Visit the Microscopic Colitis Foundation Website
A couple of weeks ago I decided to test hazelnut milk and use the resulting milk and flour in place of almond milk and flour.
I had a bag of hazelnuts from Christmas I could use. First DH and I had to crack the shell to get the nut out. We found that a hammer was the best tool. It is much easier to peel almonds after blanching them. The skins stuck to the hazelnuts and it took me about an hour and a half to peel the bag of nuts. I later read that the easiest way to remove the skin is to bake them. The nut pulls away from the nut when they're baked.
Once the nuts were skinned, making the milk was identical to almond milk. Making the flour was also the same.
I made pudding flavored with vanilla to see how it tasted. It had a definite hazelnut flavor; it wasn't mild like almond milk. After I ate the pudding, I was up at 1 a.m. and 1:30 a.m. with explosive D. It could have been the vanilla (I scored a 2.0 on the MRT test), but I used to use vanilla in my coconut pudding without a problem. I haven't tested the hazelnut pudding again, and threw out the rest of the milk. Hazelnut was my second least-reactive nut on the MRT test with a score of 0.8. I had been using hazelnut oil in my mock mayonnaise, and it was pretty flavorful.
I have been testing mango the past few days, and it looks like it's not making me worse. Mango was my least-reactive fruit on the MRT test with a score of 0.3. Most of you know that it's hard to tell if something is reactive when you're not having any "good days." It feels wonderful to finally eat fruit after abstaining for 2 1/2 years.
I guess after 5 years of a valiant effort, I've given up trying to reach remission. I don't have enough foods to allow me to eliminate any more, and the hazelnut milk was my final effort for a substitution. I'm starting to take Imodium while reducing Entocort slowly, as I mentioned in an earlier post. So far, so good.
Gloria
My Experiment Making Hazelnut Milk and Flour
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
My Experiment Making Hazelnut Milk and Flour
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
-
MBombardier
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 1523
- Joined: Thu Oct 14, 2010 10:44 am
- Location: Vancouver, WA
I wonder if the nuts were old? Don't old nuts have a histamine load?
I am sorry, Gloria. After all that time and effort. The five years, I mean. Not just with the nuts.
I am sorry, Gloria. After all that time and effort. The five years, I mean. Not just with the nuts.
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
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
Dear Gloria,
Sorry to hear about the hazelnuts but glad you are enjoying some fruit. Mango is one of my favorites and especially Mango with 'sticky rice' and coconut. Can you do rice?
I hope the reduction in entocort works out.
Best wishes, Ant
P.S. As a fellow osteoporosis sufferer who is also on enotocort I have, in addition vitiman D, started taking two calcium pills a day (800 mg) + Magnesium (300mg). Are you able to tolerate calcium and magnesium?
Sorry to hear about the hazelnuts but glad you are enjoying some fruit. Mango is one of my favorites and especially Mango with 'sticky rice' and coconut. Can you do rice?
I hope the reduction in entocort works out.
Best wishes, Ant
P.S. As a fellow osteoporosis sufferer who is also on enotocort I have, in addition vitiman D, started taking two calcium pills a day (800 mg) + Magnesium (300mg). Are you able to tolerate calcium and magnesium?
----------------------------------------
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
"Softly, softly catchee monkey".....
-
MaggieRedwings
- King Penguin
- Posts: 3865
- Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 3:16 am
- Location: SE Pennsylvania
Sorry to hear the hazlenuts did not work out for you Gloria but glad the mango did. I also seem to do much better with mango than other fruits. I hear you about not trying to reach remission - it is truly a battle and just when you think you are there it kicks you in the butt. I thought I was but have realized it is not the true.
Love, Maggie
Love, Maggie
Maggie Scarpone
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
___________________
Resident Birder - I live to bird and enjoy life!
-
Joefnh
- Rockhopper Penguin
- Posts: 2478
- Joined: Wed Apr 21, 2010 8:25 pm
- Location: Southern New Hampshire
Gloria it sounds very good, I love hazelnuts. It sounds like you have tolerate them in the past.
Marliss, that's an excellent question, as nuts are relatively high in histamines. I would imagine that older nuts and as those were purchased around Christmas time, they are probably a month or so older than that. This may be an issue of just a big hit of histamine.
Marliss, that's an excellent question, as nuts are relatively high in histamines. I would imagine that older nuts and as those were purchased around Christmas time, they are probably a month or so older than that. This may be an issue of just a big hit of histamine.
Joe
Hi fellow double DQ 1er!
Thank you for your kind expression of sympathy in my "paging Gloria" recent thread. I seem to be doing better, because I am now able to recall some fond memories and not just those from the last few weeks of my brother's life.
And thanks for providing an update. I think of you often and am always here in the background cheering you on! If I am the poster child for multiple intolerances, you must be the poster child for elusive remission. Sigh. Dubious and unwanted honor, I know.
How disappointing about the hazelnuts but encouraging about the mango. I believe that a food that we may be able to tolerate in small amounts can cause problems in larger amounts. Since we usually only eat nuts a handful at a time, maybe that's all that people like us can tolerate. When we make them into "milk" or "flour" we are exposed to so many more. I guess this may be true for grains in general. Same with juice. I'll bet there are 4-5 oranges in even a small glass of juice. I usually dilute any juice 1:10 with water. But mostly I just stick to a serving of one whole fruit. Isn't it amazing how different we all are? Mango was my one of my most reactive fruits! Also one of my favorites. But good for you! - if there is only one fruit you can tolerate, it's good news that it's a mango. They are SOOOO nutritious, not to mention juicy/yummy. Can you tell I'm a little jealous? LOL!
I like your plan to reduce Entocort while adding Imodium. As you know I am a fan of Imodium and even use it preventively if I am going to be in a difficult situation - traveling, eating out, etc. I really believe that it important to calm down the gut, to help train it to act more normally by using Imodium regularly when flaring. I don't blame you for giving up on remission. You certainly have given it your best effort.
Love,
Polly
Thank you for your kind expression of sympathy in my "paging Gloria" recent thread. I seem to be doing better, because I am now able to recall some fond memories and not just those from the last few weeks of my brother's life.
And thanks for providing an update. I think of you often and am always here in the background cheering you on! If I am the poster child for multiple intolerances, you must be the poster child for elusive remission. Sigh. Dubious and unwanted honor, I know.
How disappointing about the hazelnuts but encouraging about the mango. I believe that a food that we may be able to tolerate in small amounts can cause problems in larger amounts. Since we usually only eat nuts a handful at a time, maybe that's all that people like us can tolerate. When we make them into "milk" or "flour" we are exposed to so many more. I guess this may be true for grains in general. Same with juice. I'll bet there are 4-5 oranges in even a small glass of juice. I usually dilute any juice 1:10 with water. But mostly I just stick to a serving of one whole fruit. Isn't it amazing how different we all are? Mango was my one of my most reactive fruits! Also one of my favorites. But good for you! - if there is only one fruit you can tolerate, it's good news that it's a mango. They are SOOOO nutritious, not to mention juicy/yummy. Can you tell I'm a little jealous? LOL!
I like your plan to reduce Entocort while adding Imodium. As you know I am a fan of Imodium and even use it preventively if I am going to be in a difficult situation - traveling, eating out, etc. I really believe that it important to calm down the gut, to help train it to act more normally by using Imodium regularly when flaring. I don't blame you for giving up on remission. You certainly have given it your best effort.
Love,
Polly
Blessed are they who can laugh at themselves, for they shall never cease to be amused.
Hi Gloria,
Hope you're not giving up on the hazelnuts quite yet. The couple of points that have been made about dose dependency and histamine levels are excellent. Then, I suppose the vanilla could also be the culprit, or the combination of hazelnuts and vanilla? When I work with my acupuncturist, she tests sensitivities both by themselves, and in combination with other ingredients, so I may be OK with the item alone, but not together with something else.
As you may know, I'm dealing with histamine intolerance these days. I'm so happy that Histame seems to work for me, so I've given up on the anti histamines for now. I get the Histame at a 2 for 1 price of $40 for 60 capsules. I take 2 capsules a day regardless of whether I'm eating any high histamine food (I'm still following a mostly low histamine diet).
So happy for you about the mangos, I absolutely love them. I used to eat only apples and pears (usually cooked), but have discovered lately that I'm fine with mangos. The one restaurant around here where I feel I can eat safely has mango sorbet on the dessert menu - I just discovered it, and it's delicious and does not cause me trouble.
As far as imodium - it's also my choice med when I'm reacting. It really helps calm things down, so I always make sure I have them on hand. Good luck with your program of tapering entocort, substituting with imodium - sounds like a sensible plan.
Love,
Kari
Hope you're not giving up on the hazelnuts quite yet. The couple of points that have been made about dose dependency and histamine levels are excellent. Then, I suppose the vanilla could also be the culprit, or the combination of hazelnuts and vanilla? When I work with my acupuncturist, she tests sensitivities both by themselves, and in combination with other ingredients, so I may be OK with the item alone, but not together with something else.
As you may know, I'm dealing with histamine intolerance these days. I'm so happy that Histame seems to work for me, so I've given up on the anti histamines for now. I get the Histame at a 2 for 1 price of $40 for 60 capsules. I take 2 capsules a day regardless of whether I'm eating any high histamine food (I'm still following a mostly low histamine diet).
So happy for you about the mangos, I absolutely love them. I used to eat only apples and pears (usually cooked), but have discovered lately that I'm fine with mangos. The one restaurant around here where I feel I can eat safely has mango sorbet on the dessert menu - I just discovered it, and it's delicious and does not cause me trouble.
As far as imodium - it's also my choice med when I'm reacting. It really helps calm things down, so I always make sure I have them on hand. Good luck with your program of tapering entocort, substituting with imodium - sounds like a sensible plan.
Love,
Kari
"My mouth waters whenever I pass a bakery shop and sniff the aroma of fresh bread, but I am also grateful simply to be alive and sniffing." Dr. Bernstein
Gloria,
Sorry to hear about the hazelnuts, but am glad you have finally found a fruit to eat. I know how much you have missed fruit. I absolutely love mangos and agree that it is a good fruit ot bea able to enjoy.
I don't tknow if this is something you would want to try, but Dr. Fine soaks nuts before eating them. He told me he had trouble with them as well but because he avoids so many other protein sources he has found that saoking them makes for better tolerance. Here is what he has to say:
Mary Beth
Sorry to hear about the hazelnuts, but am glad you have finally found a fruit to eat. I know how much you have missed fruit. I absolutely love mangos and agree that it is a good fruit ot bea able to enjoy.
I don't tknow if this is something you would want to try, but Dr. Fine soaks nuts before eating them. He told me he had trouble with them as well but because he avoids so many other protein sources he has found that saoking them makes for better tolerance. Here is what he has to say:
Hoping your plan with entocort and immodium gives you some relief.As nuts and seeds are a very healthful source of vegetarian protein and heart-protective oils and minerals, rather than avoiding all nuts and seeds, you can render nuts and seeds less antigenic, more digestible, and more easily tolerated by choosing the few that you seem to best tolerate overall, soaking a one-day supply in a glass jar filled with clean water for 4-8 hours (or for ease, overnight), and pouring off the water and rinsing before eating. The resultant soaked nuts or seeds can be eaten as is (alone or with fresh or dried fruit), blended into nut butters (by adding some water), or added to “smoothies.”
Mary Beth
"If you believe it will work out, you'll see opportunities. If you believe it won't you will see obstacles." - Dr. Wayne Dyer
Hi everyone,
Thank you for your interest and comments.
Marliss,
I checked the expiration date on another package I bought at the same time, and it is October 2012. They were in the shell, so they are probably fresher than nuts that have been shelled, similar to whole grains that are edible for many years. Once cracked, they quickly deteriorate.
Ant,
No, I can't do rice or quinoa anymore. That's why I've been using almond flour. I need the calories and nutrition from it. I don't want to overdo the mango just yet, but I did try some on my corn grits for breakfast.
I do take 1200 IUs of calcium a day. I get some magnesium in my multivitamin. I used to take a calcium supplement with added magnesium, but it caused D. I'm also taking strontium every night. I don't know yet if it's helping. The osteoporosis is one of the reasons that I'm reducing Entorcort from 9 mg./day. It's not helping very much anymore and I'd hate end up in a wheelchair with osteoporisis due to taking Entocort. I'll take a closer look at the amount of magnesium I'm getting. I don't think I get enough on my turkey day.
Maggie,
I always think about you and wonder how you're doing. You are the silent sufferer on the board. I'm sorry that your remission was fleeting. I wonder if we'll ever be free from MC symptoms.
Joe,
Some nuts are high in histamines; others are not. According to a chart I have, hazelnuts are considered moderate. Chestnuts, sunflower, pinenut and pistachio are negligible. Almonds, cashew, coconut and macadamia are low. English Walnuts and pecan are high, and black walnut is very high. I've taken several types of H1 blockers and recently tried generic Zantac, an H2 blocker. Benadryl helped for about a week, but not after that. None of the rest of the H1 or H2 blockers have made any difference. It makes me wonder if I have a mast cell problem, but I still get mouth sores now and then.
Kari,
It's interesting that you take 2 Histame every day and find it helpful. When I remember, I take one 15 minutes before I eat avocado, but I don't know if it's helped. I have the same loose BMs every day, unless I have D. I'm really weary of trying to figure out what is wrong, especially when every food I eat is a necessary part of my calories and nutrition.
Polly,
Yes, we share the dubious honor of being reactive to many foods, as do others here. Maggie and I seem to share the honor of having an elusive remission. Now we see it, now we don't.
You may be onto something about the amount of nuts consumed. I first noticed that I reacted to almond nut butter, which I love. I bought many different brands, and finally made my own from scratch, thinking the problem was the skins or palm oil. I still reacted to my own nut butter. Recently I began getting gurgling after eating almond pudding, and noticed some gurgling after eating cereal with the almond milk. I've never noticed gurgling after eating other products made with almond flour. I've stopped eating pudding and have replaced one day of Corn Chex with polenta and pork sausage. My BMs haven't improved, but the gurgling is gone. Sometimes it went on all night.
After these experiences, I'm pretty sure that almonds are a problem, but I've reached the point where I have nothing to replace them. I just have to live with what I have left to eat, whether it bothers me or not.
Mary Beth,
It's interesting that Dr. Fine recommends soaking nuts before eating them. I soak the almonds before I skin them and I also soaked the hazelnuts before I used them. I think my system just likes to react to everything no matter how I try to coax it. I tell myself that I was able to eat anything I wanted for the first 61 years of my life. If I spend the last 25 or so years of my life on a limited diet, well at least I get to live another 25 years; many don't. If I can eat a little mango every day, then so much the better.
Gloria
Thank you for your interest and comments.
Marliss,
I checked the expiration date on another package I bought at the same time, and it is October 2012. They were in the shell, so they are probably fresher than nuts that have been shelled, similar to whole grains that are edible for many years. Once cracked, they quickly deteriorate.
Ant,
No, I can't do rice or quinoa anymore. That's why I've been using almond flour. I need the calories and nutrition from it. I don't want to overdo the mango just yet, but I did try some on my corn grits for breakfast.
Are you able to tolerate calcium and magnesium?
I do take 1200 IUs of calcium a day. I get some magnesium in my multivitamin. I used to take a calcium supplement with added magnesium, but it caused D. I'm also taking strontium every night. I don't know yet if it's helping. The osteoporosis is one of the reasons that I'm reducing Entorcort from 9 mg./day. It's not helping very much anymore and I'd hate end up in a wheelchair with osteoporisis due to taking Entocort. I'll take a closer look at the amount of magnesium I'm getting. I don't think I get enough on my turkey day.
Maggie,
I always think about you and wonder how you're doing. You are the silent sufferer on the board. I'm sorry that your remission was fleeting. I wonder if we'll ever be free from MC symptoms.
Joe,
Some nuts are high in histamines; others are not. According to a chart I have, hazelnuts are considered moderate. Chestnuts, sunflower, pinenut and pistachio are negligible. Almonds, cashew, coconut and macadamia are low. English Walnuts and pecan are high, and black walnut is very high. I've taken several types of H1 blockers and recently tried generic Zantac, an H2 blocker. Benadryl helped for about a week, but not after that. None of the rest of the H1 or H2 blockers have made any difference. It makes me wonder if I have a mast cell problem, but I still get mouth sores now and then.
Kari,
It's interesting that you take 2 Histame every day and find it helpful. When I remember, I take one 15 minutes before I eat avocado, but I don't know if it's helped. I have the same loose BMs every day, unless I have D. I'm really weary of trying to figure out what is wrong, especially when every food I eat is a necessary part of my calories and nutrition.
Polly,
Yes, we share the dubious honor of being reactive to many foods, as do others here. Maggie and I seem to share the honor of having an elusive remission. Now we see it, now we don't.
You may be onto something about the amount of nuts consumed. I first noticed that I reacted to almond nut butter, which I love. I bought many different brands, and finally made my own from scratch, thinking the problem was the skins or palm oil. I still reacted to my own nut butter. Recently I began getting gurgling after eating almond pudding, and noticed some gurgling after eating cereal with the almond milk. I've never noticed gurgling after eating other products made with almond flour. I've stopped eating pudding and have replaced one day of Corn Chex with polenta and pork sausage. My BMs haven't improved, but the gurgling is gone. Sometimes it went on all night.
After these experiences, I'm pretty sure that almonds are a problem, but I've reached the point where I have nothing to replace them. I just have to live with what I have left to eat, whether it bothers me or not.
Mary Beth,
It's interesting that Dr. Fine recommends soaking nuts before eating them. I soak the almonds before I skin them and I also soaked the hazelnuts before I used them. I think my system just likes to react to everything no matter how I try to coax it. I tell myself that I was able to eat anything I wanted for the first 61 years of my life. If I spend the last 25 or so years of my life on a limited diet, well at least I get to live another 25 years; many don't. If I can eat a little mango every day, then so much the better.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Gloria, I admire your persistence and determination. I learn a lot from you. You have to be one of the best examples of how to challenge foods. I appreciate your posts.
Like everyone else has said, I'm sorry the hazelnuts didn't work out, but the mango sounds like a good addition. I think I may have to try them soon.
take care,
Carol
Like everyone else has said, I'm sorry the hazelnuts didn't work out, but the mango sounds like a good addition. I think I may have to try them soon.
take care,
Carol
“.... people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou
Gloria - I echo all the sentiments expressed here re: hazelnuts and mangoes.
I haven't been trying anything like as long as you and Maggie, obviously, but I also seem to be one of those able to eat very few foods and a reluctant remission.
You have such a good attitude! I wish you those 25 years (and then some), and that they are really good ones.
I haven't been trying anything like as long as you and Maggie, obviously, but I also seem to be one of those able to eat very few foods and a reluctant remission.
You have such a good attitude! I wish you those 25 years (and then some), and that they are really good ones.