Oh golly, I am so sick today. I made a dreadful mistake. I thought I would reintroduce nuts to my diet as they provide a lot of goodness, so I bought a packet of roasted no salt organic cashews. Had a very few on Tuesday evening, seemed ok. Had a few more yesterday lunchtime. Not a lot, about a dessertspoonful each time.
Not good. Had awful colon pain evening/overnight and now got the dreaded D back with a vengeance. It feels like 'old times': constant explosive D, pain, red hot feeling in my lower insides, churning, loud noises, and nausea. Since the flare started overnight I've gone from firmish stools initially to loose to 'the pile' to watery D. I've improved to a bout of D every 40-50 minutes (from sitting on the toilet and going every few minutes) and overall, things are not as bad as earlier in the morning. The nausea isn't as bad, and the sharp pain has gone away mostly, just the nagging pain left. I feel like a truck ran me over.
Is it the cashews themselves? or the amount? Tex, I know you have said before that you eat them but in moderation. Is it the fibre in them that does you in?
Is it likely all nuts will do me in?
Need help with nuts - very sick today
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Oh so sorry to hear you doing so bad at the moment. I can't say anything in general about nuts, but I can share my personal experiences. I can't eat nuts at the moment. They will not give me a flair up, because of the meds. But they do give my stomach - belly - gut pain and cramping. Even when I eat only a dessert spoon of them (like you). So I keep avoiding them, although I would love to introduce in my diet again. That would make it a lot easier, because a. they are paleo food b they are delicious and c. could make my males more tastier. Especially cashew nuts. My idea is, it is the fiber in the nuts that cause the problems.
Maybe this is a useful tip to try out, in the book of Elaine Gottschall (breaking the vicious circle about the MC diet) she advices only to eat peeled nuts and start with almonds (peeled white almonds).
Hope flare up will cool down soon
harma
Maybe this is a useful tip to try out, in the book of Elaine Gottschall (breaking the vicious circle about the MC diet) she advices only to eat peeled nuts and start with almonds (peeled white almonds).
Hope flare up will cool down soon
harma
Dear Teagirl,
So sorry you have had a reaction to cashew nuts. I have been back on tree nuts for a few months. I excluded peanuts (as we know they are legumes ("peas") rather than nuts) and cashew nuts. Reason for excluding cashew nuts was that they seem rather strange (i.e. the "nut" grows out of the end of a flower sort of pod - not typical of most nuts). I have not done any study on this, I have just been intuitively suspicious of cashew. It seems people react individually to nuts differently. I hope you will find some nuts that suit you. For me walnut and hazel nuts seem to work OK.
All best, Ant
So sorry you have had a reaction to cashew nuts. I have been back on tree nuts for a few months. I excluded peanuts (as we know they are legumes ("peas") rather than nuts) and cashew nuts. Reason for excluding cashew nuts was that they seem rather strange (i.e. the "nut" grows out of the end of a flower sort of pod - not typical of most nuts). I have not done any study on this, I have just been intuitively suspicious of cashew. It seems people react individually to nuts differently. I hope you will find some nuts that suit you. For me walnut and hazel nuts seem to work OK.
All best, Ant
Maxine,
Sorry to hear that the cashews affected you so severely. In all honestly, I don't know what to think of cashews. When I first added them back into my diet, they seemed fine. When I started eating them every day, though, they gave me D. If I eat just a few of them, I don't notice any symptoms, but if I eat a significant amount, (such as a good handful), they make me feel cruddy and give me D. Peanuts are even more of a problem, and almonds seem to be somewhere in between.
I'd like to keep them in my diet, because nuts, (and especially cashews, almonds, and peanuts), are very high in magnesium content. In my case, maybe I'm just responding to an overdose of magnesium, if I eat too many of them, but you are obviously having a full-featured MC reaction to them. Of course, since I have no colon, technically, I can't have an "official" MC reaction, anyway, because by definition, a reaction in the small intestine cannot be considered to be linked with MC, (at least not according to most GI docs).
I really believe that I have had a long-standing magnesium deficiency problem, and it was a significant contributor to many, or possibly all of my health problems over the years. For all I know, years of magnesium deficiency may have been the issue that initially triggered my gluten-sensitvity, MC, etc.
Consider that some of the possible symptoms and pathologies that can be a result of magnesium deficiency include hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Vitamin K deficiency, depressed immunity, depression, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, increased levels of stress, insomnia, migraine, cancer, ADHD, asthma, and allergies. I have, or have had in years past, about two-thirds of those symptoms. It has also been suggested that magnesium deficiency can cause lower tooth density. I've had that problem, too.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 68% of the US population do not meet the US RDA for levels of magnesium, and 19% consume less than 50% of the RDA.
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/24/3/166
If you look at the chart, toward the bottom of the page on the site below, you will see that cashews contain less than a fourth of the fiber of almonds, so theoretically at least, they shouldn't pose a significant fiber problem. At about 4.2 grams of fiber per cup, they have about half the fiber of most cereals, and, for example, about half the fiber of broccoli. Nuts are high in fats, though, (the good kind, unsaturated fats), so maybe the fat content could be causing a problem for you.
http://www.ynhh.org/online/nutrition/advisor/nuts.html
At any rate, the problem seems to definitely be dose-dependent for me, but it doesn't seem to take a very large dose to trigger a reaction, in your case. If it's the fiber, the only other nuts that do not contain more fiber than cashews, is hazelnuts, and walnuts don't contain much more fiber than cashews, so as Ant mentioned, those two might be worth a try. Almonds contain the highest level of fiber of just about any nuts or seeds.
I'm not sure why, but salted nuts seem to be the biggest problem for me. Last night I tried some Honey Roasted Whole Cashews, (sold by Walgreens), and even though I ate a significant amount of them, (a big handful), I noticed no symptoms whatsoever.
Tex
Sorry to hear that the cashews affected you so severely. In all honestly, I don't know what to think of cashews. When I first added them back into my diet, they seemed fine. When I started eating them every day, though, they gave me D. If I eat just a few of them, I don't notice any symptoms, but if I eat a significant amount, (such as a good handful), they make me feel cruddy and give me D. Peanuts are even more of a problem, and almonds seem to be somewhere in between.
I'd like to keep them in my diet, because nuts, (and especially cashews, almonds, and peanuts), are very high in magnesium content. In my case, maybe I'm just responding to an overdose of magnesium, if I eat too many of them, but you are obviously having a full-featured MC reaction to them. Of course, since I have no colon, technically, I can't have an "official" MC reaction, anyway, because by definition, a reaction in the small intestine cannot be considered to be linked with MC, (at least not according to most GI docs).
I really believe that I have had a long-standing magnesium deficiency problem, and it was a significant contributor to many, or possibly all of my health problems over the years. For all I know, years of magnesium deficiency may have been the issue that initially triggered my gluten-sensitvity, MC, etc.
Consider that some of the possible symptoms and pathologies that can be a result of magnesium deficiency include hypertension, cardiovascular disease, Vitamin K deficiency, depressed immunity, depression, diabetes, erectile dysfunction, increased levels of stress, insomnia, migraine, cancer, ADHD, asthma, and allergies. I have, or have had in years past, about two-thirds of those symptoms. It has also been suggested that magnesium deficiency can cause lower tooth density. I've had that problem, too.
According to a study published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition, 68% of the US population do not meet the US RDA for levels of magnesium, and 19% consume less than 50% of the RDA.
http://www.jacn.org/cgi/content/full/24/3/166
If you look at the chart, toward the bottom of the page on the site below, you will see that cashews contain less than a fourth of the fiber of almonds, so theoretically at least, they shouldn't pose a significant fiber problem. At about 4.2 grams of fiber per cup, they have about half the fiber of most cereals, and, for example, about half the fiber of broccoli. Nuts are high in fats, though, (the good kind, unsaturated fats), so maybe the fat content could be causing a problem for you.
http://www.ynhh.org/online/nutrition/advisor/nuts.html
At any rate, the problem seems to definitely be dose-dependent for me, but it doesn't seem to take a very large dose to trigger a reaction, in your case. If it's the fiber, the only other nuts that do not contain more fiber than cashews, is hazelnuts, and walnuts don't contain much more fiber than cashews, so as Ant mentioned, those two might be worth a try. Almonds contain the highest level of fiber of just about any nuts or seeds.
I'm not sure why, but salted nuts seem to be the biggest problem for me. Last night I tried some Honey Roasted Whole Cashews, (sold by Walgreens), and even though I ate a significant amount of them, (a big handful), I noticed no symptoms whatsoever.
Tex
It is suspected that some of the hardest material known to science can be found in the skulls of GI specialists who insist that diet has nothing to do with the treatment of microscopic colitis.
Roasted nuts are often prepared with peanut oil. Like Ant said, peanuts are in the legume family and that may be a problem. We always buy raw, unsalted nuts. Also, consider that heating (roasting process) changes the nature of the monounsaturated fats and even the fat is not as healthy when roasted. Another thought is if you buy nuts out of bins - potential contamination from dipping the scoop into bins with other foods you are sensitive to.
Mary Beth
Mary Beth
Sorry you are dealing with this, Maxine, it seems to be a pretty dramatic response if all it is is a few spoonsful of nuts, but I got cramps from 1 goldfish cracker, so...
I don't have a problem with any nuts apparently, although after watching the MS vid. I am now avoiding all things peanut. Supposedly there is a vaccine that is close to being released for those w/peanut allergies, wonder if that would help for us gluten people.
Hope you feel better soon.
C
I don't have a problem with any nuts apparently, although after watching the MS vid. I am now avoiding all things peanut. Supposedly there is a vaccine that is close to being released for those w/peanut allergies, wonder if that would help for us gluten people.
Hope you feel better soon.
C
Resolved MC symptoms successfully w/L-Glutamine, Probiotics and Vitamins, GF since 8/'09. DX w/MC 10/'09.
Thanks, all, for the kind words. I'm flabbergasted at the response to the nuts. I've had flares and been sick but this is quite the worst for over 6 months. From the posts I have learned a lot about peanuts. I'd no idea they're not a true nut.
Maybe when I feel better and quite a few weeks have passed, I may try some walnuts. I've always liked their smoky, earthy taste, and I do want the nutritional value of nuts in my diet. It was my love of cashews that made me buy them rather than other nuts. Maybe as Harma suggests, plain peeled almonds might be ok but maybe not if it's the fibre that has done me in - Tex's comments says almonds have much more fibre.
Maybe there's something to the fat you mention, dear wise one Tex. But how would I know? I don't mind experimenting a little on myself, but the reaction to the cashews was so awful that I won't willingly put myself through that again.
That's the trouble with this condition, we're groping in the dark. We eat something, things go haywire, and working out what it was is hard. And even if we know the culprit, working out why can also be a challenge.
Things have calmed down for me somewhat but I am very tired and everything aches. I haven't had any D for a few hours - I did take an Imodium, but I'm probably also empty!
I didn't have breakfast, but did try a little boiled white fish and plain mashed potato for lunch. Not interested at all in any supper.
Maybe when I feel better and quite a few weeks have passed, I may try some walnuts. I've always liked their smoky, earthy taste, and I do want the nutritional value of nuts in my diet. It was my love of cashews that made me buy them rather than other nuts. Maybe as Harma suggests, plain peeled almonds might be ok but maybe not if it's the fibre that has done me in - Tex's comments says almonds have much more fibre.
Maybe there's something to the fat you mention, dear wise one Tex. But how would I know? I don't mind experimenting a little on myself, but the reaction to the cashews was so awful that I won't willingly put myself through that again.
That's the trouble with this condition, we're groping in the dark. We eat something, things go haywire, and working out what it was is hard. And even if we know the culprit, working out why can also be a challenge.
Things have calmed down for me somewhat but I am very tired and everything aches. I haven't had any D for a few hours - I did take an Imodium, but I'm probably also empty!
I didn't have breakfast, but did try a little boiled white fish and plain mashed potato for lunch. Not interested at all in any supper.
Maxine
-
MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Morning Maxine,
I usually try to avoid nuts since I have a bad reaction to most of them. Cashews seems to be the worse and never thought of them as a result of a flower pod.
Hope you are feeling better and thanks for the insight.
Maggie
I usually try to avoid nuts since I have a bad reaction to most of them. Cashews seems to be the worse and never thought of them as a result of a flower pod.
Hope you are feeling better and thanks for the insight.
Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
It's reassuring to read that others have reacted to cashews also.
As Mary Beth mentioned, most canned roasted nuts have been cooked in peanut oil, so I avoid them. It is possible to roast them yourself in the oven, but they burn quickly and must be watched. You can also spray them with a small amount of oil and sprinkle with popcorn salt, if desired.
Gloria
As Mary Beth mentioned, most canned roasted nuts have been cooked in peanut oil, so I avoid them. It is possible to roast them yourself in the oven, but they burn quickly and must be watched. You can also spray them with a small amount of oil and sprinkle with popcorn salt, if desired.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.