Why Do You Have Stomach Pain After Eating Fruit? 6 Reasons
Health ConditionsDigestive Health

6 Reasons Your Stomach Hurts After Eating Fruit and What to Do About It

6 Reasons Your Stomach Hurts After Eating Fruit and What to Do About It
Liudmila Chernetska/Getty Images
By
Tiffany Curtis
Updated on August 6, 2025
We've all heard we should eat more servings of fruits and veggies. That's because a diet rich in assorted plants can lower your blood pressure and reduce your risk of heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer, per the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.

But what if you experience unpleasant side effects like stomach pain after eating fruit (along with other digestive symptoms)? To help you get to the bottom of your aches, here are the potential reasons why fruit makes your stomach hurt, as well as remedies that may help you feel better.

1. You Can't Digest Fructose

One reason why you might get a stomachache after eating fruit is that your body has trouble digesting fructose.

Fructose is one of the naturally occurring sugars found in fruits, fruit juices, some vegetables, and honey, per Mayo Clinic. When your digestive system doesn't absorb fructose properly, it can lead to abdominal pain, diarrhea, and gas.

There are a couple of types of fructose-related digestive issues you could have. First is fructose malabsorption, a condition where the cells of the small intestine can't properly absorb the sugar, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

It leads to symptoms like:

Alternatively, you may have hereditary fructose intolerance, a genetic condition in which you lack an enzyme that breaks down the sugar, according to Cleveland Clinic.

Fructose intolerance shows up during infancy and can lead to serious complications like liver and kidney damage because of the buildup of undigested fructose. It also causes symptoms like:

  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Bloating
  • Diarrhea
  • Stomach pain
  • Low blood sugar
  • Seizures or coma (in extreme cases)
Fructose can also cause stomach pain and other symptoms in people with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), who may need to avoid high-fructose fruits — like apples, pears, and dried fruit — altogether, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Fix It

Speak with your doctor if you regularly experience side effects after eating fruit to determine if you have fructose intolerance or malabsorption.

People with hereditary fructose intolerance should completely avoid foods and drinks that contain the sugar, according to Cleveland Clinic.

If you have malabsorption, eating lower-fructose foods and limiting your fructose intake can help curb or prevent these stomach cramps.

Some lower-fructose options to try include:

2. You’re Eating Too Much Fiber

Fiber plays a major role in digestive health. People often turn to it for relief from constipation. Still, the nutrient can also help lower your risk of diabetes and heart disease, in addition to helping you maintain a healthy weight, according to Mayo Clinic.


Fruits are a major source of nutrients, although some contain more fiber than others. High-fiber options include:

But while the nutrient is an essential part of a balanced diet, eating too much fiber too quickly — which can happen if you eat a lot of high-fiber fruit — can lead to distressing symptoms like intestinal gas, stomach bloating, and cramping, according to Mayo Clinic.

Fix It

One remedy for preventing stomach pain after you eat mangoes and other high-fiber fruits is to gradually increase your fiber intake over the course of a few weeks.

Easing into a higher fiber intake helps your digestive system better adjust to the nutrients, according to Mayo Clinic. And be sure to hydrate, as drinking plenty of water can also help minimize stomach pain and other side effects. Aim for about 22 to 34 grams (g) of fiber a day, per the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.


3. You Have a Food Intolerance

Another reason why you may feel sick after eating fruit is that you have a food intolerance.

Indeed, people with food intolerances or sensitivity have a hard time digesting certain foods or chemicals in food, according to Cleveland Clinic. For example, your body might react to chemicals called histamines that are found naturally in fruits like bananas and pineapples.


Signs of a food intolerance include:

  • Diarrhea
  • Gas
  • Bloating
  • Headaches or migraines
  • Nausea
  • Upset stomach
  • Heartburn

In some cases, a particular food — or in this case, fruit — ‌isn't‌ to blame. You may instead have an intolerance to sugars in the fruit, like fructose, as mentioned above.

Fix It

Your doctor can help you determine if you have a specific food intolerance or sensitivity. Typically, you can manage symptoms like stomach pain after eating fruit by reducing or eliminating the trigger food from your diet, per Cleveland Clinic.

4. You Have a Fruit Allergy

Though uncommon, another possible reason why you feel sick after eating fruit is that you're allergic. Per Mayo Clinic, allergic reactions to food, including fruit, can cause the following symptoms:


  • Itchy or tingly mouth
  • Hives, itching, or eczema
  • Swelling of the lips, face, tongue, throat, or other body parts
  • Abdominal pain, diarrhea, nausea, or vomiting
  • Dizziness, lightheadedness, or fainting

It's important to note that a food allergy isn't the same thing as a food intolerance or sensitivity. Food intolerances tend to result in digestive troubles, while allergic reactions often have more respiratory or skin-related symptoms.

Fruit is also associated with oral allergy syndrome, which is a reaction to pollen rather than to the fruit itself. While it shouldn't cause stomach pain, it can result in an itchy mouth and throat after eating fruit, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.


Fix It

Tell your doctor if you experience an allergic reaction to fruit. If a specific type is a trigger, avoiding it altogether can help prevent symptoms, per Mayo Clinic. You can also ask your healthcare provider for an allergy test to determine which food items you are allergic to.

Warning

People with a food allergy can have an extreme allergic reaction called anaphylaxis, where your throat swells up and restricts your breathing, per Mayo Clinic. Seek medical care immediately if this happens to you.

5. You Have Acid Reflux

If you have an underlying condition like acid reflux — when acid in your stomach persistently leaks back into your esophagus — certain foods and beverages can lead to aggravating symptoms, per Cleveland Clinic.

People with chronic acid reflux, also called gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, can experience the following symptoms, especially after eating acidic, spicy, or fried foods:

  • Heartburn
  • Regurgitation
  • Feeling of food caught in your throat
  • Coughing
  • Chest pain
  • Trouble swallowing
  • Vomiting
  • Sore throat and hoarseness
A common sensation that comes with heartburn is — you guessed it — stomach pain, per the Mayo Clinic, which may be to blame for your fruit-related upset stomach.


Fix It

Consult your doctor if you experience symptoms of reflux or need assistance in managing the condition more effectively. Your doctor may prescribe acid-reducing medications or recommend avoiding certain foods that trigger symptoms, according to the Cleveland Clinic.

Fruits to Avoid With GERD

Fruits that worsen acid reflux vary from person to person, but acidic fruits tend to trigger symptoms. Here are some fruits to avoid with GERD, per Cleveland Clinic:


  • Tomatoes and tomato-based foods
  • Lemons
  • Limes
  • Oranges
  • Grapefruits

6. You Have Food Poisoning

Occasionally, raw fruit can harbor ‌salmonella‌ bacteria, which are a common cause of food poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Symptoms such as stomach pain, fever, vomiting, and diarrhea can start anywhere from six hours to six days after you ate the contaminated fruit, so it's not always easy to tell where your symptoms came from.

Fix It

Food poisoning symptoms usually resolve on their own. In the meantime, make sure to drink plenty of water to replace the fluids you're losing through vomiting and diarrhea. Consider adding some electrolytes to your water if you're concerned about dehydration, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.

Talk to a doctor, per the CDC, if:

  • You have blood in your stool.
  • Your diarrhea lasts more than three days.
  • You have a fever over 102 degrees F.
  • You're vomiting so often you can't keep liquids down.
  • You have signs of dehydration like feeling dizzy when you stand.
  • You're pregnant.

The Takeaway

  • Fruits and vegetables are generally healthy, but some may cause stomach upset.
  • Reasons for fruit sensitivity include fructose intolerance, acid reflux, and food intolerance.
  • Symptoms can be mitigated by making changes such as eliminating problematic foods.
  • Consult your doctor if you experience stomach upset after eating fruit and they can help to determine the cause.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Vegetables and Fruit. Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
  2. Fructose intolerance: Which foods to avoid? Mayo Clinic. January 9, 2024.
  3. Hereditary Fructose Intolerance. MedlinePlus. June 1, 2011.
  4. What Is Fructose Intolerance. Cleveland Clinic. March 1, 2021.
  5. 5 Foods to Avoid if You Have IBS. Johns Hopkins Medicine.
  6. Mayo Clinic Staff. Dietary fiber: Essential for a healthy diet. Mayo Clinic.
  7. 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. U.S. Department of Agriculture. December 2020.
  8. Food Intolerance. Cleveland Clinic. December 2020.
  9. Food Allergy. Mayo Clinic. August 30, 2024.
  10. Food Allergy. American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.
  11. Acid Reflux & GERD. Cleveland Clinic.
  12. Mayo Staff. Indigestion. Mayo Clinic. July 3, 2025.
  13. Foods to Eat and Avoid if You Have GERD. Cleveland Clinic.
  14. Symptoms of Food Poisoning. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. January 31, 2025.
  15. Treatment for Food Poisoning. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
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Tiffany Curtis

Author

Tiffany Curtis is Everydayhealth.com's health writer. She is a Philadelphia-based writer and sexuality educator. She has previously written for brands like Cosmopolitan, Business Insider, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Refinery29 and more.

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