Could you have a fructose or lactose intolerance?

If you always feel tired, sick or bloated after eating you could have a food intolerance. Find out with our test.

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What’s going on in your gut?

There are many reasons why you may feel tired, sick or bloated so it’s a good idea to get yourself checked out by a doctor if you are experiencing consistent tummy troubles.

One of the reasons for an upset stomach could be a food intolerance to fructose or lactose which may be the cause of Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), which is common in Australia.

You can try elimination diets, but to know for sure you have an intolerance then you need to do an intolerance breath test.

Request a Test $24

What is fructose intolerance?

Fructose is a sugar that occurs naturally in fruits, vegetables, and honey. When a person cannot digest or absorb fructose, they may have fructose intolerance.

When a person has an intolerance to fructose, they may experience bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhoea.

Fructose is contained in many everyday foods including honey, fruit, vegetables, soft drinks, fruit juices, dried fruit, sweetened fruit yoghurt, some pasta sauces, some salad dressings, baked beans.

It exists in various forms and amounts in certain foods so it’s important to understand whether you have an intolerance to it so you can manage your diet accordingly.

What is lactose intolerance?

Lactose is a milk sugar that is broken down by the enzyme lactase, which is found in the small intestine.

Lactose intolerance is the reduced ability to digest milk sugars, due to insufficient amounts of the gut enzyme called lactase. Symptoms include bloating, gas, abdominal pain and diarrhoea.

Dairy foods contain lactose, such as cow’s milk, custard, yoghurt, various cheeses, cream and ice-cream.

Request a Test $24

What is a food intolerance breath test?

Breath hydrogen tests for fructose and lactose intolerance are useful in patients with gut symptoms such as abdominal pain and discomfort, bloating or altered bowel habits to identify if fructose and/or lactose may not be absorbing correctly.

You can request a breath test for fructose and lactose intolerance via our simple online form. It will be reviewed by one of our Australian-registered doctors and, if approved, a referral for the breath test will be sent to your email.

We will then contact you to follow up on your results, once we receive them, which is usually within a few days.

There are only some pathology labs that offer breath tests for food intolerance so you will need to do some research to find an appropriate lab in your area.

These tests are not covered under Medicare so there will be an out-of-pocket expense. Each breath test costs approximately $50-$100.

Request a Test $24

Online breath tests: It’s as easy as 1, 2, 3!

STEP 1

Complete a digital consultation form. If approved by one of our doctors, a pathology form will be sent to you via phone or email.

STEP 2

Take your pathology form to a collection clinic near you.

STEP 3

After your test, your results will be available in our app or via email within 3-7 business days.

How to maintain good gut health

There are many things you can do to maintain good gut health. These include taking probiotics which help restore good bacteria to the gut, adding wholegrains to your diet, drinking as much water as you can each day and getting regular exercise and sleep.

If you would like to talk to a doctor about your lifestyle or concerns you have with your health, our Australian-registered doctors are available 24/7.

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