction.Early intervention may prevent your child from developing a sugar allergy. Or it can identify serious allergies early on to better prepare for your child’s future.You can manage your childs sugar allergy or intolerance through substitutions. Instead of sugar, reach for stevia or saccharin in your childs favorite snacks. Or introduce lactase tablets before lactose-heavy meals.And while some food allergies may dissipate later in life, others stick around for the long haul. For example, lactose intolerance may go away with age. But nut allergies are usually lifelong.To find out whether your childs sugar intolerance or allergy will go away with age, talk with your doctor.
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Can You Be Allergic To Sugar
Upon consumption of sugar, one feels a little bit of a high because sugar causes a spike in blood sugar, and later on, the blood spike will go down, leading to symptoms like a headache. If youre allergic to sugar, it is most likely that consuming large amounts of sugar wont be good for your body. There are different types of sugars. For example, there are naturally occurring sugars in vegetables and fruits while theres added sugar like the one we use in preparing tea and desserts. Thats why you will most likely feel a sugar high after consuming a bunch of sweets, but you wont get the same feeling after consuming fruits. Naturally occurring sugars come with fiber which takes time for the sugar to be digested, thus not causing any blood sugar spikes.
The most common reaction to sugar is intolerance. A sugar allergy is less common, even almost non-existent. Even though you may have a sugar allergy, it is even less common to get severe reactions from consuming sugar like anaphylaxis, even though its not unheard of .
What Is Sugar Intolerance
A sugar cane intolerance refers to the reactions or symptoms a person may get after eating or drinking cane sugar. If you have a sugar cane intolerance, your body will find it difficult to process and absorb the proteins in sugar cane, and may produce physical reactions as a result. A food intolerance* is defined by YorkTest as a food-specific IgG reaction.
Its not always easy to avoid sugar. Its in so many of the UKs most popular dishes and drinks, and not even just processed snacks things like fruit, dairy products and malt all contain types of sugar.
Sugar itself is a carbohydrate, and acts as one of the bodys fuels. There are several different types of sugar:
- Glucose the main type of sugar in the blood, controlled by hormones including insulin
- Sucrose sometimes called table sugar, sucrose comes from plants like sugar cane
- Fructose naturally occurring sugar in high-carbohydrate vegetables, honey and fruit
- Galactose a simple sugar found in nature and occurring in dairy products
- Lactose found in dairy products, and made up of galactose and glucose
- Maltose formed by two glucose molecules joining, and found in grains such as malt
- Xylose found in wood or straw, xylose can be converted into sugar substitute xylitol
Amongst sugar intolerances, lactose intolerance and fructose intolerance are the most common.
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Heres How To Relieve Symptoms Of A Sugar Allergy Or Intolerance
Cases of an allergic reaction to sugar are rare, but they do happen. If you have an immediate reaction after consuming sugaryour throat feels tight, you’re having trouble breathing, you break out in a skin rash, etc.you should visit your doctor or the emergency room. In severe cases, an allergic reaction could progress to anaphylaxis if not addressed quickly and early. And if you’re unsure at this point whether or not you have this type of allergy , it’s safer to err on the side of caution.
In severe cases, you may be treated with epinephrine and then possibly a steroid to reduce inflammation and get the reaction under control, FARE says. Epinephrine is generally harmless, so even if it’s unclear how severe your allergy is, it’s safe to use, FARE explains.
If your allergic reaction is more mild, you may just need an antihistamine, FARE says. From there, your doctor or an allergist/immunologist may want to conduct skin-prick tests to pinpoint the cause of the reaction and determine if sugar is indeed the culprit. If you are diagnosed with a severe sugar allergy, you will likely need to carry an epinephrine auto-injector with you in case of emergency.
Allergy To Cane Sugar
A food allergy is a condition in which your immune system overreacts to a food or a substance in a food it considers a danger to your health. Food allergies aren’t that common, affecting about 4 percent of adults, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, but you can have a reaction to any food at any time. Your allergy to cane sugar and not refined sugar may be due to a substance that’s not processed out.
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Final Thoughts On Being Sugar Intolerant
Sugar intolerances are common. Many people find they have a milk sugar intolerance, IBS, or celiac disease, causing their bodies not to process sugar correctly. Typically, a sugar intolerance is going to show up as a gastro problem. If you have excessive burping, flatulence, nausea, or diarrhea, it could mean that you have developed a sugar intolerance.
Weird cravings for sugar can also be a big indicator of sugar intolerance. Once youve figured out the pattern of whats causing these symptoms, you can begin to eliminate or cut back on the sugary foods that are causing you problems. Change your diet to fresh veggies, whole grains, fresh fruits, nuts, seeds, and low-fat meats. Keep an eye on food labels for those hidden sugars that make their way into so many of our foods.
Eating less sugar can give your back your good health and energy to do the things you look forward to with those you love.
How To Get Tested
A food allergy will usually cause some sort of reaction every time the trigger food is eaten. Symptoms can vary from person to person, and you may not always experience the same symptoms during every reaction. Allergic reactions to food can affect the skin, respiratory tract, gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system. It is impossible to predict how severe the next reaction might be, and all patients with food allergies should be carefully counseled about the risk of anaphylaxis, a potentially fatal reaction that is treated with epinephrine .
While food allergies may develop at any age, most appear in early childhood. If you suspect a food allergy, see an allergist, who will take your family and medical history, decide which tests to perform and use this information to determine if a food allergy exists.
To make a diagnosis, allergists ask detailed questions about your medical history and your symptoms. Be prepared to answer questions about:
- What and how much you ate
- How long it took for symptoms to develop
- What symptoms you experienced and how long they lasted.
After taking your history, your allergist may order skin tests and/or blood tests, which indicate whether food-specific immunoglobulin E antibodies are present in your body:
Your allergist will use the results of these tests in making a diagnosis. A positive result does not necessarily indicate that there is an allergy, though a negative result is useful in ruling one out.
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