Enterolab Results

[jlbattin]

Wow! That was really quick. I sent my sample back last Monday. Here are my results:


Comprehensive Gluten/Antigenic Food Sensitivity Stool Panel

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 67 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 28 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 56 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 78 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)


Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 24 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Interpretation of Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods: With respect to the mean value of the 11 foods tested, overall, there was only a modest amount of immunological reactivity detected to these antigenic foods in terms of fecal IgA production.

No significant reactivity: potato
1+ reactivity: corn, rice, beef, pork, tuna, chicken
2+ reactivity: almond, oat, walnut, cashew
3+ reactivity: none

Within each class of foods to which you displayed multiple reactions, the hierarchy of those reactions detected were as follows:

Grains:
Grain toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Oat
Grain toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Corn
Grain toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Rice

Meats:
Meat toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Beef
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Pork
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Tuna
Meat toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Chicken

Nuts:
Nut toward which you displayed the most immunologic reactivity: Walnut
Nut toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Cashew
Nut toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Almond

So, question for all of you who have been through this: I have been eating chicken, rice, green beans, and banana on my elimination diet for the last 3 weeks. From the diet interpretation I read, it sounds like you can eat the foods on the 1+ list? Do I need to switch to turkey and potatoes? I do feel like there is something that is keeping me a little bit on the bloated side and was waiting for my results to make any changes. All of this info is a little bit overwhelming. Can someone help me interpret it a little bit more? Can I eat the things on the 1+ side? THanks.

[tex]

Hi Jari,

Yes, often we can eat some or most of the foods on the 1+ list. Obviously the best options are usually the ones that are ranked as showing the least amount of immunologic reactivity (such as rice, chicken, and almond). If I were in your position, and suspecting that something was still not quite right, I would probably avoid chicken (at least for a few days or so, to check it out), because some of us have histamine issues that are sometimes associated with chicken. If you are not storing the chicken in the refrigerator for any extended period (more than just a few hours), then there shouldn't be any significant risk of histamine problems (assuming that the chicken is fresh or frozen when you buy it, and it hasn't been sitting around in a display case for a few days).

If the result of the 11 antigenic foods test had turned out to be much lower than 24, I would say that chicken (and most of the other foods in the 1+ category) might be risk free. But a result of 24 is moderate to slightly high, so that kicks the importance of the individual ranks up a notch or 2. Chicken might be safe on a rotation basis, and of course it's certainly possible that it might be safe for any use, but based on our accumulated experience here, it should always be considered as a possible risk, until proven otherwise by experience.

Do you mind if I add your results to our list here?

Tex

[jlbattin]

Thanks, Tex, for your response. You absolutely can add the results.

So, I'm a little unclear about the histamine issues and know that I just need to read more about it. I have read some but guess I just don't understand it all. I have been taking an Allegra most mornings (I have allergies naturally to pollen, grass, mold, etc.) and so summer is often tough at times; however, I seem to be doing better. I also take 1/2 Benadryl at night.

I've been cooking my chicken one package at a time (most of it has been frozen when I bought it), but I recently found some at Costco that has no hormones, antibiotics, nothing shot into it. I will freeze it and pull it out as I need it. So, when I bake it, it makes maybe 3 meals at most (I like the chicken strips the best). So, it doesn't sit in the fridge longer than a day and a half. Is that too long? Do I need to bake it and then freeze it and pull it out and reheat every time? Can someone who eats chicken on a regular basis tell me how you handle the histamine issues? Thanks.

This website is a Godsend to me. You have no idea how much I appreciate being able to ask what I need to know and feel so supported since there are others that have either already gone down the road before me or are going down it with me.

[tex]

So, it doesn't sit in the fridge longer than a day and a half. Is that too long? Do I need to bake it and then freeze it and pull it out and reheat every time? Can someone who eats chicken on a regular basis tell me how you handle the histamine issues? Thanks.

I find that if I make chicken soup, for example, I can store it in the fridge for 1 day and then eat it without any noticeable symptoms. If I store it in the fridge for 2 days (IOW, roughly 48 hours later) before eating, I will have minor bloating and itching. By the third day in the fridge, if I eat it I will have significant bloating, itching, and D. But this can also occur with other foods, (not just chicken — although chicken seems to grow histamine faster). Actually, histamine doesn't grow. It's mold that grows, and histamine is a byproduct of mold. So because of that, I have developed the habit of freezing leftovers in meal-size portions, and thawing them as needed, just to be on the safe side.

Thanks, I'll add your results.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

With the high reading for soy, I would avoid using too much soy, ie Vit E, on skin, face etc.
I react badly to soy, and could never tolerate green beans. Not sure if you want to change to carrot or sweet potato.

With the histamine, once I balanced nutritional deficiencies like magnesium, excess histamine is no longer a problem.
Albeit for the past 5 years or so, Like tex, most of my precooked meals are in frozen portion size, are defrosted, reheated and eaten within 24-30 hours.

Remember, We can't do everything 100% perfectly.... The aim is to minimise issues whilst achieving balance and quality of life.
And if you have other meats available to eat, like lamb, Turkey, game meats like duck or venison...
Chicken tends to be the meat that generates high histamine...
And small amount of histamine is not an issue,

[jlbattin]

Gabes,

I ordered gluten and soy free soap, shampoo, conditioner, lotion, and chapstick. So, I should be good there. I was a little taken back that my soy was that high. Dairy was the lowest (24, which is not low) but was the lowest of all of them. The egg was even high. Wonder if that will settle down when I heal? I figured I would always have to be gluten, soy, and dairy free, but the egg one kind of surprised me.

I cut out the green beans today and we'll see if that helps. I kind of felt all along like that's maybe what it was. I don't really like sweet potatoes or cooked carrots (but I will eat them raw.......not now, of course). I'm going to add potatoes in as a rotation since it they were nonreactive. I found the coconut oil that Tex recommended to me so thought I would fry some up and can also bake them and eat them with just sea salt. My problem is that I really am not a HUGE vegetable lover but I may have to learn to like some new things! LOL!

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Chemgirl]

This won't help you right now, but is meant for when you are further along with your healing.

I used to hate vegetables. I ate mainly meat, potatoes, rice and pasta.

After dealing with MC, I decided that I need to not only watch for intolerances, but also to ensure that I'm getting enough nutrients from food. If you're just eating protein and carbs you're missing out! (of course right now it's necessary, I mean in the future).

Once you are well on your way to healing, you can try marinating vegetables with lemon, garlic, oil and then grilling them. Herbs also make veggies more interesting and ramp up the flavor. I've started a container garden on my deck so I always have fresh herbs to add to my vegetables. A squirt of lemon or lime will also go a long way towards making vegetables tastier.

I actually feel like there is more in my diet now than there was before my MC diagnosis.

It's a long and trying journey, but I think there is a silver lining to MC. It forces us to be conscientious about what we eat.

Edited to add: I still hate cooked carrots. They are vile and a textural nightmare.