HELLOOOOO! (hello........ hello.........hello). WOW! Listen to that echo! I am the first one in this totally empty room.
I guess it's fitting that I am here first, since I was the original member to discover that I had multiple intolerances. I was so upset watching others eliminate gluten alone or gluten/dairy and then go into remission when it took SO long to figure out all of my intolerances.
It took me almost 9 months to see my first formed B.M., as I painstakingly experimented with eliminating various foods. This was 8 years ago, and at that time Dr. Fine only offered tests for gluten, dairy, and yeast. I had to figure out soy, corn, and the others all on my own. It was a long and frustrating process of trial and error.
And then eventually along came Karen, a new M.I. who tried a different approach. She jumped immediately to the "paleo" diet. This diet eliminates all grains, dairy, and legumes (the major food intolerances) right from the start. Lo and behold, Karen went into remission in an amazingly short period of time. Since then, we have been educating MIs about this diet.
So, the three main ways of figuring out food intolerances are:
1.) by trial and error; Jean has provided some excellent advice in the "Information on Diet" forum about how to approach an elimination diet.
2.) by jumping immediately to the paleo diet (after remission, old non-paleo foods can be added back in one at a time to test them)
3.) by ordering Dr. Fine's tests (he tests for all the major allergens except corn). Check out www.finerhealth.com. By the way, "allergy" skin testing for food intolerances is not generally helpful - the allergic response is mediated through a different body pathway than the "intolerance" response.
Love,
Polly
Musings from a Multiply Intolerant Potty Person
Moderators: Rosie, JFR, Dee, xet, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh, mbeezie
Musings from a Multiply Intolerant Potty Person
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Just wanted to add my two cents to the MI puzzle....It would seem that where certain foods come from has something to do with the reaction...Case in point..
We have raised our own laying hens for a couple of years, and since DH tested negative for eggs, it was a Win, Win. Organic eggs as a food group. Then the problems started, we lost our chicken coop to a wind storm and had to give away all the birds. In trying to buy eggs at the store, we tried Egglands Best, Land of Lakes and other " organic" high end brands. Every one of them caused a major reaction...We finally found a "organic, cage free, veggie fed ", that seems to be safe, so far. Hopefully we can use them until my new replacement pullets are old enough to lay in a couple of months....Soooo, what is is the store bought eggs that caused such a severe reaction???
We have also had a similar problem with beef and pork. Once again, for years we have raised our own, all organic. Yet when we recently ran out of beef, I bought some at our butcher ( very good quality meat and the same butcher we have used for our stock for years) and once again, once or twice, there was a bad reaction to the meat....
Hugs,
C
We have raised our own laying hens for a couple of years, and since DH tested negative for eggs, it was a Win, Win. Organic eggs as a food group. Then the problems started, we lost our chicken coop to a wind storm and had to give away all the birds. In trying to buy eggs at the store, we tried Egglands Best, Land of Lakes and other " organic" high end brands. Every one of them caused a major reaction...We finally found a "organic, cage free, veggie fed ", that seems to be safe, so far. Hopefully we can use them until my new replacement pullets are old enough to lay in a couple of months....Soooo, what is is the store bought eggs that caused such a severe reaction???
We have also had a similar problem with beef and pork. Once again, for years we have raised our own, all organic. Yet when we recently ran out of beef, I bought some at our butcher ( very good quality meat and the same butcher we have used for our stock for years) and once again, once or twice, there was a bad reaction to the meat....
Hugs,
C
I also have seen some research indicating that where our food comes from may have something to do with our reactions to it. For example, we're told that a diet high in meat and eggs will lead to high cholesterol and heart disease, but isolated tribes who mostly eat a paleo diet don't have such problems in the same rates, if at all. I have seen studies indicating that a corn-fed cow will have a different health effect on its eater than a grass-fed one, for example. If nothing else, it changes the body composition of the cow, so you're getting what ends up being almost a different animal. Just thoughts.
Courtney
Courtney
Hypothyroid 05/05
LC/CC 07/08
Celiac 07/08
LC/CC 07/08
Celiac 07/08
Interesting discussion, Ladies!
I have wondered about our food supply for a long time. Genetically modified foods scare me to death. I always worry that they will take something I can eat, like a carrot, and add a wheat gene to it. Horrors! And I might never know why I'd get sick.
I'd love to see any research that you know of related to your points above, by the way, if you can find it, Courtney. That's fascinating! Carrie, that's really interesting about the eggs. Maybe I could eat the kind of eggs that don't make Rick sick. Is it a particular brand or from a nearby farm? The nearest humane farm to me lets the chickens graze on grass but also feeds them corn.
I also think there is interaction between some foods. For example, before I identified my egg intolerance, I could not tolerate tomato products or citrus very well. Now that I'm off of eggs, I can eat the others. Weird, huh? Of course, I do have to watch out for tomato suaces that contain citric acid (a corn derivative).
Hugz,
Polly
I have wondered about our food supply for a long time. Genetically modified foods scare me to death. I always worry that they will take something I can eat, like a carrot, and add a wheat gene to it. Horrors! And I might never know why I'd get sick.
I'd love to see any research that you know of related to your points above, by the way, if you can find it, Courtney. That's fascinating! Carrie, that's really interesting about the eggs. Maybe I could eat the kind of eggs that don't make Rick sick. Is it a particular brand or from a nearby farm? The nearest humane farm to me lets the chickens graze on grass but also feeds them corn.
I also think there is interaction between some foods. For example, before I identified my egg intolerance, I could not tolerate tomato products or citrus very well. Now that I'm off of eggs, I can eat the others. Weird, huh? Of course, I do have to watch out for tomato suaces that contain citric acid (a corn derivative).
Hugz,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
GM foods scare the daylights out of us too. I read somewhere that when they were playing with the GM soy, they were using peanut plants in the mix, and that is why many people with peanut allergies react to soy. Not sure where I picked that up at, but a very scary idea, if they really did it..... Hence the reason that we raise our own stock for the freezer. We either butcher out Longhorn, Corriente or my own Irish Dexter cows to eat, not Angus, Hereford or any of the other highly marbled, clone sired ( yes, they have been using clones in the beef supply for years, no one wanted to talk about, but ranchers did it all the time ), beef cows that have been fed antibiotics and growth hormones. With the Longhorns, Corriente and Dexter, they are not given that stuff, since they are not normally used for beef, plus they are very low fat...Win, Win.
The eggs are " Clearly Organic" from Best Choice. If I make it to my sisters farm, her eggs don't bother him either, but that would make sense, since she feeds the same feed I did with my hens. As far as the feed for chickens is concerned, you would be hard pressed to find a layer diet without corn or soy. That is one thing we learned the hard way, Rick has broken out in a rash on his arms after unloading livestock feed that had wheat, or soy in it...But there are ways around the corn and soy problem if you had free range hens and supplemented with something else to boost the protein level. I played with adding alfalfa meal to their diet, but with mixed results. Their egg production did suffer some...
Polly, could you get away with having a layer or two of your own? Many cities now allow families to have a couple of hens, even in the city limits. Then you could play with a diet without corn...might be worth trying...
Courtney, I agree with the diet not causing high cholesterol. Both Rick and I are very much carnivores, always have been. Very few veggies, very little fruit, mostly meat and eggs, yet we both have low cholesterol...I do think that grass fed beef is better in the grand scheme of things, and do try to finish most of ours out that way, I have found that adding alfalfa to replace some of the grain is a great way to finish them....
Hugs,
C
The eggs are " Clearly Organic" from Best Choice. If I make it to my sisters farm, her eggs don't bother him either, but that would make sense, since she feeds the same feed I did with my hens. As far as the feed for chickens is concerned, you would be hard pressed to find a layer diet without corn or soy. That is one thing we learned the hard way, Rick has broken out in a rash on his arms after unloading livestock feed that had wheat, or soy in it...But there are ways around the corn and soy problem if you had free range hens and supplemented with something else to boost the protein level. I played with adding alfalfa meal to their diet, but with mixed results. Their egg production did suffer some...
Polly, could you get away with having a layer or two of your own? Many cities now allow families to have a couple of hens, even in the city limits. Then you could play with a diet without corn...might be worth trying...
Courtney, I agree with the diet not causing high cholesterol. Both Rick and I are very much carnivores, always have been. Very few veggies, very little fruit, mostly meat and eggs, yet we both have low cholesterol...I do think that grass fed beef is better in the grand scheme of things, and do try to finish most of ours out that way, I have found that adding alfalfa to replace some of the grain is a great way to finish them....
Hugs,
C
I'm so excited to see this forum. I'm realizing I have multiple intolerances. It's like my immune system has just gone mad with the foods.
I wanted to add another test that I think is going to be helpful for me. I've started doing the IgG Delayed allergy testing (the one I'm doing is by RAST, but I think some are done ELISA -- couldn't tell you the difference as far as effectiveness. Already, I've uncovered 6 serious allergens for me. I only had 14 tested the first go round, so that is nearly 50% of what I tested for
. With this many, I don't know if I could have figured out which ones were causing issues because something always would have been and my diary woulda looked a total mess. I know that some consider this test controversial, but it helped my daughter too. She was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome several months ago (She was having an episode every 2-3wks or so) and this test discovered allergic reactions to bananas and tomatoes for her and she hasn't thrown up since we removed those.
I find all the paleo talk really fascinating. I'm currently on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, now minus the 6 things on my intolerance list. There really wouldn't be much else to drop to go paleo except legumes I don't think. I could be mistaken about that though since I haven't read too much detail about what's ok on it. I reeeeeeeeally love beans though, so I'm slightly hesitant to go fully paleo. Who knows, I may turn up intolerant anyway, so wouldn't have a choice.
Polly, the GMO thing scares me too. I'm learning to garden so I can grow my own from seeds and learning to save seeds. I love Baker Creek who has a business based around preserving heirloom open-pollinated varieties. Maybe someday we'll follow the lead of other countries and ban the GMO crops. It won't undo the contamination that has already happened, though. Boycott Monsanto!
I wanted to add another test that I think is going to be helpful for me. I've started doing the IgG Delayed allergy testing (the one I'm doing is by RAST, but I think some are done ELISA -- couldn't tell you the difference as far as effectiveness. Already, I've uncovered 6 serious allergens for me. I only had 14 tested the first go round, so that is nearly 50% of what I tested for
. With this many, I don't know if I could have figured out which ones were causing issues because something always would have been and my diary woulda looked a total mess. I know that some consider this test controversial, but it helped my daughter too. She was diagnosed with cyclic vomiting syndrome several months ago (She was having an episode every 2-3wks or so) and this test discovered allergic reactions to bananas and tomatoes for her and she hasn't thrown up since we removed those. I find all the paleo talk really fascinating. I'm currently on the Specific Carbohydrate Diet, now minus the 6 things on my intolerance list. There really wouldn't be much else to drop to go paleo except legumes I don't think. I could be mistaken about that though since I haven't read too much detail about what's ok on it. I reeeeeeeeally love beans though, so I'm slightly hesitant to go fully paleo. Who knows, I may turn up intolerant anyway, so wouldn't have a choice.
Polly, the GMO thing scares me too. I'm learning to garden so I can grow my own from seeds and learning to save seeds. I love Baker Creek who has a business based around preserving heirloom open-pollinated varieties. Maybe someday we'll follow the lead of other countries and ban the GMO crops. It won't undo the contamination that has already happened, though. Boycott Monsanto!
Hey all
Great to see the new additions to the site.
Of course the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is grain free just like the Paleo Diet . After a few weeks on it I discovered I had to eliminate the beans (Legumes) and dairy along with nite shades,carrageenan and Soyalong with a few things like tapioca, a root vegetable , that I never would have expected. Wasn’t much of a jump in what I ate, if at all , when a a year later I discovered this group and all the information on the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet is full of all kinds of intriguing foods and good things to eat .
For new members looking for ideas-
http://www.thefooddoc.com/
http://www.thepaleodiet.com/
More later
Love
Matthew
Great to see the new additions to the site.
Of course the Specific Carbohydrate Diet is grain free just like the Paleo Diet . After a few weeks on it I discovered I had to eliminate the beans (Legumes) and dairy along with nite shades,carrageenan and Soyalong with a few things like tapioca, a root vegetable , that I never would have expected. Wasn’t much of a jump in what I ate, if at all , when a a year later I discovered this group and all the information on the Paleo diet. The Paleo diet is full of all kinds of intriguing foods and good things to eat .
For new members looking for ideas-
http://www.thefooddoc.com/
http://www.thepaleodiet.com/
More later
Love
Matthew
Thanks Matthew. As you said, the SCD does eliminate all grains. Carrageen and soy and tapioca are also illegal on the SCD. (I'm sure on the Carrageen and soy, but not sure on the tapioca). Most complex carbs, and all mucilenogens (sp?) are illegal. You're right, it's not too much of a jump to go paleo from what I'm doing. The SCD does allow some dairy, but I know I can't have that for sure now. The paleo site I have looked at said low salt too, and I lurve my salt 
. I have some adrenal fatigue issues and the salt seems to help. I have had some mild sodium wasting from it in the past I believe. But I've seen them using salt on the couple of paleo blogs I've looked at. (As well as some green beans). I think the legumes would be the hardest part of going paleo for me, but more than likely I'll have to make that step and do it anyway. I'm not really doing them much now anyway as they are an advanced food on the SCD.
It's all a part of the process in changing how I view food. Food is soooooooooooooooooo social and has been a comfort thing for me for so long. It is my goal that when I come out on the other side of all this, I will have a whole new outlook on food. I will love the food I make much more than anything I could buy made or that anyone else could make for me. I will love cooking and enjoy my time in the kitchen. I will love growing lots of my own fruit and veggies and the harvest, preparation, and eating will all become a mindfulness exercise for me. That's my hope anyway. I just need to get away from this mindset of deprivation, and come around to one of restoration. I've been surfing around a little on a couple of paleo recipe blogs and it does look good I must say.
I'm thrilled to have all your input on this. It's nice to be able to discuss this with people who have been there and done that.
. I have some adrenal fatigue issues and the salt seems to help. I have had some mild sodium wasting from it in the past I believe. But I've seen them using salt on the couple of paleo blogs I've looked at. (As well as some green beans). I think the legumes would be the hardest part of going paleo for me, but more than likely I'll have to make that step and do it anyway. I'm not really doing them much now anyway as they are an advanced food on the SCD. It's all a part of the process in changing how I view food. Food is soooooooooooooooooo social and has been a comfort thing for me for so long. It is my goal that when I come out on the other side of all this, I will have a whole new outlook on food. I will love the food I make much more than anything I could buy made or that anyone else could make for me. I will love cooking and enjoy my time in the kitchen. I will love growing lots of my own fruit and veggies and the harvest, preparation, and eating will all become a mindfulness exercise for me. That's my hope anyway. I just need to get away from this mindset of deprivation, and come around to one of restoration. I've been surfing around a little on a couple of paleo recipe blogs and it does look good I must say.
I'm thrilled to have all your input on this. It's nice to be able to discuss this with people who have been there and done that.
Hi Matthew,
Tapioca?? This is the first I've heard of a tapioca intolerance.
Could you list your intolerances under your Avitar so that we can see what food categories you're avoiding?
I refer to the food intolerance link quite a bit: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=255, but I didn't see tapioca listed. I use tapioca flour in baking and sometimes as a thickener. I had no idea it was an intolerance for anyone. I don't think I'm ever going to figure out all my intolerances. Thank goodness for Entocort.
Gloria
Tapioca?? This is the first I've heard of a tapioca intolerance.
Could you list your intolerances under your Avitar so that we can see what food categories you're avoiding?
I refer to the food intolerance link quite a bit: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=255, but I didn't see tapioca listed. I use tapioca flour in baking and sometimes as a thickener. I had no idea it was an intolerance for anyone. I don't think I'm ever going to figure out all my intolerances. Thank goodness for Entocort.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Matthew, our first caveMAN here!
So good to see your post. You have SO much to offer, not just specific tips on shopping and cooking but tons of enthusiasm.
Shonda - you stated the following:
It's all a part of the process in changing how I view food. Food is soooooooooooooooooo social and has been a comfort thing for me for so long. It is my goal that when I come out on the other side of all this, I will have a whole new outlook on food. I will love the food I make much more than anything I could buy made or that anyone else could make for me. I will love cooking and enjoy my time in the kitchen. I will love growing lots of my own fruit and veggies and the harvest, preparation, and eating will all become a mindfulness exercise for me. That's my hope anyway. I just need to get away from this mindset of deprivation, and come around to one of restoration. I've been surfing around a little on a couple of paleo recipe blogs and it does look good I must say.
Keep your eye out for Matthew's posts. He is incredibly positive about the food lifestyle changes he has had to make. He will make you want to be a cavewoman......yesterday! Seriously, he seems thrilled that he had to adopt the caveman diet.
Love,
Polly
So good to see your post. You have SO much to offer, not just specific tips on shopping and cooking but tons of enthusiasm.
Shonda - you stated the following:
It's all a part of the process in changing how I view food. Food is soooooooooooooooooo social and has been a comfort thing for me for so long. It is my goal that when I come out on the other side of all this, I will have a whole new outlook on food. I will love the food I make much more than anything I could buy made or that anyone else could make for me. I will love cooking and enjoy my time in the kitchen. I will love growing lots of my own fruit and veggies and the harvest, preparation, and eating will all become a mindfulness exercise for me. That's my hope anyway. I just need to get away from this mindset of deprivation, and come around to one of restoration. I've been surfing around a little on a couple of paleo recipe blogs and it does look good I must say.
Keep your eye out for Matthew's posts. He is incredibly positive about the food lifestyle changes he has had to make. He will make you want to be a cavewoman......yesterday! Seriously, he seems thrilled that he had to adopt the caveman diet.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Gloria
After receiving Dr. Fines test results I immediately removed all gluten from my diet. Soon found that i was still having problems. Found the SCD diet that gave great relief when i eliminated the dairy . And OHHHHH what joy to not ever have to eat those horrible door stops called gluten free bread that I got at my local health food store. What a difference it made.
One morning on the way to the groceries I gave up and just went down the produce isle , bought some fish some pork some natural chicken some eggs and a few spices. Makes me laugh now . Was just finding my cave.
As others have found a whole new joy of food, a joy of being in the kitchen, a joy in my little garden a joy in finding one little thing that made it all easier.
Some time later I discovered Chebe bread -
http://www.chebe.com/
100% tapioca. The picture on the package looked so good. I ate other root vegetables .......so, how seductive a package can be.
Early the next morning explosive D after feeling so good for so long.
Lesson one.
A few months later I tried Chebe bread again with the same results. Just made me realize that i may have put off my recovery by trying to eat all those touted GF bread like products that have little nutritional content while I could be eating all kind of fruits, berries, Nuts, vegetables,Fish, Squash,Meats that are part of the Paleo diet .
We all find our own way with many forks in the road. I just happened upon making the right turnings to find something that works for me and only hope to help someone else find a new path. I have had a lot of great guides .
Polly -
Your enthusiasm is contagious and has been a big part in finding my way. Nothing like sitting down to a beautiful breakfast, lunch or dinner with a big grin on my face thinking of all the people here that have made it even a possibility.
Love ,
Matthew
After receiving Dr. Fines test results I immediately removed all gluten from my diet. Soon found that i was still having problems. Found the SCD diet that gave great relief when i eliminated the dairy . And OHHHHH what joy to not ever have to eat those horrible door stops called gluten free bread that I got at my local health food store. What a difference it made.
One morning on the way to the groceries I gave up and just went down the produce isle , bought some fish some pork some natural chicken some eggs and a few spices. Makes me laugh now . Was just finding my cave.
As others have found a whole new joy of food, a joy of being in the kitchen, a joy in my little garden a joy in finding one little thing that made it all easier.
Some time later I discovered Chebe bread -
http://www.chebe.com/
100% tapioca. The picture on the package looked so good. I ate other root vegetables .......so, how seductive a package can be.
Early the next morning explosive D after feeling so good for so long.
Lesson one.
A few months later I tried Chebe bread again with the same results. Just made me realize that i may have put off my recovery by trying to eat all those touted GF bread like products that have little nutritional content while I could be eating all kind of fruits, berries, Nuts, vegetables,Fish, Squash,Meats that are part of the Paleo diet .
We all find our own way with many forks in the road. I just happened upon making the right turnings to find something that works for me and only hope to help someone else find a new path. I have had a lot of great guides .
Polly -
Your enthusiasm is contagious and has been a big part in finding my way. Nothing like sitting down to a beautiful breakfast, lunch or dinner with a big grin on my face thinking of all the people here that have made it even a possibility.
Love ,
Matthew
Hi Polly,
I haven't read any really scientific journal articles on the "what the meat you eat ate" front. I've seen that suggested, though, in Michael Pollan's /The Omnivore's Dilemma/ (don't have the book or I would look up his citation), and in /The Gluten Connection/ by Shari Lieberman. Here are a couple of citations from that book:
J.O'Keefe and L. Cordain, "Cardiovascular Disease Resulting from a Diet and Lifestyle at Odds with our Paleolithic Genome: How to Become a 21st-Century Hunter-Gatherer," /Mayo Clinic Proceedings/ (2004): 79: 101-8.
Jimaima Lako, "Dietary Trends and Diabetes: Its Association among Indigenous Fijians 1952 to 1994," /Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition/ 10 (September 2001): 183.
It makes sense to me that eating sick animals would make us sick.
Love,
Courtney
I haven't read any really scientific journal articles on the "what the meat you eat ate" front. I've seen that suggested, though, in Michael Pollan's /The Omnivore's Dilemma/ (don't have the book or I would look up his citation), and in /The Gluten Connection/ by Shari Lieberman. Here are a couple of citations from that book:
J.O'Keefe and L. Cordain, "Cardiovascular Disease Resulting from a Diet and Lifestyle at Odds with our Paleolithic Genome: How to Become a 21st-Century Hunter-Gatherer," /Mayo Clinic Proceedings/ (2004): 79: 101-8.
Jimaima Lako, "Dietary Trends and Diabetes: Its Association among Indigenous Fijians 1952 to 1994," /Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition/ 10 (September 2001): 183.
It makes sense to me that eating sick animals would make us sick.
Love,
Courtney
Hypothyroid 05/05
LC/CC 07/08
Celiac 07/08
LC/CC 07/08
Celiac 07/08