The fear of fruits or fructophobia is a psychological disorder rare and little known by the general public: it is an irrational fear of the fruit in the absence of precautions, can have health consequences.
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What is fructophobia?
Extremely rare, fructophobia or fear of fruits is caused by both phobia and eating disorders ( anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa , for example). The result is fear of panic and a deep disgust for fruits.
The intensity of fructophobia can vary from person to person: some fructophobes cannot bear to be in the same room as fruits, are eager for their mere mention, and exclude them completely from their diet.
Problem: Fruits are important sources of vitamins and minerals. Therefore, its exclusion can cause food deficiencies with very different consequences in the body (weakening of the immune system, hair loss …).
The deficiencies are even more important when fructophobia is associated with lachanophobia (fear of vegetables). However, some fructophobes still manage to eat fruits in processed form, such as smoothies. But, in general, they cannot prepare the shake themselves or even attend to its preparation.
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Symptoms of fructophobia
fructophobia primarily causes intense fear and dislike of fruit, sometimes to the point where the person does not dare to try a new dish until they are sure that it does not contain any pieces of fruit. It can also trigger anxiety attacks with sweating, palpitations, chest pain, tremors….
fructophobes can also experience intense discomfort in the presence or contact with fruit. In some cases, this can lead to syncope.
The causes of fructophobia
fructophobia can manifest itself from childhood. Its cause varies from person to person and is often difficult to identify, but psychological factors are usually involved. For those who manage to consume fruit as smoothies or juice, disgust seems to be mainly related to the texture of the fruit.
What are the treatments for fructophobia?
In case of fructophobia, it is advisable to consult a nutritionist: he or she can give valuable dietary advice to ensure that all the vitamin and mineral needs of the body are met, despite the absence of fruits (eat more vegetables to compensate and / or take food supplements).
Fructophobia can also be treated, especially if it becomes truly disabling on a daily basis: cognitive behavioral therapy can help combat it by gradually confronting the patient with the object of their fear.
Hello, how are you? My name is Georgia Tarrant, and I am a clinical psychologist. In everyday life, professional obligations seem to predominate over our personal life. It's as if work takes up more and more of the time we'd love to devote to our love life, our family, or even a moment of leisure.