specialist in digestive health since 2008

specialist in digestive health since 2008

Since 2008, we’ve dedicated ourselves to crafting nutritional supplements. Our team of dieticians meticulously develops our products with exceptional care. We prioritize purity, using only essential ingredients in our formulations. This guarantees our supplements are gluten-free, soy-free, and of superior quality, ensuring safety and minimizing unwanted side effects.

low FODMAP Certified™ by the Monash University

low FODMAP Certified™ by the Monash University

Our products proudly hold the Low FODMAP Certified™ status from Monash University

more than 100,000 satisfied customers

more than 100,000 satisfied customers

Since 2008, our mission has been to “help everyone enjoy their food again.” We are proud to have supported over 100,000 customers.

fructans and galactans intolerance

Fructans and galactans are hard-to-digest carbohydrates that many people can have an intolerance to. You can read more about fructan or galactan intolerance below.

what is a fructan and galactan intolerance?

Fructans and galactans are long carbohydrate chains of about 3 to 9 carbohydrate molecules. Fructans are also called fructooligosaccharides (FOS) and gallactans galactooligosaccharides (GOS). Oligosaccharides belong to the non-digestible carbohydrates. These carbohydrates cannot be broken down in the small intestine and leave the body through the large intestine. In the colon, these undigested carbohydrates are fermented, releasing gas and attracting fluid, among other things.

No one can digest fructans and galactans properly, the difference is in the amount of symptoms you get as a result of the fermentation process. Our focus here is on fructan or galactan intolerance when someone suffers greatly from the fermentation process. It can differ from person to person whether someone only reacts to fructans or galactans, or to both types of oligosaccharides.

Fructans and galactans are both oligosaccharides; because they are very similar, our bodies usually treat them the same. The difference between fructans and galactans is in the structure: with fructans, there is a bonded fructose molecule attached to the chain, however, with galactans, there is a bonded galactose molecule. You can be sensitive to either type of oligosaccharide or both at the same time. It can sometimes be unclear which of the two you react to because many foods contain both fructans and galactans.

Sometimes there is some confusion about the difference between fructans and gluten. Many people think they are reacting to gluten after eating bread or other grain products, however, they could, in fact, be reacting to fructans. Grain products made from wheat often contain high levels of fructans as well. A gluten-free diet can help because it reduces your intake of fructans.

A gluten allergy, also known as gluten intolerance or celiac disease, is another type of disorder. Due to a reaction of the immune system, the intestinal wall can be damaged after eating products containing gluten. However, if a celiac test comes back negative, then there is a good chance that it is a fructan intolerance.

In the case of fructans intolerance, there is no immune system reaction and no damage to the intestinal wall. Fructans are found in many other products, such as fruits and vegetables, in addition to cereal products.

which foods contain fructans and galactans?

Fructans and galactans occur naturally in many foods, such as vegetables, fruits, legumes, and grain products. There are foods that contain only fructans or only galactans and there are foods that contain both.

Foods rich in fructans are:

  • Garlic
  • Onion
  • Leeks
  • Wheat
  • Apricots
  • Grapefruit
  • Nectarine

Foods rich in galactans are:

  • Brown beans
  • Chickpeas
  • Peas

Foods rich in both fructans and galactans:

  • Cashews
  • Pistachios
  • Soybeans
  • Split peas

In addition to the examples above, there are many other foods that contain fructans and/or galactans. In the low FODMAP app from Monash University, you can easily check which foods are safe and which foods you should limit to prevent symptoms.

how do you recognize a fructan or galactan intolerance?

Symptoms of fructan or galactan intolerance are mainly caused by the fermentation process in the large intestine, where the intestinal bacteria try to break down the fructans and galactans. This process attracts moisture and can also release gas, which can cause unpleasant intestinal symptoms. The most common symptoms associated with fructans or galactans intolerance are:

  • Bloated stomach
  • Constipation (obstipation)
  • Diarrhea
  • Intestinal cramps
  • Flatulence

Are you unsure whether you have a gluten allergy (celiac disease) or a fructan intolerance? If so, contact a doctor or dietitian. If a blood test shows that you do not have celiac disease, then you can start to find out if fructans are causing your symptoms.

what you can do about a fructan or galactan intolerance

Most people continue to suffer from their fructan or galactan intolerance for the rest of their lives. Fortunately, it is easy to live with, as long as you know what things to take into consideration to prevent symptoms as much as possible.

If you know whether you are sensitive to fructans, galactans, or both, you can adjust your diet. By limiting foods rich in fructans and/or galactans you can also limit the fermentation process and prevent symptoms. Exactly which foods cause a reaction may be different for each person. For example, some people only react to fructans from wheat, while others can tolerate wheat perfectly but are sensitive to onion and garlic.

Finding out which foods you react to can be a long, in-depth process, but in time you will learn to know your body and you will know which foods you can tolerate and which you should avoid. It is beneficial to find out how much your body can tolerate. Most people can tolerate a small amount of fructans or galactans in their food, while for others this small amount can cause unpleasant symptoms. A dietitian can help people with fructan or galactan intolerance become reacquainted with trigger foods and provide advice for a balanced diet.

Our bodies normally don’t produce an enzyme in the small intestine that can break down fructans and galactans. As a result, they end up in the large intestine, where they are fermented. When this fermentation process causes symptoms, such as with a fructan or galactan intolerance, taking supplements with enzymes may be a good option.

Certain enzymes, such as the enzyme Alpha Galactosidase, have the ability to break down oligosaccharides such as fructans and galactans. The smaller carbohydrate molecules created in the process can be properly digested. If you take this enzyme in supplement form with your meals, you can digest the fructans and galactans better. If you have questions about these supplements it is advisable to consult a dietitian.

Our product for fructan- and galactan intolerance fibractase forte (1200), helps with the digestion of fructans and galactans, for example in grains, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables.

digest better

fibractase helps to digest fructans and galactans

Our product fibractase forte (1200) contains the enzyme Alpha Galactosidase and helps with the digestion of carbohydrates found in grains, legumes, and cruciferous vegetables. This prevents gas, bloating, abdominal pain, and diarrhea associated with fructans and galactans intolerance

our unique range of products

fibractase

fibractase 1200 (forte)

36 capsules
  • Helps prevent gas caused by beans, veggies and grains!*
  • Reduces occasional gas, bloating & indigestion*
  • Vegan, dairy, gluten and soy free
  • Fast-acting enzyme formula
quatrase

quatrase 10.000 (forte)

36 capsules
  • Helps overcome digestive issues without a restrictive diet*
  • Enzymes specially designed for FODMAP issues
  • Multiple food intolerance formula
  • Helps to reduce occasional gas, bloating & indigestion*
fructase

fructase

36 capsules
  • Helps to digest sugary foods and drinks*
  • Reduces occasional gas, bloating & indigestion*
  • Vegan, dairy, gluten and soy free
  • Fast-acting enzyme formula
starchway

starchway

50 capsules
  • Helps to digest both sugar AND starch*
  • Easy to take capsule. No need to desolve in water
  • Reduces occasional gas, bloating & indigestion*
  • Vegan, dairy, gluten and soy free

20% discount

lactase

once a day

30 capsules
  • One capsule a day for 24/7 relief!
  • Actively produces the lactase enzyme in the gut*
  • Helps prevent gas and bloating associasted with digesting dairy*
  • Probiotics that digest lactose

20% discount

lactase

lactase 20,000

50 scored tablets
  • Helps prevent gas and bloating associasted with digesting dairy*
  • Highest dosed lactase tablet for the entire meal
  • Easy to break tablet

20% discount

lactase

lactase drops

0.47 fl oz (14 ml)
  • Helps prevent gas and bloating associasted with digesting dairy*
  • Lactose-free cooking and baking
  • Baby safe, suitable for all ages
diamine oxidase

DAO Plus

50 capsules
  • Supports healthy degradation of food-derived histamine*
  • With gastro-resistant coating
  • Contains the pure DAO enzyme
decrease bloating

free advice from our dietitians

Let us help you with your digestive complaints, like we’ve helped many others. We will help you find the solution that fits your needs best.

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