I'm not so sure if this is the best post, post Thanksgiving. I honestly apologize for using digestive upset words today, but this is the end of my epic journey I began in September, so I'm sharing.
Certified organic, non GMO corn, is safe. I repeat. Corn is safe. Can't believe it, but it is true. Gluten free oats, are NOT safe for me. Grass fed and finished beef, is safe. Yesterday I was planing on dairy in the form of whole milk organic plain yogurt. I was still processing the half of an English walnut pie I ate Thursday night, so I didn't think it was the best idea and put it off for tonight. This morning, I blindly poured cow milk into my coffee. It was a really, really bad mistake. Not just the lactose intolerance symptoms of gas, abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea, but vomiting. Milk, does NOT do this body good. It clearly makes me sick, so I'm not even testing it. This diet...is DONE.
The idea that the well informed natural foods cook, has been walking around so sick for so long and having no idea why, makes my head hurt and did make me cry a few times. I've been a buyer for natural food stores, cooked for numerous restaurants, for unique clients from all over the world, on a movie set, music festivals all over the country, metaphysical and nutritional retreats of all kinds, for huge busy families w/ mixed allergies and 3 main dish requests a night...and I had no idea I was partially so sick because of food. D'OH!
BAKER'S YEAST: severe abdominal bloating, pain, and general intestinal explosion
WINE YEAST: see above
WINE VINEGAR:see above
BREWER'S YEAST: see above
EGG WHITES: itchy mouth and face, chronic rash trigger
TOMATOES: major inflammation and migraine trigger, acne like rash on face, fatigue
SOME POTATOES: headaches, fatigue
PEACHES: itchy mouth and face, some burning where juice dripped on wrists
STRAWBERRIES: itchy, swollen lips and mouth
MANGO: raw cut feeling on roof of mouth, digestive discomfort
BANANA: see above, less acute if cooked.
PECANS: raw cut feeling on roof of mouth, digestive discomfort
MACADAMIA NUTS: see above
GF OATS: digestive discomfort, eliminations issues... just like gluten was in me
DAIRY: severe abdominal bloating, pain, vomiting, gas, and diarrhea
So many basic foods that I have to rewrite more than 2/3rd's of my cookbook, though I am leaving my now forbidden recipes here on my blog, for people who may not have as many restrictions and are just looking for plain old good gluten free food.
Showing posts with label Elimination Diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Elimination Diet. Show all posts
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Adieu, Solanum Lycopersicum
My beloved,
It is with a heavy heart and tears falling like jewels, that I bid you adieu. For over 35 years, I have loved you. You were my first thought each Spring and my most tender Summer love. My passion was to preserve your sunlight each Fall, and in return, you bestowed upon me the gift of memories of our love throughout the Winter. You had few demands of me while I had many of you, yet our love endured. Until last year, when you began to make me sicker than hell.
Well, you say tomatoes, I say, headaches. You say marinara, and say I acne. You say, pizza, and I say, pesto. Let's call the whole thing off! Tomato, cooked and raw: REACTION. I consumed tomatoes 4 times in 2 days and I feel it. Within hours I develop a headache, 1 day later an acne like rash around my mouth and an increase in general body inflammation. Granted they don't burn my mouth or cause major digestive upset immediately like wheat does, but this is a reaction. While they were on my limit due to inflammation risk list, I thought I might be able to 'get away with' eating them now and then. I don't think that's the best idea. To be clear, I tested with the highest quality tomatoes available; local, organic heirloom and cherry tomatoes, organic Muir Glen Fire Roasted made into marinara, and biodynamic organic Bionature, Diced, which I blended into juice to with mixed fresh juiced veggies. Everything was of the quality expected, tasted lovely, and went through my body without any perceived issues except the first headache. I was hopeful it was due to dehydration or weather, or just me stuff. When I had tomato again, same pattern.
Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. Species in this family (Solanaceae) include some of my favorite foods; tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, potatoes, and, this is hard to say, peppers. Previous attempts at eliminations diets never included all of the nightshades separately. I'm already aware I can't eat bell peppers, but I'm really hoping to not have a similar reaction to chilies (or potato or tomatillo). I think green chilies, serranos, Thai birds, and habeneros make me feel good, but I also thought I'd been growing and eating tomatoes, making my marinara, salsas, pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, and ketchup for the rest of my life. This is a good thing, right? To know your enemy? YES! Yes, it is. Now I know.
And a note. I just got a comment from a reader asking if I ate a whole 28 ounce can or a whole peck of tomatoes to bring on this reaction. Yuck, no. I had 1 heirloom tomato slice, 3 TBS of fire roasted organic marinara, 4 cherry tomatoes from my neighbor's garden, and 1/2 cup homemade tomato-veggies blend... over the course of two days. In retrospect, the juice was unnecessary but I had carrot-beet juice that needed to be used, and I was hoping the headaches were from something else.
It is with a heavy heart and tears falling like jewels, that I bid you adieu. For over 35 years, I have loved you. You were my first thought each Spring and my most tender Summer love. My passion was to preserve your sunlight each Fall, and in return, you bestowed upon me the gift of memories of our love throughout the Winter. You had few demands of me while I had many of you, yet our love endured. Until last year, when you began to make me sicker than hell.
Well, you say tomatoes, I say, headaches. You say marinara, and say I acne. You say, pizza, and I say, pesto. Let's call the whole thing off! Tomato, cooked and raw: REACTION. I consumed tomatoes 4 times in 2 days and I feel it. Within hours I develop a headache, 1 day later an acne like rash around my mouth and an increase in general body inflammation. Granted they don't burn my mouth or cause major digestive upset immediately like wheat does, but this is a reaction. While they were on my limit due to inflammation risk list, I thought I might be able to 'get away with' eating them now and then. I don't think that's the best idea. To be clear, I tested with the highest quality tomatoes available; local, organic heirloom and cherry tomatoes, organic Muir Glen Fire Roasted made into marinara, and biodynamic organic Bionature, Diced, which I blended into juice to with mixed fresh juiced veggies. Everything was of the quality expected, tasted lovely, and went through my body without any perceived issues except the first headache. I was hopeful it was due to dehydration or weather, or just me stuff. When I had tomato again, same pattern.
Tomatoes are members of the nightshade family. Species in this family (Solanaceae) include some of my favorite foods; tomatoes, tomatillos, eggplant, potatoes, and, this is hard to say, peppers. Previous attempts at eliminations diets never included all of the nightshades separately. I'm already aware I can't eat bell peppers, but I'm really hoping to not have a similar reaction to chilies (or potato or tomatillo). I think green chilies, serranos, Thai birds, and habeneros make me feel good, but I also thought I'd been growing and eating tomatoes, making my marinara, salsas, pizza sauce, BBQ sauce, and ketchup for the rest of my life. This is a good thing, right? To know your enemy? YES! Yes, it is. Now I know.
And a note. I just got a comment from a reader asking if I ate a whole 28 ounce can or a whole peck of tomatoes to bring on this reaction. Yuck, no. I had 1 heirloom tomato slice, 3 TBS of fire roasted organic marinara, 4 cherry tomatoes from my neighbor's garden, and 1/2 cup homemade tomato-veggies blend... over the course of two days. In retrospect, the juice was unnecessary but I had carrot-beet juice that needed to be used, and I was hoping the headaches were from something else.
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
Mmm, breakfast!
I wish someone would believe me that this actually tastes awesome!
6 kale leaves
1 unpeeled, cored apple
1 unpeeled, cored pear
1 inch of peeled, fresh ginger
6 fresh mint leaves
pure water for blending
OK, so I decided last night I needed to know NOW if I was sensitive to almonds. I soaked some organic raw almonds, popped the skin off, and ate them. I felt no lip, mouth, throat, or digestive pain last night or this morning, but I will keep an eye out for skin irritation. We buy the almonds raw in 5lb bulk bags. I eat them 5-6 x's a week or more, and make our own almond butter and milk with them. I rely on the protein and fats they offer me far to much to go any longer without them. I am giddy at the thought of blending some soaked almonds with fruit for a smoothie tomorrow morning. I have some blueberries and nectarines. Mmmm. That should be well worth the almond free 7 days, haha!
Photo issue has been rectified for now, and tomorrow's recipe is ready to go.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Elimination Diet Number 3
The first elimination diet I did was supervised by a misinformed person in 2002. I had no clue or computer and listened to her bad advice, such as spelt and sprouted grains being gluten free. Needless to say, that first one didn't show much. The second one, last October, is the one that gave me back my life. I didn't finish it though, and didn't do things in a proper order. Once I hit on all gluten containing grains, I stopped to pause and further explore that issue, and never 'challenged' eggs, soy, dairy, corn, nightshades, meats, etc. I have been 100% gluten free since October 2009. In the past 10 months I have slowly regained most of my health, lost a lot of weight, my hair grew back, and addressed all of my nutritional deficiencies. Corn, my very dear friend and needed for my favorite food, popcorn, has been bugging me lately as has dairy, tomatoes, shellfish, beef, yeast, some fruit, and nuts. Time for elimination diet number 3.
This time, I am armed and ready with the right information. Thanks again, to The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and their awesome cookbook. I also now know I can't eat grains, so I'll be fishing for everything else this time. I am not in any stretch of the imagination looking forward to no caffeine, but I'm really looking forward to the no sugar part. Wow. It makes me high. I'm also craving corn more than usual. My Mom always said, "Listen to your cravings. They may be telling you that you need something in the food you are craving, or, that you shouldn't be eating it." I was a bread dominated person and eater, 10 months ago, so I think she was really on to something. I'm feeling only an allergic person would have grits for breakfast, corn with dinner, and popcorn for a night snack...or a corn farmer. Some raw tree nuts make my mouth feel raw. GF yeast bread fills my stomach before it's filled with enough food. Add on a cheeseburger patty and feel like I have a rocks in my belly. Not good.
I wonder how long my body was trying to tell me all of this? All I knew was I was very sick, had no access to medical care, and had to do something before I died. Gluten was very, very obviously the main culprit and eliminating it from my life... has been like receiving a new life as a gift. I'm looking forward to a hopefully similar event to come out of this, even if it means limiting my popcorn intake to a normal person's serving or avoiding it all together. I know, I say that now. Corn, dairy, and gluten free life in reality? That should be a challenge, indeed. Since I needed more than a good month to recover from that epic, icky move, the time is drawing near to start Number 3. I have decided to share it with the world and post through it. Yay! I thought if it inspires ONE person to to take charge of their own health, then it's worth is beyond measure.
This time, I am armed and ready with the right information. Thanks again, to The Whole Life Nutrition Kitchen and their awesome cookbook. I also now know I can't eat grains, so I'll be fishing for everything else this time. I am not in any stretch of the imagination looking forward to no caffeine, but I'm really looking forward to the no sugar part. Wow. It makes me high. I'm also craving corn more than usual. My Mom always said, "Listen to your cravings. They may be telling you that you need something in the food you are craving, or, that you shouldn't be eating it." I was a bread dominated person and eater, 10 months ago, so I think she was really on to something. I'm feeling only an allergic person would have grits for breakfast, corn with dinner, and popcorn for a night snack...or a corn farmer. Some raw tree nuts make my mouth feel raw. GF yeast bread fills my stomach before it's filled with enough food. Add on a cheeseburger patty and feel like I have a rocks in my belly. Not good.
I wonder how long my body was trying to tell me all of this? All I knew was I was very sick, had no access to medical care, and had to do something before I died. Gluten was very, very obviously the main culprit and eliminating it from my life... has been like receiving a new life as a gift. I'm looking forward to a hopefully similar event to come out of this, even if it means limiting my popcorn intake to a normal person's serving or avoiding it all together. I know, I say that now. Corn, dairy, and gluten free life in reality? That should be a challenge, indeed. Since I needed more than a good month to recover from that epic, icky move, the time is drawing near to start Number 3. I have decided to share it with the world and post through it. Yay! I thought if it inspires ONE person to to take charge of their own health, then it's worth is beyond measure.
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