My tests are quite daunting!

[Cesca]

Good morning,
I have received my enterolab results and they are quite extreme.

I've been trying to figure out how to add a photo of the results but so far I've not been successful.

Basically there were no foods to which I had no significant immunological reaction, no foods to which I had some immunological reaction, and the foods to which I have moderate immunological reaction are rice, corn, chicken, tuna, beef, walnut and cashew. The foods to which I have significant/most immunological reactivity are oat, pork, almond and white potato.

In the C1 panel, it says : Mean Value 11 antigenic foods 123 units (normal range is less than 10 units)

The A1 is :

Gliadin is 111 units

Anti- casein is 150

Anti Ovalbumin (chicken - egg) is 131

anti-soy is 125

I reacted the least to beef apparently.

I've been following the elimination diet but (oops!) had not eliminated eggs as they seemed to agree with me (yeah right) and made life a little easier. I've been eating them as banana pancakes and with bacon.

I've been eating a lot of white potato, and some rice. I've been eating rice cakes with almond butter.

Now I'm wondering what I can eat. I'm not panicking as I feel better now than I have for years, but I'm still C, so clearly there's inflammation.

Can you help? My daughter, who is also mega sensitive to all sorts of things and who has been gluten free and dairy free for years, suggests buckwheat and lentil pasta, but I'm concerned that's too fibrous for me at this point. I've been eating some broccoli and zucchini, and this didn't come up in the tests, so does that mean it's not an issue? Also green beans and carrots.

I've been rigorous (apart from, as I said, with eggs) since October 22.

Can you give me some advice?

Thank you,

Best wishes,

Francesca

[tex]

Hello Francesca,

Yes, those results are quite high. Apparently your immune system is very agitated.

You're correct about broccoli and zucchini normally being safe for everyone. Broccoli often causes gas as it's digested, but it doesn't cause the production of any antibodies. In general, EnteroLab tests only foods that are known to cause our immune system to produce antibodies. Therefore, most of the foods that they don't test are safe for most of us. You'll find information about selecting safe foods, and how to analyze EnteroLab results in a newsletter published in the summer of 2021 by the Microscopic Colitis Foundation. You may have already seen this, but in case you haven't, here's a direct link where you can download or read a copy of that newsletter:

https://www.microscopiccolitisfoundatio ... 479987.pdf

And you may find other Microscopic Colitis Foundation newsletters to be helpful, also.

Sweet potatoes are usually a safe substitute for white potatoes, and over cooked cauliflower can be used to make a reasonable substitute for mashed potatoes. Foods such as quinoa, buckwheat, and amaranth, for example, are safe substitutes for grain. I hope this helps.

Tex

[Cesca]

Thank you so much, Tex. I've just put sweet potatoes in the oven to roast!

Also, since I react to Tuna, would that mean that I can safely have sea bass, or sole? I don't like salmon anyway. Or does it mean that seafood is out? I'm very allergic to oysters...maybe mussels are ok?

Maybe this is a silly question...but do you think veal counts as beef? As in, would veal bacon be ok? I couldn't find turkey bacon in the supermarket.

I was stunned when I saw my results, I never expected anything so drastic, especially as I've been feeling so much better.

Are you doing well? It's got very cold here in Switzerland, and we have snow forecast overnight. We will be in northern Spain for Christmas so it should be a little more pleasant as far as temperatures go, especially during the day.

Thanks again, and take care.

Best wishes,

Francesca

[tex]

it's possible that some saltwater fish might be safe, but that would have to be figured out on an individual basis. Freshwater fish might be more likely to be same for you. If you're allergic to oysters, you may be allergic to all shellfish, and that would include mussels. Are you allergic to shrimp and prawn? If not, then mussels might be safe, along with shrimp and prawn.

Veal is young beef (milk fed calf), similar to cabrito (kid goat), so yes, that would still be beef. I've never heard of veal bacon but surely it would still be the same as beef, regarding food sensitivities. If you can't find turkey bacon in the stores, you might be able to order it online.

I've been doing okay, so far, so I can't complain. It's been sort of warm here lately, and I've been able to catch up with a lot of yard work, after a long cold spell last month, and the daily high temperatures this month have been about 20° C, more or less, most days this month so far, but predictions are for colder weather. We've been having a lot of days with high humidity and drizzle, so although it's not cold, it's nasty to be out and about.

Tex

[Gabes-Apg]

my only addition to the discussion is based on your soy result be cautious of any item from the legume family (lentils, chickpeas, beans etc)

And be cautious of bathroom / cosmetics make up products that have Vit E in them (99% of vit E for cosmetics /toiletries is derived from soy)
especially lip balms etc

[Cesca]

Hi Gabes,

Thanks! Interesting about the vitamin E! I’ve been taking a vit E supplement prescribed by my ophthalmologist, also evening primrose oil he prescribed. I’ll have a look.

God, now I have to check all my face creams for soy. It’s hard to believe we can be so sensitive to the amounts that must be in face creams and body lotions.

One thing: how can I feel so well now yet get results as bad as I have? Also, how can I keep weight on? I’m just losing and losing, and if I can’t have carbs then could I add a protein shake, or would that also tend to contain too much « bad stuff »?

Merci,

Love and health,

Cesca

[Gabes-Apg]

there are various posts on this forum and articles in the MC Foundation newsletters

Animal protein is a better option for optimising healing. plant based protein shakes are good if you are away from the house for the day albeit do not provide the same nutritional benefit as 'meat and veggies'
Be careful of ingredients - many plant based protein mixes have soy. if you embrace this go for one that has minimal ingredients (no more than 4 ingredients)

weight will come, with healing. based on your results there is high levels of inflammation
for now focus on reducing the inflammation, and giving the body time to heal.