Hi all,
I had been bothered with a low level (but persistent) nausea and some lower GI problems-- gurgling, cramping etc. Then the recall on my brand of Almond Butter occurred- Maranatha brand.
In short, since I stopped eating it the nausea is gone and my gut is quiet. Like you, I'm a careful label reader and Maranatha seemed okay.....but now I have to wonder if it's cross contaminated with soy or wheat. I'm surprised at how different I feel without it. I will not buy any product that is processed on the same equipment as soy or wheat. However if it's processed in the same plant I sometimes take the gamble. This time I was apparently wrong.
I wanted to pass this on in case any of you are struggling with symptoms and not sure of the source. If you use Maranatha brand I suggest you stop for a month and see if you feel different. I feel much better since stopping it. In fact I'm surprised at how good I feel.
take care,
Carol
Caution if you eat Maranatha Almond Butter
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Caution if you eat Maranatha Almond Butter
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Carol,
I'm not suggesting that this is the cause of that particular problem, but there's also a possibility that the nuts may have been contaminated by a mycotoxin. For example, under certain growing conditions (excessive moisture), vomitoxin can develop in certain small grains, especially wheat, and it can cause the symptoms that the name suggests, if the grain ends up in bread or animal feed.
I'm not aware that almonds are subject to the development of vomitoxin, but it's also possible for mycotoxins to develop due to improper storage conditions (excessive moisture, for example), and there are many different types of mycotoxins around that we never hear of because they only appear sporadically, under certain conditions, but they are known in the trade because they make the products unsuitable for consumption, and so USDA regulatory agencies are always on the lookout for local outbreaks.
Thanks for the heads up.
Tex
I'm not suggesting that this is the cause of that particular problem, but there's also a possibility that the nuts may have been contaminated by a mycotoxin. For example, under certain growing conditions (excessive moisture), vomitoxin can develop in certain small grains, especially wheat, and it can cause the symptoms that the name suggests, if the grain ends up in bread or animal feed.
I'm not aware that almonds are subject to the development of vomitoxin, but it's also possible for mycotoxins to develop due to improper storage conditions (excessive moisture, for example), and there are many different types of mycotoxins around that we never hear of because they only appear sporadically, under certain conditions, but they are known in the trade because they make the products unsuitable for consumption, and so USDA regulatory agencies are always on the lookout for local outbreaks.
Thanks for the heads up.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Thanks Tex, I can see how it could be a mold or some other influence.
I felt it was worth mentioning because the change in how I feel is significant. Even a month ago getting myself out of bed early was difficult and if I was sleep deprived in any way, I could count on my motility becoming overactive, meaning many trips to the bathroom and a delay in any plans I made.
Today I got up at 6:00am, was at my local public library at 7:00am, and served as a volunteer for a Run to Read Fun Run & 5K. I stood around for an hour, then manned a corner downtown to direct participants to turn in the right direction for another 2 hours. I had no nausea, no gut trouble from being a little tired.... it's just a very different experience now than what I would have had even 4 weeks ago. When I volunteered I worried that I wouldn't even be able to make it.
It was my husband that pointed out that I seem better after stopping that brand of almond butter, so it must observable too.
Anyway-- maybe my experience will help someone else.
Carol
I felt it was worth mentioning because the change in how I feel is significant. Even a month ago getting myself out of bed early was difficult and if I was sleep deprived in any way, I could count on my motility becoming overactive, meaning many trips to the bathroom and a delay in any plans I made.
Today I got up at 6:00am, was at my local public library at 7:00am, and served as a volunteer for a Run to Read Fun Run & 5K. I stood around for an hour, then manned a corner downtown to direct participants to turn in the right direction for another 2 hours. I had no nausea, no gut trouble from being a little tired.... it's just a very different experience now than what I would have had even 4 weeks ago. When I volunteered I worried that I wouldn't even be able to make it.
It was my husband that pointed out that I seem better after stopping that brand of almond butter, so it must observable too.
Anyway-- maybe my experience will help someone else.
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
It certainly must have made a dramatic difference. That's impressive that your husband noticed a difference. And to think that some wives claim that their husbands don't even notice them anymore. 
I can recall you posting about those continuing occasional problems. Apparently the effect was substantial enough to prevent you from enjoying stable remission. Hopefully those issues are now history.
You know, thinking about this, even if no mycotoxins were involved, just the presence of mold could push the histamine level sky-high, and for many of us, that would be enough to upset the apple cart. Mold is probably a somewhat common reason for the recall of a product such as that, but probably none of us would have ever suspected almond butter to be a histamine risk.
Tex
I can recall you posting about those continuing occasional problems. Apparently the effect was substantial enough to prevent you from enjoying stable remission. Hopefully those issues are now history.
You know, thinking about this, even if no mycotoxins were involved, just the presence of mold could push the histamine level sky-high, and for many of us, that would be enough to upset the apple cart. Mold is probably a somewhat common reason for the recall of a product such as that, but probably none of us would have ever suspected almond butter to be a histamine risk.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
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humbird753
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Hi Carol,
Thank you for this post. Recently I have been wondering about the Maranatha brand of almond butter. My Enterolab tests showed I am sensitive to gluten and dairy, but not soy or eggs. But.... I've gone for several weeks at times not using the almond butter on my rice cakes and have noticed that when I use it again, I do have stomach and nausea issues with it. So, I think I'll try something else knowing it affects others also.
Paula
Thank you for this post. Recently I have been wondering about the Maranatha brand of almond butter. My Enterolab tests showed I am sensitive to gluten and dairy, but not soy or eggs. But.... I've gone for several weeks at times not using the almond butter on my rice cakes and have noticed that when I use it again, I do have stomach and nausea issues with it. So, I think I'll try something else knowing it affects others also.
Paula
Paula
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
"You'll never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have."
"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass... It's learning to dance in the rain."
-
humbird753
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1014
- Joined: Mon Nov 28, 2011 4:44 pm
- Location: Wisconsin
