An added "dimension" for folks who have had MRT

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:20 pm

Thought for the day...........

Sometimes more knowledge can be frustrating! I have spent years looking for recipes and products that were GF, DF, SF, EF, YF. Now I find that I am having to add another dimension based upon knowing my MRT results.

For example, I often used Imagine chicken broth, as it met all of the above criteria. However, it is made with celery and carrot, which I found that I reacted to on MRT. So now I have switched to Pacific chicken broth, which has no veggies but does have turmeric. So I had to test turmeric before buying the Pacific brand. It's like starting over in some ways with regard to the detective work required.

And mayo! I had avoided it because I thought I had a problem with eggs. But now that I found out I can safely eat eggs, I have learned from MRT that I react to mustard, which almost every commercial mayo contains, even the GF, DF, SF ones. I will have to learn to make my own and be creative, I suppose.

Mary Beth told me about Ciao Bella blood orange sorbet, which she thinks I may be able to tolerate. It appears so after reading the label, but one ingredient is "natural coloring". So I called the company today to learn the derivation of it. It is made from beets, which I suspect may be a problem for me even though they were green on MRT. So tomorrow I will test beets first. If I do OK, I may actually have my first yummy dessert to add to my repertoire.

I guess this is what fine-tuning one's diet is all about! I must say I still feel terrific - gut is calm as can be (with the exception of the day after the parsnips/turnips - LOL)

Polly xoxo

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:36 pm

Polly,

You might just try the sorbet. The amount of beets in a few tablespoons will be quite small and you may not react. I don't tolerate beets well but beet coloring is fine.

MB

Joefnh · Post by **Joefnh** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 6:37 pm

Polly MRT & LEAP sounds a bit like a graduate course for MC at least as far as food management.

--Joe

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:00 pm

MB,

Thanks for the info and permission to go ahead and eat the sorbet. I am heading to the fridge now.

Hugs,

Polly

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 7:22 pm

Good luck with the sorbet Polly - let us know how it goes.

Boy do I relate - between enterolab, MRT and candida, there seems always to be that ONE ingredient that's a spoiler:(. My sweet continues to be fig - I also got the fig jam, which is wonderful (thanks Mary Beth).

I've become very fond of strawberries, and have finally added a bit of sugar (maple) to them - my first sugar in months!!!!! Life is grand :). Isn't it nuts how a tiny little thing like that can make for extreme happiness???

Love,
Kari

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:44 am

Being fructose intolerant and sensitive to cane sugar (red) I cannot have anything sweet. I also react to all, ALL, artificial sweeteners. They even put cane sugar in the Pacific Foods chicken broth.

Hopefully, in time, I will be able to add some fruit. That is my prayer!

Good Luck, Polly, on the sorbet! Sounds Yummy!

Pat

Post by **tex** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 12:57 pm

Pat,

If it's any consolation, I couldn't handle sugars either, when I was recovering. The only sugar that I could tolerate in more than trace amounts was maple sugar, (strangely enough), and I didn't go hog-wild on that one either, of course. LOL.

The good news is that after I gave my gut a couple of years to heal, I was able to handle just about any type of sugar, except sorbitol - sotbitol still gives me D.

Tex

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 1:41 pm

Tex,

Well, I'm saying my prayers and keeping my fingers and toes crossed! Thanks for the support though.

Pat

Kari · Post by **Kari** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 2:52 pm

Pat,

I'm so, so, soooo sorry that you're having such a difficult time. When you're doing everything right, and there is still very little reward, it sure sucks!!! I've been at this "food game" going on 8 months now, and feel that it has been an eternity. However, I keep hearing that it takes between one and two years for the gut to heal after it has been severely damaged by gluten. For me, that makes sense, as I went untreated by diet for over 10 years.

I have given up worrying about Norman, as it seems to just add stress on top of stress. As long as I feel reasonably well, and am doing all the right things regarding the diet, I try to leave it at that. Persistence and tenacity will win this race sooner or later (probably later:). I've now decided that all grains have to go for the time being, including rice. Also, as much as I loved the tiny bit of maple sugar I had, I've decided it's a bit early to add any sugars, so for now I'm letting it go.

I wonder if you can tolerate coconut? If so, I used to drink pure coconut water, which is very refreshing and has a decent amount of calories. Then there are the flakes, which I used to chew on for more calories. As soon as I can work up my courage, I will give it a try again. As you may have read elsewhere, I had a monumental reaction to coconut milk, sent me into a 3 week flare, but believe it was guar gum, rather than the coconut.

Also, can you have nut butters? I'm sure you've thought of these things already, but thought I'd bring them up FWIW. Even though I seem to tolerate fruit, I'm really not supposed to have them because of candida, but I feel I've come along nicely with my healing, so I'm putting candida on the back burner for now, and indulging in a little fruit. I'm sure that eventually you will be able to go back to them.

Don't know if any of this helps, but wanted you to know that you're in my thoughts and I'm rooting for you!!!

Love and a big :bigbighug:

,
Kari

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 4:54 pm

Polly- that sorbet sounded so good that I had a tiny bit myself today and it tasted so good. So far I have had 3 days now with no D so I hope the sorbet wasn't a mistake.

Pat- You are such a trooper. Hopefully the MRT testing and LEAP will begin to unearth some appetizing, nourishing and satisfying food for you soon.

It sounds like you have ruled out any options as far as something sweet but I haven't seen any posts as to whether you've tried stevia. I'm not suggesting you try it now while strictly following LEAP but maybe it might be an option down the road, once you have healed. I use it very occasionally and since it is so concentrated, only a few drops are needed. I was suspected to have Candida as well and was following a yeast free diet and this is the only form of "sugar" allowed.

Have you already discovered that you can't tolerate quinoa? I thought I read you mention it in another thread and wasn't sure if you reacted to it as well. Chia seed is another non-grain that I've been reading about that can be used in seed or flour form but have not tried it.

Your in my thoughts as well.

Polly · Post by **Polly** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 5:17 pm

Hi Kelly and All!

Yes, wasn't that sorbet good? I am happy to report that I did not react to it.

Kelly, I am assuming you are Irish? Did you know that Ireland is supposed to have the highest incidence of celiac disease in the world? I am 1/4 Irish (McDonald) with 3/4 ancestry from the British Isles. I find it interesting that most countries have a grain as a staple (wheat, rice, corn) but for Ireland it is the potato, a non-grain. That's super that you've had 3 days with no D......so was the sorbet OK?

Hugs,

Polly

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 7:01 pm

Pat wrote:Being fructose intolerant and sensitive to cane sugar (red) I cannot have anything sweet.

I looked at your MRT results, and I don't see beets on your list of reactive foods. Have you tried beet sugar? Most generic sugar is made from beets; that's why it's cheaper than cane sugar.

I wrote this in another thread, but I don't recall if you responded.

Gloria

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:12 pm

Thanks all for being concerned about me.

Kari,

Coconut is on the red list for me. So no I cannot tolerate it. I tried coconut water before the test and couldn't tolerate it. If you tested positive to Candida have you tried taking Diflucan or Nystatin? They are antifungal drugs.

Kelly,

I have tried Stevia and no I didn't tolerate it either. I am eating quite a bit of Quinoa. It was very low reactive on the MRT.

Gloria,

I tried beets and had a terrible reaction. I have not tried beet sugar but have not seen any in any stores either. Everything is cane sugar even the cheaper sugars. At this point what would I put it on, Quinoa?

I am ok. I am getting used to no sweet things. My mind remembers it and knows that I liked it so I think I crave it but I have smelled some sweet things DH has and it makes me nauseous. Mary Beth thinks that I need more time and that in time I will be able to add more things back in. Thanks again for your concern and suggestions!

Pat

irisheyes13 · Post by **irisheyes13** » Sun Mar 06, 2011 4:55 pm

Polly,

The sorbet was very good. What flavor did you have? I have had a set back since then don't believe the sorbet was the culprit however. I'm suspecting Tylenol, garlic or an orange (and in that order) so I'm going to stay away from all 3 for a bit.

Yes, I do have quite a bit of Irish blood (as well as Scottish with some MacDonald's in the bloodline) and went on my dream vacation to Ireland last summer. It was everything I dreamed it would be and so much more. The trip was so wonderful but I didn't feel well throughout the week. You are right that the potato is what Ireland appears to be known for as far as food but what I experienced was different and I believe that is why I felt so poorly. We stayed almost exclusively at B&B's with the exception of one glorious night in Waterford Castle:) With almost every meal Irish Brown Bread was served (and rarely potatoes-go figure). The bread was so good but I came to find out that the bread is made with wheat germ and wheat bran, not to mention Guinness was the drink of choice;). It's no wonder I was in misery. I had no idea I was poisoning myself every time I ate. I'd go back in heartbeat and probably enjoy it so much more now that I know what not to eat!

Pat- glad to hear the quinoa is working out for you. I just bought some this weekend so I'm going to give it a try soon.