Sugar and sweeteners are everywhere, and if you’re following a low FODMAP diet, there are certain sweeteners you want to avoid. “Is dextrose low FODMAP” is a question that often comes up due to it being a popular sweetener. Here’s a closer look at how Dextrose is tolerated by those with IBS and other digestive issues.
What Is Dextrose?
Dextrose is a type of sugar that’s created as corn is broken down. If you make a habit of looking at food labels, chances are you’ve seen dextrose listed, as it’s one of the most popular sweeteners added to foods. Dextrose is commonly mistaken for something more complex than it really is. Dextrose is actually the crystallized form of glucose, or simple sugar, and chemically identical.
Is Dextrose Low FODMAP?
Sugars, including glucose and dextrose, have a bit of an undeserved bad reputation when it comes to being low FODMAP. We know that FODMAPs are carbohydrates and that simple sugar is a carbohydrate, so that must mean that dextrose is a solid no on the low FODMAP diet, right?
Not necessarily. Not all carbohydrates are created equal where FODMAPs are concerned. The main culprit for digestive issues is fructose, not glucose or dextrose. The general thought is that as long as sugar or sweetener contains at least equal amounts of glucose (or dextrose) to fructose, then it is generally well tolerated.
So, to answer the question, yes, dextrose is low FODMAP and doesn’t need to be avoided for digestive health. However, consuming too much sugar in any form, even if it’s FODMAP friendly, can lead to other health issues, including obesity and diabetes.
FAQs
Bottom Line
The low FODMAP diet limits or eliminates certain types of carbohydrates. Surprisingly, many sugars/sweeteners, including dextrose, are low FODMAP. The next time you’re asking if dextrose is low FODMAP, you can rest easy knowing that in moderation, dextrose is well tolerated by individuals with IBS symptoms.