citric acid

Post by **tex** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 7:14 am

I had exactly the same problem with ascorbic acid and other derivatives of corn, so I eliminated corn from my diet for about a year and a half.

Tex

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:03 pm

Well, as of now I'm really confused. I eliminated all grains last week because I wasn't sure what I was reacting to. I made some homemade granola with GF oats and flax and swelled up like a beachball (I'd been eating Udi's GF granola before and didn't notice any problem). I thought it was the flax, so I eliminated that in the next batch--same reaction. But after eliminating the grains (except for corn on the cob), I was still having issues. I noticed a lot of bloating after drinking V-8 Splash and eating fruit containing citric acid, so I cut that out. Then I had problems with the applesauce. On top of all this, for the past couple of weeks I've had increasing symptoms of acid reflux, which has never been a problem for me before. Today I made the mistake of ordering a soda (I was with family at a restaurant, didn't want to go through the whole "what's in your tea" thing), and had the worst burning in my throat and esophagus all afternoon and evening. Is it possible to have acid reflux without stomach pain? I've eliminated everything I can think of, and can't help feeling I've eliminated a bunch of things unnecessarily. I'm eating practically the same meal every other day: chicken, carrots, squash and zucchini. I'm almost the point of eating anyway because I can't figure out what NOT to eat!

Post by **tex** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:30 pm

Cynthia,

Contrary to what the "experts" claim, I rate oats as a major source of gluten (avenin). It's number 4 behind wheat, barley and rye, as far as I'm concerned.

Acid shouldn't cause any stomach pain -- the stomach is designed to handle acid.

Corn might be your remaining problem -- ascorbic acid and citric acid are both made from corn.

Tex

carolm · Post by **carolm** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 8:45 pm

Cynthia,
I am not eating anything acidic (like tomatoes or citrus fruits, coffee or soda) yet I am back on Dexilant because I apparently was having excess acid contributing to nausea (or some gradual erosion or irritation going on). So I'd say it is possible that you can have reflux even though you are eating your basic diet. I don't have an explanation for it. You may want to try some Zantac (a histamine 2 blocker) and see if that changes anything. Just for a week, then decide if it makes a difference. At this point I'm more willing to deal with the consequences of taking Dexilant than to deal with the nausea that keeps me from functioning. This is the second time I've had to get back on Dexilant-- I've also gone weeks without it. I don't know what makes the excessive acid come back, I just know that it comes and goes. Maybe it's just another unpredictable part of MC.

It doesn't sound like you are getting much sugar but certainly sugar can aggravate bloating and reflux too, in my experience.

take care,
Carol

draperygoddess · Post by **draperygoddess** » Sat Jun 16, 2012 9:10 pm

Thanks, Carole and Tex! Jury's been out on corn for some time--sometimes it seems to bother me, other times it doesn't. But I hadn't been looking for ascorbic acid, so I'll start checking those labels! Coffee usually doesn't bother me unless I drink a lot of it, and even then it gives me a bellyache, not reflux. I asked about the stomach pain because my daughter has had acid reflux since she was 9, and her first tipoff is pain just under her ribcage on her left side. She gets the pain and nausea, and vomiting if she doesn't take Pepcid, but she's never complained of the symptoms I'm having. I would actually be okay with eliminating corn if it meant I could still have some of my fruits!