I used to be able to tolerate such foods as cookies, chocolates and sweet fruits like melons, durian and longan but lately, I’d feel a sore throat coming or a feeling that my throat is burning after eating these foods. In fact, I can’t seem to tolerate any food and fruits that are too sweet. I’d recently learned that these are trigger foods and I could be allergic to the sugar in the food.

Sugar and Sore Throat ~ Is There A Link?

Sugar is a super acidic food that causes havoc with the body’s acid base balance. Any form of sugar can tip the scales in sensitive individuals, but the worst kind comes in the form of refined white sugar and hidden sugars in cakes, biscuits, puddings and sweets.

The body tends to self-regulate its acid/alkaline levels with the help of alkalinising foods. However, our diet generally consists of foods that leave an acid residue. Pathogens (infectious agents) love an acid environment and thrive on such imbalances in the body.

Because acidity causes inflammation, individuals with a tendency toward over-acidity are prone to all kinds of related conditions, such as skin irritations, joint aches and pains and so on. And yes, you may well have an underlying infection. Bear in mind that sugar also compromises immune function, which may be another reason for  the reaction.

Acid Reflux and Sore Throat

Another reason that causes your throat to burn after eating certain sweet foods is acid reflux.

Acid reflux can irritate the throat. Some of the symptoms include:

sore throat
hoarse voice
the sensation of a lump in your throat

Acid reflux is a common health condition that can cause burning sensation known as heartburn. You may have felt this burning sensation after eating a particular food. These foods are known as trigger foods, and they can vary from person to person.

Sugar alone doesn’t trigger acid reflux, though it’s often found in trigger foods and drinks.

Consuming sugar in small amounts and without added trigger ingredients generally won’t affect your acid reflux. For example, pure honey, palm sugar, and maple syrup typically won’t trigger your symptoms. This is exactly my case and I suspect I have a mild case of acid reflux.

Sugar found in triggering foods or combined with triggering ingredients may cause symptoms to appear.

Because of this, you should limit or avoid:

1. Chocolate.
I get a burning sensation in my throat most of the time after consuming sweetened chocolate.

2. Citrus fruits

3. Fatty foods.
Oily deep fried foods are the worst trigger foods that cause my throat to burn. All the time.

4. Caffeinated beverages, such as coffee and tea

Limiting your sugar intake can help you maintain a healthy weight. Added sugars typically increase an item’s overall calorie count. Sugar shouldn’t make up more than 10 percent of your daily calories, according to the 2015-2020 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.