EnteroLab Results and Questions

[extremeelle]

Hi, I’m hoping for some additional insight into my EnteroLab results. Gluten, dairy, eggs, gluten-free oats, white potatoes, corn, and cashews were eliminated from my diet 8 wks and soy 2 yrs prior to testing.

Fecal Anti-gliadin IgA: 130
Quantitative Microscopic Fecal Fat Score: Less than 300 Units
Fecal Anti-casein (cow’s milk) IgA: 14
Fecal Anti-ovalbumin (chicken egg) IgA: 13
Fecal Anti-soy IgA: 15

Food to which there was some immunological reactivity (1+): Oats (most), Rice (second), Tuna

(No sig. reactivity to corn, beef, chicken, pork, almonds, walnuts, cashews, and white potatoes)

Questions:

1. I suspected soy and eliminated it from my diet and beauty products for good 2 yrs ago. It's a sneaky one, maybe trace amounts are getting into my system from unknown sources?

2. I handle all these foods while preparing meals for my family. Prior posts suggest the need to replace porous items, like cutting boards, bamboo cooking spoons, etc. as they contaminate food you are ingesting. For simple handling on non-porous surfaces, would washing my hands before I eat something be enough?

3. How serious is a +1? Eliminating tuna and oats is easier for me than rice. I’ve come to find white jasmine rice comforting (and filling) since eliminating all these other foods. I’m already thin and don’t want to lose more weight via my new diet. What are some good substitutes for rice? If this isn't an irritating food then quinoa would work for me. It seems corn (in any form) would be irritiating – should I continue to avoid corn (i.e. polenta, cornmeal, modified cornbread) for this reason?

4. For nuts, it is recommended that you soak overnight before eating them. I'm assuming this is to make the insoluble fiber parts less irritating to your system? Has this worked for others? I've done this prior to making cashew butter which I'm assuming is okay to eat again given these results?

5. Do most people continue to avoid white potatoes (for inflammation reasons) even if there is no immunological response?

Thanks for your insight!

[tex]

1. I suspected soy and eliminated it from my diet and beauty products for good 2 yrs ago. It's a sneaky one, maybe trace amounts are getting into my system from unknown sources?

Some of us are extremely sensitive to soy. Trace amounts in supplements, cosmetics, and skin care products can be a problem.

2. I handle all these foods while preparing meals for my family. Prior posts suggest the need to replace porous items, like cutting boards, bamboo cooking spoons, etc. as they contaminate food you are ingesting. For simple handling on non-porous surfaces, would washing my hands before I eat something be enough?

As long as you don't touch your own food unless your hands are clean, you should be OK. But if you use any flour that contains wheat or soy, your food will be cross-contaminated, because it drifts everywhere, no matter how careful you might be.

3. How serious is a +1? Eliminating tuna and oats is easier for me than rice. I’ve come to find white jasmine rice comforting (and filling) since eliminating all these other foods. I’m already thin and don’t want to lose more weight via my new diet. What are some good substitutes for rice? If this isn't an irritating food then quinoa would work for me. It seems corn (in any form) would be irritiating – should I continue to avoid corn (i.e. polenta, cornmeal, modified cornbread) for this reason?

That depends on your overall score for the 11 antigenic foods. If it's below 10, or only slightly higher, a 1+ is not very serious. If your overall score is 20 or higher, it might be serious, Corn should be a safe substitute. It's generally safer than quinoa, because quinoa causes some of us to react, and it's sometimes cross-contaminated.

4. For nuts, it is recommended that you soak overnight before eating them. I'm assuming this is to make the insoluble fiber parts less irritating to your system? Has this worked for others? I've done this prior to making cashew butter which I'm assuming is okay to eat again given these results?

Nuts should be generally safe for you, but I would stick to nut butters while I was recovering because they're easier to digest. Soaking probably helps.

5. Do most people continue to avoid white potatoes (for inflammation reasons) even if there is no immunological response?

No. There's no need to avoid them unless you have severe arthritis (That's not caused by to MC).

Tex

[extremeelle]

Overall score for the 11 antigenic foods was only 9 so I'm going to eliminate tuna and gluten-free oats, but keep white jasmine rice in my diet. Thank you so much for your input - this is a huge help!

[tex]

If your score was less than 10, then none of those 11 results mean anything. The rice and tuna are probably safe. But since we all react to it, avoiding oats is a very good idea.

Tex

[extremeelle]

Wonderful! Thank you.

[extremeelle]

For simplicity, I deleted an important question regarding the consumption of A2/A2 dairy products in my original post. It's still weighing on me so I'm hoping for some insight beyond what I have been able to find via searching past posts. My EnteroLab results for Fecal Anti-casein IgA were 14. The sample was taken two months after the initiation of my elimination diet (no diary, gluten, soy, eggs). My family consumes raw milk and other dairy products from certified A2/A2 cows. The farm is local and the milk we buy is primarily from one specific cow. I'm wondering if EnteroLab results speak only to the A1 form of the protein or both A1 and A2 (beta or ancestral form)? Since I have eliminated gluten, dairy, and eggs for five months now and soy for nearly 2.5 years, the possibility of reintroducing small amounts of certified A2/A2 dairy back into my exceptionally-limited diet would be welcomed.

Regarding progress, the elimination diet seems to be working! I've struggled with symptoms for 20 years not knowing about these four intolerances. Within two months I was significantly closer to being "functional". While not in remission, five months into it I'm feeling fantastic and the head fog seems to be lifting. I'm so grateful to the books and this forum. If solely listening to my GI specialist, I'd still be eating all four proteins.

[tex]

Hi,

It's great to see that you're doing so much better. For a detailed discussion on how the A1/A2 cow situation affects us as MC patients, please read the thread at the following link:

article on milk protein

Here's my opinion on your suggestion of reintroducing dairy products into your diet:

You may well be able to do it, especially if you choose dairy products made from the milk of "old-world" cow breeds. But please be aware that there is still a potential problem. Years ago, after being in remission for a couple of years, I successfully reintroduced dairy products back into my diet. I say "successfully" because they gave me no digestive problems. However, after a few weeks I began to develop the same osteoarthritis symptoms that I had when I was initially reacting (sore, red, and swollen finger joints). I ordered an EnteroLab test kit and sure enough. I was producing antibodies to casein. I had to cut dairy products back out of my diet

Thanks for the update.

Tex

[extremeelle]

Thank you for sending the link - I didn't see that interesting thread pop up in my search. I also didn't realize that all cows produce both A1 and A2 forms. It's a life-changing effort to eliminate soy, dairy, eggs, and gluten from your diet (not to mention all of the other irritating, spicy, and diuretic foods). While I would love to have a slice of homemade (principally A2) cheese every now and again once in remission, it doesn't seem worth the risk.

[dolson]

I've given up. I'm at my wit's end. I'm at the crossroads of my sorry life.

I've decided to get the Enterolab report on what making me sick and insane. I live in the bathroom and Brain Fog has reared it's ugly head. I try to eat what I can but I still get sick. I am tired, worn out and angry. Sometimes I wonder why was I born. All I've known is SICKNESS! I no longer have a drink, eat food that does not bother me, but lately the food has bothered me. I take my antihistimines and anti-diarrheal supplements. I don't eat or drink anything acidic. I take Vitamin B, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega 3 Fatty Acid and other vitamins. I'm trying hard to stay healthy but nothing seems to be working.

Would y'all say Dr. Fine's results on the testing of food to be valid and reliable? I need help. Another bad day on the plantation/ranch and I'm depressed. Where else do you go, y'all? Dorothy

[Gabes-Apg]

I take Vitamin B, Magnesium, Vitamin D, Omega 3 Fatty Acid and other vitamins. I'm trying hard to stay healthy but nothing seems to be working.

an observation that may be helpful. in the first stages of healing we encourage that you only take Vit D3 and magnesium.
I am wondering if the other supplements and vitamins you are taking are contributing to your ongoing issues

multiple reasons
- if the vit B you are taking is not the active form - then you will not be getting benefit
- omega 3's can have soy oil in them
- any vitamin that has more than 2-3 ingredients, if you are reacting to one of those ingredients you have no way of knowing which one
- if any of these have soy or other fillers that are triggering reaction

another observation, you are in the very early stages of healing. based on your other posts, it was only a few weeks ago you were drinking alcohol and eating out which would have increased inflammation.
4 months ago you were travelling internationally. Even with a fine tuned ingredient list, there are still key things to the healing journey- patience and time, acceptance and the mental and emotional aspects of life with MC.

the enterlab testing is very very reliable and valid and has provided great information for people to base their eating plan on.

[brandy]

Hi Elle,

I am ok with a little bit of goat cheese. I am ok with some ghee. I am ok with a little bit of A1 cheddar cheese. I am ok with
whipped cream from A1 heavy whipping creme. I suspect I would be ok with a little A2 cheese.

My first cheese test of A1 cheese I was not okay. I had extreme joint pain. I waited several years before retesting.
I am not okay with A1 or goat feta cheese.

It was only about year 5 or 6 year in that I tested this stuff. Before then I was 100%dairy free.

Even now I only have some of this like every 3 months.....rare.

Recommend do not test this now. Wait at least 2-3 years or more until you are very solidly healed.

I suspect if you wait until you are very solidly healed that you will be ok with a bit of A2 cheese as a rare treat.

A lot of folks are ok with ghee after they are healed.

And yes, cheese tasted as good as I remembered from 7 years prior.

[AnneF]

All, how do I get the Enterolab testing done, and does a physician have to be involved? If not, and I can do this on my own, is there a link to access? Also, is it expensive? Thanks in advance!

[tex]

Hi Anne,

Welcome to the group. You can order EnteroLab test kits yourself either by phone or online. Here's a link to the tests most of us order (Panels A1 and C1):

https://www.enterolab.com/StaticPages/T ... #PanelA1C1

The cost is usually $539 (for both Panels), but sometimes they offer special discounted pricing. If you phone, ask them for the insurance codes (for the tests). Then you can check with your insurance company to see if they cover those codes. If they do, they should reimburse you for at least part of the cost for the tests.

Again, welcome aboard, and please feel free to ask anything.

Tex

[AnneF]

Thanks so much Tex! I just received your book in the mail. Lots to learn!!! Appreciate the help.