Enterolab results in-need advice on tweaking diet

TaiaK · Post by **TaiaK** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:57 am

Comprehensive Gluten/Antigenic Food Sensitivity Stool Panel

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA 15 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA 4 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA 8 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Fecal Anti-soy IgA 16 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

Mean Value 11 Antigenic Foods 26 Units (Normal Range is less than 10 Units)

While all of the foods tested can be immune-stimulating, the hierarchy of reactions detected were as follows:

Food to which there was no significant immunological reactivity: None
Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+): Corn, Rice, Pork, Chicken, Beef, White Potato
Food to which there was moderate immunological reactivity (2+): Oat, Tuna, Almond, Walnut, Cashew
Food to which there was significant and/or the most immunological reactivity (3+): 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: Tuna
Meat toward which you were next most immunologically reactive: Pork
Meat toward which you displayed intermediate immunologic reactivity: Chicken
Meat toward which you displayed the least immunologic reactivity: Beef

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

Nightshades:
You displayed immunologic reactivity to white potato, the member of the nightshade family usually consumed most often and in greatest quantities. While this does not necessarily mean you would react to all other nightshade foods (tomatoes, peppers, eggplant), it is possible. In the realm of elimination diets for immunologic disorders, nightshades are usually eliminated as the entire food class (i.e., all four previously mentioned foods in this class). This is especially important to the clinical setting of arthritis.

OK-so a little back story. I have been gf/df for 8 1/2 months. I have had maybe 4 eggs outright in that time and if I do have them, they will be baked into something that I make at home. As for soy, my supplements are all soy free but I do cook with tamari a few times a week so that has to go and I will need to be more vigilant about labels with this one (chocolate!). I've seen some great sources for soy free chocolate so that is doable.

Few questions on how to go forward:

Is that Anti-gliadin response reasonable for being gf for 8 1/2 months? and if I keep at it, it will continue to decrease?

The casein and egg response was interesting. I didn't know what to expect there.

Soy did not surprise me and I will step this up.

Should I avoid everything in 2+? Tuna makes me sad but it is what it is. As for 1+ can I rotate those?

I will get rid of my almond milk and almond butter but could I try cashew butter or just avoid?

Get rid of white potato altogether? Try sweet potato?

As for protein sources-ok to do shrimp, scallops, white fish etc? I don't love these but my family would be happy if I made them more. I'll do more turkey and I'm not a lover of the game meats but I've seen them listed.

Overall, this isn't too bad. I've been feeling better as time goes on but I'm not fully there so I'm glad I finally did this testing. I welcome and appreciate any feedback or advice.

Taia

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 3:35 pm

Taia wrote:Is that Anti-gliadin response reasonable for being gf for 8 1/2 months? and if I keep at it, it will continue to decrease?

Yes, anti-gliadin antibodies have a half-life of 120 days, so they can persist for years if they were high to begin with, but the level will slowly decline as long as you continue to avoid gluten. Most other food antibodies have a half-life of approximately 6 days, so their levels decline much more rapidly after those foods are removed from the diet.

IOW, if you have been avoiding all dairy products for over 8 months, and only using eggs in baked products, that may be why your results were negative for those foods.

With an overall score of 26 I would avoid all 2+ foods. You might be able to use some of the 1+ foods, but keep an eye on how you respond to them.

The whole nuts are definitely a problem, but it's possible that you might still be able to tolerate nut milks (especially cashew milk).

Sweet potato might be safer, but it's also possible that yellow or red potatoes might be OK, especially if they are not eaten every day. It you're not yet in remission then it's obviously safer to avoid them at least until after you reach remission.

Unless you happen to have an allergy to shellfish, they are usually safe for people who are sensitive to tuna, salmon, etc. And of course other types of fish may be safe. If you don't like goose or duck or other alternative meats, lamb is usually as safe as turkey for most of us.

I agree that the test results are very helpful because they can help us to do vital fine-tuning of our diet that can easily make the difference to get us to remission.

Good luck. Hopefully you will soon be in remission.

Tex

TaiaK · Post by **TaiaK** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 3:56 pm

Thanks for the feedback Tex! I was going to mention to please add my results to the master list should you desire.

Taia

Post by **tex** » Sat Feb 06, 2016 4:34 pm

Will do.

Thanks,
Tex

bevfromwa · Post by **bevfromwa** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:21 pm

Hi, Taia, wanted to make some comments that might help:

Polly originally mentioned Coconut Aminos as a substitute for soy sauce, it's been a life saver for me. It's not as salty as soy, but generally I just substitute it for soy one for one. Best source I've found is vitacost.com

good substitute for chocolate chips that are soy free is Enjoy Life brand. Good taste, also vitacost.

I had similar results except that I had no 1+ lots of 2+, and a couple of 3+. And high score on gluten, also over the limit was dairy and soy. Chicken was on the 2+ list so I've subbed lots of turkey. As Tex said, lamb is ok for most of us, I've purchased whole, boneless leg of lamb from Costco. I put it through my meat grinder attachment for my KitchenAid Mixer, or just cut it up into cubes for stew, or strips for steak.

Fish, such as rock fish or sole works out fine for me.

Good luck!

Beverly

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 3:30 pm

Taia
not sure how many other posts you have read, in relation to soy, one place that has lots of soy is body products, bathroom products etc. Any facial cream or body cream or lip balm with 'Vit E' has soy.

other places that are very likely to have soy
- eggs are sometimes sprayed with soy oil to help them last longer, i would avoid having boiled eggs
- vegetables can be sprayed with soy oil to help them last longer, do not use vege peelings
- there is soy free and dairy free chocolate - (be cautious on how much you consume and sugar content)
- most restaurants use soy based vegetable oil for cooking so be cautious eating out
- some olive oil products have soy oil in there - best to stick to using coconut oil

good luck

TaiaK · Post by **TaiaK** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:28 pm

Beverly-thanks for your input! I have the Enjoy Life chips and a few candy bars and I will order the Aminos. I have heard of it and will give it a try. That will be a nice replacement.

Will try some lamb, had some scallops tonight-yum. I have been searching some new fish recipes. Did you find that changing your diet based on your Enterolab results has gotten you into remission?

Gabes-you have sent me down the rabbit hole with the toiletries/makeup. I put a container of coconut oil in my bathroom for lip balm and lotion, threw out my lip balm and ordered some makeup on Red Apple. Will head to my natural food store tomorrow to pick up a few other things. Thank you for your tips on the foods too. The soy is the trickiest! I have to work on the toothpaste-we use Toms but I see that may be an issue. I know you have posted a recipe for toothpaste-is fluoride necessary? I don't know a lot about the reality of that-its just been drilled in my head forever that its necessary.

Thanks ladies. Taia

Gabes-Apg · Post by **Gabes-Apg** » Sun Feb 07, 2016 9:41 pm

If you speak to your dentist, they will say that fluoride is essential.

for me based on my personal issues, my body struggles to clear excess items such as fluoride, so I avoid it as much as possible.
based on years of health issues, the damage is done persay with my teeth. Using fluoride in toothpaste is not going to resolve the issue. and fluoride depletes magnesium.

(and regarding beliefs and what we have been coerced into believing, think about all the stuff about eat high fibre, MUST eat greens etc, and as we learn in MC world, it is not essential)

my advice is, we cant do everything perfectly and avoid every miniscule of every trigger..
remove the major ones, minimise the contact with the minor ones..
each person is different, figure out what works best for you.

Blueberry · Post by **Blueberry** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 9:55 am

Thought to add, with soy, if you still having troubles in the future you might do a trial of avoiding meats, fish and eggs where the animal had been fed soy. Some feel that soy meal fed to animals will show up in the meat at levels high enough to cause allergy trouble. (Not everyone agrees with that though.)

This is what I'm working on. I'm only eating grass fed beef, dairy products, along with tuna. I tried this basic idea in the past, and saw good results, but it was inconsistent. It can be a tough diet too, which I found discouraging. Now I've gone further since the beginning of the month in eliminating meats that could potentially have soy in it, and I'm pleased, doing very well, both physically and mentally.

Good luck!

I forgot to add, most tuna sold has soy protein added to it! It's in the broth I read. The tuna in olive oil I buy doesn't list broth.

TaiaK · Post by **TaiaK** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 5:23 pm

Blueberry-

Thanks for bringing this topic up. I remember seeing a thread on that soy/meat issue. Makes sense that is could pass through. I try to buy high quality grass fed meats but I will be extra cautious with labels. I'm skipping tuna for now which came up at a 2+ for me (this makes me sad). Starting about 5 months ago, I started finding tuna in only water and salt at Costco and now it will have to be eaten by my cat or my kids I guess.

I'm so glad you are feeling so wonderful! Good for you-it's a lot of work to wade thought all of this!

Taia

Blueberry · Post by **Blueberry** » Mon Feb 08, 2016 6:56 pm

Taia,

Thanks for the well wishes, good luck again, and hope your cat enjoy the tuna as much as my parents kitties! Ours can be ornery cute little devils come tuna feeding time I've found. I suspect if I came between them and their tuna it is likely I would be on the lunch menu also.