Hi
I too am trying to figure out how to incorporated a Paleo diet for MC and Celiac. I'm reading the Paleo Diet right now. Before the diagnoses in Dec I was sort of doing Paleo - the only grain was quinoa and not exactly the same proportions. I loved green apples (raw with almond butter which I bought in bulk from the health food store. I believe that almost all nut butters use roasted nuts. Are people making there own nut butters from raw nuts or roasted? I used to get raw sprouted almonds that I loved. The health food market doesn't carry them anymore. Has anyone sprouted them? I know they are easier to digest and they tasted crunchie and look the same as raw almonds. So what about all the raw fruit and vegetables on the Paleo diet. If your BM's are normal (on Entercort) when do you start venturing out. Are raw fruit and vegetables out for and extended period? Just wondering and basically scared to rock the applecart.!!!!
Lassie, I adore the raw almond butter from Once Again. I just threw out a whole almost-new jar, because I'd eaten from it before I knew gluten was the enemy, and I was afraid I'd contaminated the jar. YUM (that's what the dog said, too).
I've never sprouted almonds, but I love to soak them. They get sweeter after 24-48 hours, depending how fresh, and the radicle (little proto-root) seems to swell, but I believe that (almost?) all almonds are now treated in such a way that they're unlikely to be viable and germinate/sprout.
As far as raw veg goes - I am not on Entocort, but am doing well with mostly cooked, and just added a little raw. I am starting with very small amounts, like a taste here and there, and have been fine. I'm going to take it slow.
I'm also heading for Paleo, and also not looking to rock the boat! At this time of year, we're starting to get very tender young greens in the local markets, and that seems like a safer choice than mature romaine lettuce at the moment (speculating). I've had them lightly cooked (thrown into soup at the last minute) and (a teeny bit) raw. I haven't tried raw fruit other than bananas, other than a slice of grapefruit. So far, so good.
I took note of Elana, even before this MC episode. And I love almonds (and am really hoping they will love me back). She is a genius at the GF baking, for sure. I like that her GF options are almond-focused, as opposed to other grains. Some Paleo eaters out there seem very hard core about eating very close within what they can picture a hunter-gatherer eating, while others are eating as modern humans, but informed by paleo principles. I say you get to pick which one of those appeals to you. I'm a big fan of Once Again's raw almond butter, and will definitely be test-driving that soon.
One very lucky quirk of mine is that I'm not crazy about baked goods. It sure makes the diet restrictions easier. I have been having some almond meal from Trader Joe in my applesauce - I like the variety of taste/texture.
So - Paleo-ish (haven't actually finished the book, so can't claim I'm the real deal): it's not bad, so far! I eat a lot of homemade chicken soup, which is comforting as I heal, pleasant to sip, and it gets tastier every week as we refine our routine. I also eat chicken; turkey (soup from wings, which are also nicely meaty; breast we 'pot-roasted'); duck (my husband's fave, and a little bit is soooo satisfying); and lamb. Staying away from fish for now, and though I've had a little excellent, grass-fed beef, it's not my favorite. All that seems to be working.
For fruits, I've been relying on applesauce and bananas. I had a few slices of grapefruit, and that was OK. I have also had dried mangos and dried cherries, but since Tex pointed out to me the possibility of mast cell involvement, I am avoiding dried fruits till I learn more about that. So - I'm looking forward to local fruits returning to the markets, and as the weather warms, our frozen-fruit smoothie routine will get back in gear.
I thought veg would be the hardest, but nothing in that department has troubled me yet, maybe because I've been so cautious. Mostly well cooked, but little amounts of lightly cooked greens, and even bites of salad. So far, so good. Sweet potatoes make a great breakfast food! Also counting on cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and carrots a lot, and have had some squash. I had some white potatoes, too, which aren't tops on my list but they give a nice oomph to soup.
I am eating smaller meals, and that helps. And trying to eat dinner early (very much not how we do things around here!). When I eat later than I wish, I keep the veg down and emphasize the meat portion. That's yet another "pro tip" from Tex, and it does seem to settle better.
Well, that's more than you need to know, since I'm not cooking you dinner - which I'd be happy to do ;) I feel very satisfied working with this limited 'palette' and I can see ways to expand my food list gradually and in a way that feels safe and sensible.
I've been doing well with the Paleo diet, but I have other issues to watch as well. I too have to watch foods that trigger mast cells and histamine release. I've been trying to watch FODMAP (fermentable fruits and vegs). I've been relying a lot on protein as I only have about 2 vegs I've been eating. All vegs I eat are very well cooked. I've been making stew in the crockpot with beef, onion (cut in large pieces then removed afterwards), bok choy, and carrots with 16 oz of Pacific Foods Vegetable stock added. It's become my safe food. I've only tested 2 fruits as well. Right now I'm testing my vitamins.
While my D is better, my weight is dropping like a rock. I can't seem to get it to stop. I'm wondering whether it's time to add rice or potatoes back. I will be trying sweet potatoes for sure. I'm hungry a LOT.
I'm still having trouble finding something for breakfast as I haven't tested eggs again. My night-time brain says sweet potatoes sound good for the morning, but my morning-brain says I'm definitely not eating that at this time of the day. I'm stuck.
Testing is a slow process, but I'm trying to plug away. Let us know how you do.
Sara, FWIW soaking the almonds is sprouting them. If you can tolerate kefir, you can put a couple of tablespoons of it in the soak and it will take care of the phytates more effectively than just water. I have a friend who puts the almonds in a slow oven for a couple of hours after sprouting them and just loves them that way.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
I'm glad to know that, Marliss - thanks! It seemed to me that must be the case, because of the amazing change in flavor (sweeter, so I'm imagining that the seed's storage starches are being mobilized for the exciting work of turning into a plant). Someone told me with great authority that all almonds are treated now in a way that prevents germination. I wish I could remember who said that, and what exactly the method was...
I have some soaking now, and hope to be up for a taste test in 24 hours or so.
Interesting about the kefir - I'm putting that thought on the back burner, but glad to have it to ponder.
I really appreciate this thread! I have had questions, too, as I begin to institute Paleo in my life to work on figuring out a continuous and unremitting flare that is manifesting itself as colored-water D and very sore feet and ankles. I am not struggling with fatigue, but I suspect that is a Hashimoto's issue as my weight has been rock-steady and today I suddenly dropped two lbs.
Marliss Bombardier
Dum spiro, spero -- While I breathe, I hope
Psoriasis - the dark ages
Hashimoto's Thyroiditis - Dec 2001
Collagenous Colitis - Sept 2010
Granuloma Annulare - June 2011
Here's my 2 cents worth - simply avoid the paleo foods that you know you can't tolerate. If you absolutely can't come up with enough paleo foods to survive on, then modify the diet with a few "safe" neolithic foods, if necessary.
Since I am so hungry so often and my weight is dropping so fast, I think I'll be adding some potato back into my diet. I've been eating some rice cakes and will be picking up the rice crackers that Mary Beth mentioned to use with the almond butter.
I tried gluten free Matzoh today. The texture is definitely different, but not bad. I'll be trying it again tomorrow just to make sure. It does contain tapioca so I'm being cautious. But, it doesn't have soy, so that's good.
Gluten-free matzoh! I didn't even think to look for it. Thanks so much. Did you find it in a local store, or online?
My neighbor found thin, square rice cakes at Sahadi, not far from me. They were tasty, and easier to eat than the big round chunky ones. And just having square instead of round was a nice little variety in the diet ;)
I've been having small amounts of potato in my chicken broth, and sweet potato every few days. My weight loss has slowed - not sure whether that's why. I hope it works for you, too.
My neighborhood has a large Jewish population, so my grocery store has a large kosher for Passover section. I got them in my local grocery store for much less than they want online for them. I'd think in NY it would be easy to visit a neighborhood with a higher Jewish population and find the g/f Matzoh pretty easily. Just tred lightly, the kind I found did have tapioca. And, Passover may be the only time to find g/f Matzoh w/o soy. I actually have no idea about that, but that's my guess.
For sure there won't be soy in Passover matzah - I wonder whether it's easier for them to eliminate it always than to have more than one GF recipe...
My brain fog must be worse than I thought. I live in *Brooklyn* - if I can't find GF matzah here, I must be the worst hunter gatherer walking the earth! (Where in NJ are you?)
I'm in East Brunswick, and also have Highland Park near by. Both very large Jewish populations. It's MC heaven, chocolate, matzoh, crackers, cake...all g/f and s/f. It's pretty easy pickin's here. I'm not touching the cake though, mostly interested in the matzoh, chocolate, and crackers.
As far as I know, the recipes change for Passover. I don't think they're made this way all year long. I may order a case of kosher for Passover g/f matzoh.
I'm going to hit the Brooklyn stores early next week - thanks so much for reminding me about this. You and I are very lucky in our locations for this sort of shopping!
I'm sure they use the soy lecithin in the chocolate products at other times of year, sadly... but I can't see why it helps make matzah... not that I've tried making matzah from oat flour! Apparently for Passover it has to be oats, but at other times of year maybe other flours can be used, and maybe those flours would benefit from some soy additive for texture.
This Passover, 'bread of affliction' is going to have a whole new meaning for me. Also, 'this year we are enslaved; next year, may we all be free people.' Wishing that for all of us (and not just GF/SF/DF/etc.F... free of symptoms, stress and worry!),
I just wanted to let you know that I have added potatoes, both sweet potatoes and white potatoes, back into my diet.
Last week I was craving french fries, big time! My husband was away on a business trip for the first time since I got sick and I was home alone with my 3 sons doing all the cooking for them. On the night I had planned a simple dinner of chicken nuggets and french fries I was afraid that I might hit a land-mine. So I looked up recipes for sweet potato fries and decided to try them.
I lined a baking pan with foil and put a small amount of olive oil on it. I tossed the cut up sweet potatoes in the oil. I sprinkled sea salt and Italian spices on them, spread them into a single layer, and baked them at 400 degrees. I turned them every 10 minutes for a total of 30 minutes.
They had the crunch I craved and were simply delicious. I seem to have tolerated them. I have a new treat! And, they were very filling.
YUM (that's what the dog said, too).
