Stomach pain and raw veggies

[Lost Dog]

It doesn't happen all that often, but sometimes when I eat certain raw veggies or fruit, I get really bad stomach pains. In my actual stomach, this is not a tricky way of saying I get gas or the runs. It's my stomach.

Once it starts, it lasts 30-45 minutes. Happens 4-6 times per year. It's bad enough, when it happens, that I would cancel a workout, even though I can workout on a full stomach, usually.

in order of likelihood to cause the issue:

broccoli
cauliflower
carrots
apples (with skin, and maybe only red apples)

All are fresh and properly washed. And it happens with organic versions, too.

I've always had a mild case of irritation from red apples (with the skin on) and raw carrots. For years, I didn't eat apples unless they were peeled or in a pie. Carrots, I ate in small amounts, only. As a child, all broc and caul was cooked.

I had a stir fry a few weeks back that did it, too. Which is strange. None of the veggies seemed undercooked, and it still happened. I ate the leftovers the next day (cold, so they weren't even cooked longer) and had no issue.

[Iamjennmedic]

And to think I thought I was the only weird one! Happens to me to on occasion. Ditto on the irritation from apples and carrots to. I wonder if it is because they are harder to digest or if its just a sensitivity to them. Thanks Roland now I have to do some research !

[Cynic]

Originally Posted by Lost Dog

It doesn't happen all that often, but sometimes when I eat certain raw veggies or fruit, I get really bad stomach pains. In my actual stomach, this is not a tricky way of saying I get gas or the runs. It's my stomach.

Roland, I was doing some research earlier this morning into, ahem, carbohydrates and flatulence.

The four you listed are common for the problem. But you said it's not gas, but the gas is caused by bacterial and enzymatic breakdown of the sugars in those four foods.

Raffinose is in the cruciferous veggies you posted, but it's fructose and sorbitol in the fruits.

It happens occasionally, so perhaps the bacteria responsible is more or less populous at the times you get the discomfort. None of the sites listed the names of the enzymes or bacteria that perform the function.

Again, you said it's not gas, but it may mean something else, such as a slow/poor breakdown from a lack of bacterial population or something on that order.

I hope this at least gives you an idea of where you can start looking for some answers.

[Mark57]

Have you tried blanching them? Two to three minutes would leave them still crispy, but it might be enough to remove whatever enzyme it is that's causing you grief.

[sg516]

i am allergic to almost all raw fruits and vegetables. its called oral allergy syndrome. i am actually allergic to trees but vegetables and fruits have protein chains that are similar to the trees and my body reacts accordingly. if they are cooked or processed the proteins get denatured and i can eat them. i say that to suggest that maybe you have a mild allergy to certain trees and you react to certain vegetables as a result. just a thought.