Hi, I've been gluten free for about 1.5 years, since my diagnosis with MC. I am now going DF/SF/EF, as my GI condition recently worsened and I am also having joint stiffness. Without starting from scratch and doing a complete elimination diet, how do I find out if I have other intolerances, such as any nuts, seeds, nightshades? I eat a fair amount of those, but do I need to eliminate for a while to test, and if so, how long is recommended? I have cut out peanuts for now, as I ate a lot of PB, but still eat walnuts and almonds every day. Or, do I wait and see if I have improvement first, and if not, then take those out?
Thank you.
Lisa
Have been GF, just went DF/SF/EF, need advice
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Hi Lisa,
EnteroLab offers a combination of tests, known as Panel C1, that tests for antibodies to: Corn, Oats, Rice, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Tuna, Almond, Walnut, Cashew, and White Potato.
They also offer what they call a vegetarian combination of tests, known as Panel C2, that tests for antibodies to: Milk, Egg, Soy, Corn, Rice, Sesame Seeds, Garbonzo Beans, Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, and White Potatoes.
These are stool tests, so they are much more accurate than any blood tests for detecting food sensitivities. Panel C2 might be better suited to your needs, but if you decide to use one of these tests, select whichever one you feel is the best fit for your needs.
If you want to try testing foods on your own (trial and error), here's how I would go about it, if I were in that situation:
The antibodies to most foods (except for gluten) have a half-life of approximately 6 days. (Gluten antibodies have a half-life of 120 days, so this won't work for gluten, obviously). Anyway, the way to maximize your chances of pinpointing food sensitivities is to avoid a food for approximately 5 or 6 days (in order to allow the antibody level to decline to about half it's original level), and then eat the food again.
Obviously, an elimination diet (ending in remission) would allow more definitive results when you add a test food back into your diet, but unless you are already in a major flare, you should be able to notice a reaction to the food when you add it back into your diet, because your immune system response should be stronger than normal (after you avoid a food for 5 or 6 days, and then reintroduce it).
The problem with trial and error testing is that it's very difficult to tell if we are reacting to a food, when we are already reacting to one or more other foods. That's why the EnteroLab tests can save a lot of time and worry.
https://www.enterolab.com/StaticPages/TestInfo.aspx
Whatever you decide to do, please keep us informed of your test results and progress.
You're very welcome.
Tex
EnteroLab offers a combination of tests, known as Panel C1, that tests for antibodies to: Corn, Oats, Rice, Beef, Chicken, Pork, Tuna, Almond, Walnut, Cashew, and White Potato.
They also offer what they call a vegetarian combination of tests, known as Panel C2, that tests for antibodies to: Milk, Egg, Soy, Corn, Rice, Sesame Seeds, Garbonzo Beans, Almonds, Cashews, Walnuts, and White Potatoes.
These are stool tests, so they are much more accurate than any blood tests for detecting food sensitivities. Panel C2 might be better suited to your needs, but if you decide to use one of these tests, select whichever one you feel is the best fit for your needs.
If you want to try testing foods on your own (trial and error), here's how I would go about it, if I were in that situation:
The antibodies to most foods (except for gluten) have a half-life of approximately 6 days. (Gluten antibodies have a half-life of 120 days, so this won't work for gluten, obviously). Anyway, the way to maximize your chances of pinpointing food sensitivities is to avoid a food for approximately 5 or 6 days (in order to allow the antibody level to decline to about half it's original level), and then eat the food again.
Obviously, an elimination diet (ending in remission) would allow more definitive results when you add a test food back into your diet, but unless you are already in a major flare, you should be able to notice a reaction to the food when you add it back into your diet, because your immune system response should be stronger than normal (after you avoid a food for 5 or 6 days, and then reintroduce it).
The problem with trial and error testing is that it's very difficult to tell if we are reacting to a food, when we are already reacting to one or more other foods. That's why the EnteroLab tests can save a lot of time and worry.
https://www.enterolab.com/StaticPages/TestInfo.aspx
Whatever you decide to do, please keep us informed of your test results and progress.
You're very welcome.
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.
Hi Tex,
I did have Enterolab testing, but not C panel. Should have done that, too, in retrospect. Showed sensitivity to gluten, eggs and soy. So I'm wondering without other results do I just try that, or eliminate more in case I have other sensitivities, and add back individually to test later? I hate to eliminate more, esp since I don't want to lose weight, so prefer not to get rid of nuts and potatoes.
Lisa
I did have Enterolab testing, but not C panel. Should have done that, too, in retrospect. Showed sensitivity to gluten, eggs and soy. So I'm wondering without other results do I just try that, or eliminate more in case I have other sensitivities, and add back individually to test later? I hate to eliminate more, esp since I don't want to lose weight, so prefer not to get rid of nuts and potatoes.
Lisa
It's possible that at this point, just eliminating everything that the tests showed to be a problem, might bring remission. That's worth a try. If it doesn't work, or if the remission only lasts for a few weeks or so, that's a sign that you have other significant food sensitivities, and in that case you would need to consider either ordering the other test, or trying to track down the problem foods by trial and error testing.
Tex
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.