Yesterday was not a good day. Abby stayed home sick. I had a lot of work to do. I basically had one day to write my business plan (so I procrastinated a little), which had to be ready to present today. Let’s just say it’s a good thing I’m not trying to convince bankers. I also had church last night, which meant a good chunk of the evening was gone.
It meant for a busy day, but not too bad. Then I had lunch.
A month or so back I went on a banana eating kick. I had one every day with breakfast and it felt good to actually be getting a one-fifth of my daily allotment of fruit. I’m not exactly a healthy eater. Then one day as I finished my banana I felt intensely sick. A stomach ache and cramps set in for the next 45 minutes. It was a good hour or two before I was back to normal. By that afternoon I felt fine. Rather freakish.
The next day the same thing happened. I decided to cut back on bananas, as in not eat them, and I haven’t had a problem.
Of course Abby’s made a few loaves of banana bread in the past month, and I’ve devoured them with no problem. So it’s not a total banana thing. Or maybe cooking bananas changes things.
At any rate, yesterday for lunch I went to Jamba Juice, the default sick-person food in our house. I always go for a Strawberries Wild, which is basically a strawberry and banana smoothie. After finishing three-quarters of smoothie the intense stomach ache and cramps hit me. Suddenly our house became a double-sickie home. Speak didn’t know who to lick more.
The pain subsided after an hour to the point where I could work, but I didn’t feel great. The cramps came back later in the afternoon, though it was shorter and less intense. By supper time I felt fine again, though that night I couldn’t sleep on my stomach. Not exactly a conducive afternoon for writing a business plan. Thankfully enough came together that I could squeak by, though I’ll have plenty of revisions.
So I guess that means bananas are out. They’re the only commonality that’s made me sick like this, though I can’t imagine why. Nothing else has ever had this kind of reaction for me. Is it possible to overdoes on bananas? And if it is, that’s just not fair. I try to be healthy and I get hit with a double whammy of suck.
And I liked bananas. It was healthy eating but they still tasted good. And I really liked Strawberries Wild at Jamba Juice. It’s the only flavor I ever order. Jamba Juice has suddenly lost all appeal.
So that was my bad day. Lying in bed next to my sick wife with a damp washcloth on my forehead and intense stomach pain, all while an incredible amount of work was due the next day. Yuck.
It’s really not that dramatic — it wasn’t that terrible of a day. But it wasn’t a good day by a longshot.
Update: It’s been more than a year since I wrote this entry on what could be banana allergies, and it’s racked up more than 50 comments. I’m thinking the comments are more helpful than my actual entry, but hopefully people are finding what they’re looking for.
Since it has been more than a year since I wrote this, I thought I should give an update. I haven’t had intense banana-related stomach cramps since, though I have eaten small quantities of bananas. Back in February I had half a banana with no dire consequences. A few weeks back my wife made a fruit salad with bananas, and over a couple days I ate the equivalent of a couple of bananas. No dire consequences.
My only conclusion has been that my stomach cramps were caused by consuming massive quantities of bananas in a short period. If I eat them every day, I get sick. But once in a while seems to be fine.
Of course I’m still a little hesitant when it comes to Jamba Juice.
I think that this is the answer for my banana/avocodo problem (and to a lesser degree, certain nuts, pineapple, etc). The link below is an article that appeared in The Star about Amine Intolerance. After reading this I Googled “Amine Intolerance” and “Amine Rich Foods” and the results were very interesting.
http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2007/5/23/columnists/foodsafety/17792487&sec=Food%20Safety
And here’s a another good link on Saliciylates and Amines. Apparently people you have one sensitivity apparently often have the other as well.
http://www.cs.nsw.gov.au/rpa/allergy/resources/foodintol/salicylates.cfm
I searched for “banana intolerance” and found this site. I have Celiac Disease/gluten intolerance, and I have noticed that sometimes bananas seem to trigger some of my gluten intolerance symptoms. When I was really sick, losing weight and first diagnosed with Celiac Diease, sometimes even the smell of a banana could send me to the bathroom. I’ve been gluten free and healed up for a couple of years now, but I still have occasional issues with bananas triggering my Celiac symptoms. I seem to be fine with avacadoes, so i don’t think it’s latex in my case.
Uggh! I made my discovery that bananas made me feel awful my freshman year of college. I had no prior problems, but would have to endure a three hour bio lab with gut wrenching pains and sweats after eating a banana for lunch! I also discovered that I would suffer if I ate a Wendy’s (or other fast food chain) salad. It happened once at a fine restaurant with salad, too. So, I have steered clear of such places/ foods for 22 years, and just figured I had a weird allergy or something. Now, I’ve eaten a pear, which I don’t eat too many of, and have had the same awful feeling for two hours! I’m checking out the ethylene gas theory. Nice to know there are others out there!
So, I just came back from the hospital getting tested for gallbladder issues after telling my doctor my nightmarish upper abdomen pain.
I feel like theres a hole being bored into my stomach, and all I want to do is ball up and hold my stomach until a few hours go by. I first started experiencing “a reaction” to bananas around 17 years old.
I first thought it would only happen when I ate bananas in the morning on an empty stomach. Then, I noticed it was anytime I had a pretty empty stomach. Finally 3 days ago I realized it happens everytime I eat a raw banana. No problem with banana as an ingredient in other foods or when its cooked.
So I had a banana 3 days ago around midday with a cup of cereal and milk (my ADORATION of bananas made me foolishly think that the cereal and milk would add “padding” and prevent the pain). I was WRONG!!!
First came the pain about 10 minutes after eating the banana. Violent, gut-wrencthing, you think you’re going to die burning pain. Some burping, dizziness, nausea, and general all-over feeling like… you know.
After downing about half a bottle of Maximum Strength Mylanta (cold because I keep it in the fridge), and 2 hours later, the pain subsided only to be followed by watery diarrea for the next day and a half.
Yesterday after dinner at 5pm (which was a variety of things being that it was Spanish Tapas), the pain returned. Was it something else I ate at dinner? Was it left over irritation combined with 1 mimosa too much for my stomache to handle? In any case it started again. This time I was confused, since as far as I know, there were no bananas in my food.
So, I’m off on a sick day from work, I head straight to the doc after thinking I would just pass out from the burning pain, nausea/vomiting, and non-stop diarrea all night.
So I go to the doctor and then straight to the hospital to get an ultra sound to rule out ulcers and gallbladder issues. Ruled out. He’s confused and looks at me like I have three heads when I tell him about how this all started with a banana. Determined to finally find a reason for this, I found this site.
All the information here has really opened up my mind to other possibilities: the ethylene gas or ethylene glycol, the amines, the chitines protein… I will do more research.
I will state this also happens to me when I eat a large quantity of watermelon. I’ve never had raw brocoli, but I will for research sake and “take one for the team” as they say. I also always notice some slight heartburn and burping after eating canteloupe. I’m determined to find the cause. I’m a clinical psychologist and THIS is driving me nuts… wait..I mean bananas… lol.
For anyone wanting to keep posted on this issue I suggest starting a group on Facebook. I am already in Facebook, so please feel free to find me and help each other figure this out.
LILY ALATORRE from Chicago, IL
I’m 29 and so happy I am not alone. Bananas make me extremely ill. I discovered this 3 years ago. First banana’s then cucumbers…..ugh
Okay, so I have the same problem with bananas, avacados, eggs, and now I just discovered cashews. So I’m thinking it’s a natural fat issue here. I’m so glad to hear, well not really, but to know that other people have this and can relate.
Wow…I am 29 and just started having this problem early this year. I haven’t had a banana in months and ate one today and was in pain. I wish I could figure out why. I had my gallbladder out at 21 so I don’t think it has anything to do with that. But it does feel like I am having a gallbladder attack. Weird.
Eureka! I wonder if Mr. Hendricks had any idea his bad banana day would draw this kind of attention (#2 on the list when I googled “banana stomach ache”).
I started developing nasty stomach aches during the two years I spent in South America, at (you guessed it) age 19-21. Never connected it to the “palta” (Chilean word for guacamole) commonly spread over bread and eaten more or less daily. Also ate a lot of kiwi there. I vividly remember standing on a lonely street, doubled-over in pain, hoping, praying, waiting for the scant public transportation that is available at 3:00 AM to get to a hospital. The stomach attacks continued randomly (or so I thought) when I returned home to the states so I started going to specialists. X-rays, blood work, I was told it was probably IBS, but the gastro-enterologist didn’t seem to have any conclusive ideas. For a long while I suspected cilantro was one of the triggers, because I usually had problems after eating at Mexican restaurants (unfortunately for me, my favorite kind). It was only a few years ago, after a salad that happened to have avocado slices triggered an attack, that the lightbulb finally went on and I realized it was the avocado! Curiously, I had the same flare-ups with honey-dew, cantaloupe, and watermelon. Not always, but I began to see a pattern. On a business trip years ago, had a crazy Jamba Juice incident, just like the blog describes, sent me back to the hotel. So I began to suspect bananas and avoid them too.
Then last week a co-worker forwarded me one of those emails (probably written by the banana industry) extolling the virtues and health benefits of bananas, so I thought “alright, I’ll try one more time.” Bought some organic bananas, thinking it might make a difference. Had the first one Tuesday. No problems. Whew. Ate a second banana yesterday, no problems. Double-Whew! Maybe organic is the key! Then I had the third banana from the bunch today and had to leave work with the abominable abdominal. Finally decided to see if anyone else has ever had problems with bananas and lo and behold, this page! Head-bobbing experience to read through post after post.
For me it’s a gradual build, 30 minutes to an hour after the banana/avocado/cantalope. You can feel it coming with a growing sense of dread, seems to come in waves of intense abdominal discomfort, you feel like it’s subsiding, it hits you again, then gradually subsides. I guess misery loves company because 4 hours after my last (and I mean LAST!) banana, I’ve found all of you. :-)
Best wishes.
I have been having the same problems. Sometimes they are worse than others. Anyways, after reading majority of posts I wanted to let you all know that this website mentioned that seratonin in bananas can cause this cramping. check it out!!
http://www.allergies-team.com/a23-help-i-am-allergic-to-banana.php
Hallelujah! And thanks so much for all the info!
AMAZING! Like there is a website dedicated to this, it’s great to know I’m not alone. I started getting bad stomach aches that would put me in bed for hours after eatin bananas & avocado when I was 21, that was 9 years ago. I tried my luck this week at having a banana, and have decided self harm is not cool. I will never be eating a banana again!
WOW – I couldn’t believe it when I found this site. I too have the same “allegies” to bananas/avacados/cantelope. I first developed the severe cramping in 1997 (age 26) and basically removed them from my diet. Then avacados in early 2000 and last night with catelope (up for 5 hours with the stomach cramps after only eating 3 bite-size pieces). I had my gallbladder removed in 2004 and tried eating bananas shortly thereafter; hoping that I would be fine…NOT! Thanks to all of you for sharing – at least I’m not alone!!
My reaction to raw bananas started in my twenties, some 30 years ago. It is bananas only. I don’t have celiac disease, latex allergy, or a fractious gall bladder. No problem with any other foods.
I love bananas (a familiar refrain on this page!), so was not happy to figure out that they suddenly caused 2-3 hours of acute abdominal pain. If only I could have that reaction to chocolate instead….
My grandfather only ever ate “black” bananas — the kind you and I would consign to banana bread or the compost heap. Now I wonder if maybe he had the same problem.
I only ever thought that I had lost the ability to digest raw bananas, the same way many people become lactose intolerant in adulthood, not that it was an allergy.
The pain is so bad, I’m rather afraid to try them again. But I’m going to nibble on an organic banana and see what happens — it would be lovely to be able to eat bananas again.
This page is probably 90% of the resources on banana intolerance I’ve ever found. Along with you, I’m delighted to no longer be weird all alone.
Wow so happy to know I am not alone. When I eat bananas they just bloat me up. I am so uncomfortable and if I drink coffee or soda with them it is even worse. I to looked up bananas stomach problems and all it say is to eat them. So glad I found this! I thought I was crazy.
I can’t believe that with so many people who get “banana belly” I’ve never met one! Thank Goodness I did some research, even though I don’t know why bananas hurt me, I now Know that I’m not alone. It started in my early 20’s as well. I swore off bananas, but every couple of years I eat one to see if maybe the allergy is gone. (Like today, and it’s not!) Thank you to everyone who have shared their stories, my stomach is still burning, but reading this has made me feel a lot better!
OMG! Make it stop! I’ve been noticing and narrowing down the culprit on severe stomach cramps (and other fun) for a while. Now i’m convinced it was the banana. made myself a protein/carb recovery shake after a 4 mile run and decided to throw in a banana for fun. What a mistake! I am 35 and not allergic to a single thing, other than this. I don’t regularly eat bananas so rounding this down has taken a while. I can tell you right now I will never be eating another banana ever! I’m not going through this again. Not a huge fan of bananas anyway, which is a shame because they’re so good for you. if anyone finds out why, I’d love to know. Maybe the forced-ripe gassing chemicals, who knows.
Long thread here…has anyone mentioned throwing up? Since about age 30 if I eat a banana I throw up within about 5 minutes. I’ve found I can eat one bite and I’ll be okay, but I don’t push it beyond that anymore. Don’t know if I’d have the same reaction with banana bread because I don’t eat it. I used to work at a restaurant and when the bananas would get too black to sell the owner would take them home to make banana bread. That would gross me out, so I’ve never been able to even think about eating a slice of it. I generally have a very strong stomach and no other food allergies that I know of. Just this one. And I love the taste of bananas…grew up slicing them on my cereal most every day.
I’ve always disliked bananas. The smell, the texture, and the taste. When my mother was alive she told me I never liked them. Recently I was at a friends place and he was making a fruit smoothie and it had banana in it. Being polite, I accepted a glass. It didn’t taste overly like bananas so I consumed it. Within an hour or so I was horribly ill. I have never puked so much in all my life, including some massive drunken days. My mother didn’t tell me I was allergic, and I didn’t try consuming them until now. I am now 62 an have eaten my last bite of banana.
Yes, I was 25 when I had my first banana stomach pain episode. I didn’t know what it was. I was at school and had to walk home because I was a poor student who had to choose between food and bus fare – the good ol days. I figured out after a while it was bananas.
People have laughed when I tell them I’m allergic to bananas. I am CONTEMPLATING trying organic bananas on Friday so that if I’m sick I won’t have to deal with it on a work day. I do miss them and live vicariously through my husband’s consumption! LOL!
I’ve looked for information too, and I now I can tell people I’m not the only one.
I just found this website and am very surprised that my problem with bananas causes the same pain for other people as it does for me. I would have a banana a couple times a week since i can remember, and then last year, all of a sudden i started getting really painful stomach cramps shortly after eating a banana. Like many others, not when i have banana bread, but any other time i would i would get the intense pain and bloated feeling. Then today i had the same thing happen, only this time i know it was from eating avacado. Last week i had the really bad stomach ache and couldnt figure out why.. and then today it happened again and i remembered that both days i had guacomole. This is ridiculous.. But i find some comfort knowing i am not the only one..
(con’t) I forgot to add that i am 25 years old, and i have never had any problems eating avacodo before last week.. I think i ill try beano that ive read some people has said helps, i just hope i dont have a serious problem.
I am mid-50s and this just started about 2 1/2 months ago. I have cancer so had just started radiation. The doctors thought it must be gallbladder because of my symptoms. The same killing pain. I mean I went through 2 years of chemo (many versions) and was NEVER as sick as I was with this. Finally last week I started saying well the banana seems to be the only common denominator. Well this morning sealed it. I ate a banana at work and within 10 minutes was SOOO miserable. That is when I started looking on the internet – cause who would ever believe bananas could make you feel this way. WOW They may have good nutrition but I will have to get it another way. At least I won’t have to have gallbladder surgery.
Ugh, big mistake eating a banana for breakfast. I have known about my latex allergies for years now (I am 19) but avocados have never given me any sort of reaction. I did not eat bananas for about two years up at college – now the “banana belly” is out in full force and I am stuck at work…this is only the second time this has happened, but now I definitely know it was the banana. Last week I thought it was the chinese food. Nope. Banana for lunch, terrible stomach pains almost like cramps 10-20 minutes later and lasting for hours. I just want to go home and lie down :(
Reading all of these stories has helped me deal a little bit though, thank you, Internet! I am just sad to think one day I may not be able to eat my beloved avocados or mangoes…
Hello,
I am sorry that others seem to have the same problem as I do but yet in one way it is nice to see I am not crazy.
I have eaten bananas all my life with no problem, but in the last 4 years I cannot eat a banana because I have the worst stomach ache, and diareha (sp). Oh, I feel as if I might die and I am so sick that it is awful. I ate a banana about 4 years ago and these symptoms began but I thought after 4 years I would try it again and Wow the same thing happened. I NEVER want to see a banana again and I used to love them. I do think it is because of the fresh bananas and the cooked ones never bother me.
If anyone finds out more information I would be interested in it.
Bren
I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!! FINALLY, OTHERS WITH THIS DISORDER. My 1st bout w/the banana demon was in 1973, I was 22 (my daughter was 3)& I still had my gall bladder. I’d loved & eaten banana’s all my life..no problem. Had a banana the morning of a trip to Great Adventure w/my brother & friends, the pain was so intense I almost canceled the trip, I truly thought I had something fatal. We left early in the morning (still dark-due to a 2 hr. drive)I was light headed & in severe pain til late afternoon. It didn’t dawn on me until 4 or 5 other banana encounters what the culprit was but it finally hit home, so I avoided the fruit I loved.
In 1995 I had my gall bladder out. In 2006 I went to Christmas Dinner at my daughters(now 36 yrs. old) in-laws. My Daughter made one of my childhood favorites, Banana Pudding. I ate 2 helpings and 40 min. later thought I might die from the intense pain. So, obviously age has nothing to do with this ailment. Ive had it for 36 yrs. It doesn’t seem to be related w/ the gall bladder removal. I will definitely try the other suggestions, cooking, beano, etc. Anything that might enable me to have those wonderful bananas again.
I would like to thank kevin for posting this blog in 2004…I thought I was the only one with this peculiar malady.
My best wishes to all the other sufferers!
I’ve had a banana intolerance or allergy since early childhood. Now 56. One of my two sons also. The immune-stimulating part is protein. Other intolerances: cashews and pineapple. I’ve read that the proteins in pineapple and banana are similar. Cooking bananas (as in banana bread)seems to denature the protein rendering it harmless. I have not dared experiment with cooking pineapple or cashews. One more recently-discovered intolerance: cilantro.
I love the taste of all of above, just get the debilitating stomach pain.
Here is a list of studies involving
banana and latex allergies. I used to have
skin rash after latex contact.
http://foodallergens.ifr.ac.uk/clinical.lasso?selected_food=5
I began eating bananas in earnest (daily) about a year ago and suffered no pain. I then stopped eating them for a span of months. Now when I return to bananas, I get the stomach aches.
Is this more or less the shape of others’ experience? Normal banana consumption for long years; a span of increased banana consumption; a return to low banana consumption; passage of a few months; finally the present and hopefully not permanent stage of raw banana triggering intense stomach pain. Does this pattern fit with the rest of you?
Three Tips for Relief:
1. While most stomach aches may be soothed by doubling over — stomach to the knees — I have found that this is ineffective for banana pain. Instead, arching the back and thrusting the shoulders backward so the abdomen is stretched offers some relief.
2. Beverages and other foods seem only to amplify the discomfort.
3. If truly desperate — perhaps you have an important test or meeting imminent — I would have to think that inducing regurgitation, especially if the banana has been consumed recently, would dull the pain significantly.
I am a mother of two boys 12 and 3. Both of my boys have had allergic reactions to bananas thier whole life. When my oldest was an infant he absolutely loved bananas! he was just starting solids and I began to have a really fussy baby.he would scream for hours,had chronic diarreah and vomiting. Being a young mother I had no clue what was going on and apparently neither did anyone else! after months of this on and off I started back to square one .I took away all the foods and started introducing them one at a time for 5 days each,all were fine until I got to bananas. the first two days he was fine but the third day it started all over again. Knowing he had not had any other foods in that three day period I instantly knew I had found the problem. At that time back in 1997 even I had never heard of banana allergies. I have tried to give it to him several times in his lifetime and each time after 72 hours of ingestion came the vomiting cramps and diarrea comes. Has anyone else expierienced the 72 hour delay?
I have enjoyed bananas all my life but with my oldest being allergic I had to hide them because he loved them. When I was pregnant with my youngest I got sick everytime I ate them. After he was born I could eat them again. I was very hesitant to introduce bananas to him so I waited until he had cleared all other foods first. Sure enough within 72 hours (on the third day) he was vomiting and all. WHat are the chances that both my boys could have the same allergy? still everytime someone forgets they get really sick. My oldest knows not to eat them but my youngest loves them and begs for them if he sees them!still happens 72 hours later! to my knowledge they are not allergic to latex or nuts.some mild irritations come with really acidic fruits like pineapple.
I’m glad I found this site. I’m 31 and have eaten bananas all my life. I even used to live in the Dominican Republic and ate bananas daily.
I stopped eating them a few years ago because I got a dull stomach ache. Then just last week I decided to try one. Immediately, my tongue and throat started to itch. This was followed by about 45 minutes of stomach pain and a bit of nasuea. I’m also allergic to peanuts and get a very similar reaction.
Like others have mentioned though, cooking the bananas seems to fix the problem. I love fried plantains and they don’t seem to give me any problem.
Kiwi fruit also gives me the itching in my throat but not the stomach ache. And avocados give me a dull stomach ache.
My symptoms are exactly the same. 45 minutes after eating banana or avocado the pain starts and comes in waves for 2-4 hours. Nothing to do but lie in bed and suffer. Then the next day, my lower back aches like someone was kicking me in the liver. Takes two days for me to feel normal again. And it all started in my early 20’s. Same with mango, papaya, salmon and basil, of all things!
What do the doctors say? “Don’t eat banana or avocado”. Pretty amazing that there are 330 responses here and modern medicine still hasn’t found a solution.
I am having the same problem but it also happens with avocados which is the main ingredient in guacamole which i used to love! The pain is very strange. Its like my stomach has gears and bananas and avocados jam the gears for 3-4 hours. All i can do is wince in pain in the fetal position. I have eaten both foods all my life and just recently (1 year or less) I have noticed what these foods do to my tummy. Good Luck to all of you who have these “allergies”.
I am having the same problem but it also happens with avocados which is the main ingredient in guacamole which i used to love! The pain is very strange. Its like my stomach has gears and bananas and avocados jam the gears for 3-4 hours. All i can do is wince in pain in the fetal position. I have eaten both foods all my life and just recently (1 year or less) I have noticed what these foods do to my tummy. Good Luck to all of you who have these “allergies”. If anyone comes up with a cure let us all know please!
I am thinking that it may be the way avocados and bananas grow and they both have a filmy sheath inside which may do something to our stomach linings?? Just a guess :)
thank you, thank you. i will never eat another banana. i appreciate this information so much. my banana belly started to hurt after eating a chocolate covered frozen banana. i think it happened two weeks ago too. i am going to do some more research on this topic using the information from reading all of your stories. good luck to everyone. i feel your pain
OMG. So I ate a Banana about 5 hours ago and my stomach instantly started hurting. About 30 minutes after I ate the banana I thought I was going to throw up and ran to the bathroom. Then I felt like maybe I should just take a #2 since I felt the onset of diarrhea. Sure was!! Stomach started to hurt more and I was sweating bullets. I never been that sweaty before. I decided to take a shower and felt better. When I got out, I ran to the bathroom 2 more times and all diarrhea. This has been like this for me EVERYTIME I eat bananas for the past year. Prior to the last year, I never had this happen in my entire LIFE.
I just posted my case above. I forgot to mention, after I finshed the banana and swallowed the last bite, my mouth got this furry, slighlty itchy feeling and wierd aftertaste. I drank a gulp of milk and then some water to get the taste out…. But the pains got me and I felt like ish….
God bless Kevin Hendricks, you are a savior to mankind. You really are!!!
I just found this site as well…I have had an issue with raw bananas since I was a kid. I used to LOVE the frozen, chocolate dipped bananas from Dairy Queen. I hadn’t had one in quite some time, and when I ate it, I remembered why. I’ve always considered it an “allergy” and…don’t laugh…but I even ate one once on purpose to miss a day of school when I was a teenager! Like most of you, I have no problems when it’s cooked. Over the years I’ve discovered other foods that cause the same problems…raw broccoli (good thing I don’t like it), avocado, and I just moments ago realized I can’t eat cantoulope!! I’d have to say the potassium problem makes the most sense. I’m 40 and have been dealing with the banana issue for 30+ years and broccoli for about 15 years (I can’t have broccoli when I eat out for fear it won’t be cooked enough). I’m wondering what else is out there that I haven’t discovered yet!
Ugh. I accidentally ate a banana…and am in painnn. What stinks is my parents thinking that my stomach cramps are all psychological. Now I can prove that banana allergies do exist!!
Some things that help me with this pain associated with eating avocado:
Rolaids ‘Plus’ Gas relief chews
Beano
carbonated fizzy drinks
Well, I obviously did not read every post here, but I too have had severe reactions to certain foods, and as I recall I had such a stomach gas buildup it made me double over and I thought I was going to die the first time. It took many occurences until I figured out it was mushrooms causing it, which makes sense because I’m allergic to penicillin.
Later I had a similar reaction to brocolli and cantaloupe. I would say I have an intolerance to these foods, and I avoid them. I miss cantaloupe the most, especially when I have to prepare it for others and can’t eat any.
Well, go ahead and add me to the banana band-wagon…..I too, figured out it was the bananas, which were giving me severe stomach cramps, gas, and leg-cramps in the middle of the night. I absolutely found the link over years of trying every once in a while to add bananas to my diet. I am an extremely healthy eater, and wish I could eat them, but they definitely create symptoms. I too, can eat them cooked in something, and sometimes eat one in the morning. If I try to eat them on a daily basis, or pick one up in the afternoon: I am doomed! I am 42 years old.
Enjoyed reading all of the posts from fellow avocado / banana / cantaloupe stomach agony sufferers! At least I am not alone.
Like a previous poster, I too had a C-section (12 years ago) with my first pregnancy (age 29), and that is when everything went south. I have had asthma and allergies (pets, hayfever) all my life but other than eggs and shellfish I could eat fruit and vegetables, peanut butter – whatever. 6 weeks after the C-section after several weeks of terrible stomach pain I had my gallbladder removed – perhaps that wasn’t necessary! For the past 12 years, I have struggled to identify the foods that give me trouble. Definitely bananas – haven’t had them now for years. Just went through a bout today due to 3 slices of avocado. Had my first cantaloupe episode about 3 weeks ago – Note that it is ragweed season, so that is perhaps why I am reacting more powerfully than other times of the year…
Good luck all…
For years I have been suffering from banana and avocado related stomachaches. I was beginning to think I was crazy until I came upon this website. I used to eat bananas quite frequently when I was younger without problems. It all changed one morning when I was 12 years old, i had a PB& banana bagel and about an hour later I had the most intense pain in my stomach. It took a few hours for it to subside but then I was okay. I am now 24 and I couldn’t even tell you the last time I’ve dared to try a banana because the pain is so bad. I had it once in a fruit salad with little tiny pieces chopped up and the reaction was just as bad.
I also have problems with avocado.. if I eat too much sushi with pieces in it or guacamole, I have a terrible stomachache for hours. I have seasonal allergies and complained to my allergist about the banana related issues and he tested me and it came up negative. I’m glad to see that so many others feel the same way that I do, and I hope that someday someone can get to the bottom of this mystery of banana avocado related stomach issues!
Like so many before me, I too have been reading everyone’s posts and have such excruciating pain from eating Bananas and Avacados that I want to curl up, vomit, and then just pass out until it’s all over.
I thought I was the only one out there who felt like this, with my family and friends thinking I was making all of this up. It is so hard to be in your twenties living in a large city and go out for margaritas and not be able to enjoy chips, salsa and “guac”. In addition, I am a runner and after all races bananas are given out and unfortunately I never get to enjoy them because the cramps in my stomach will be worse than any runners cramp imaginable.
Thanks to all for making me feel normal.
I am pretty sure that bananas are causing my abdominal pain as well. It’s not like a regular stomach ache though. It feels like I am doing a constant sit up. It’s mostly in my upper abdomin. I am 20 years old and this has happened to me about 5 times now in the past couple weeks. Before this it never happened. I am not 100 % positive it’s bananas but I don’t want to eat another one to try to find out.
Yup, having the same issues here. I have noticed though if I force myself to eat something on top of it, like a graham cracker or drink milk, the problem is significantly less, although still present. I have had my gallbladder out.
Has anyone linked this to heartburn? Bananas are one of the most acidic fruits and I don’t notice a problem if I have taken antacids. Just a thought. It stinks. I’m a picky eater and bananas are one of my favorites.
My pain doesn’t happen all the time, just MOST of the time. Still haven’t figured it out. Thanks for this site!
My stomach is killing me, over the past few months have had stomach pains from bannanas, am 18years old and have never had a problem before. Maybe our digestive system changes when we are full adults? This should be looked into more as have never had a problem eating foods and now cannot eat bannanas its very upsetting and a bit scary.
There seems to be hundreds of people who suffer with this when they hit adulthood but no ways to ease the pain or any reasons as to why its happening.
Wants answers x
I had problems with avocados and bananas causing upset stomach. I can eat both now with out issue I stopped drinking pop/soda and made sure I was getting enough sodium (sea salt). If you have a potassium sodium imbalance you will get stomach aches from bananas.
I including the keywords below for people who don’t want to read all 300+ posts.
Keywords: answer, solution, fix, cause