Frequency of food intolerances

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 8:30 am

Is there a place here (poll?) that has charted/tracked food intolerances for members of this forum? I am especially interested in the frequency of a particular food intolerance. The reason I'm wondering is I have just recently noticed some issues with lettuce, (indigestion) even though I don't appear to have problems with fiber in general and just wondering if this is unusual. TIA!

Zizzle · Post by **Zizzle** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 9:48 am

Deb,
From what I read here and experience, lettuce is the single-most problematic vegetable for people with MC. It seems it's more than just the fiber. It's very irritating to the gut overall. I still have an occasional salad if I'm at a restaurant with no other options, but I usually pay a price.

Mags · Post by **Mags** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:20 am

Deb--

For me, at least, Iceberg lettuce is a big no-no. It can actually give me hives. I do okay with very occasional organic baby lettuces, as long as I am carefull to chew them well. Iceberg lettuce is often sulfited to keep it fresh, but lettuce can be very hard to digest. I had problems with it long before I had MC. As long as I stick to my diet otherwise, I can occasionally have a salad, but only if I prepare it myself.

Best wishes,

Mags

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 11:36 am

Here's a somewhat outdated list of food intolerances:

http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=255

I was maintaining it for a while, but haven't updated it lately. Let me know if there's interest in keeping it up-to-date. I'd need to get everyone's current intolerences.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 12:24 pm

Agreed - lettuce is a no-no for most people while recovering from MC. It made me so sick, so reliably, that even though I've been in remission for 7 years now, I still don't eat it. I can tolerate it now, but it's appeal to me faded away many years ago, when it dawned on me that it was making me sick.

Tex

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 1:20 pm

Thank you Gloria for posting the thread about food intolerances. I definitely learned something from it. I believe that the peppermint lifesavors, which contain corn syrup are what's causing my present problems. This is a big DUH moment for me because I already know I don't tolerate high fructose corn syrup, so it stands to reason that corn syrup would be a problem, too. I truly hope I'm on to something because I can't keep sliding backwards the way I've been. Thanks again!

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Fri Feb 11, 2011 7:09 pm

Thanks for all the responses. I am surprised that lettuce is such a problem. I've suspected issues with iceberg lettuce before but last night was romaine and it bothered me more than ever before. I did have some mixed salad tonight (a glutton for punishment?) so I'll see what happens. Gloria, thanks for the link. Too bad there isn't a way we could just add our intolerances as we discover them and have it chart it......wish I were more computer savvy!

ant · Post by **ant** » Sat Feb 12, 2011 7:00 am

Dear Deb,

It amuses me how so many foods "advertised" as healthy for humans are not: e.g. animal's milk, cereal etc...And, what could be more healthy then fresh lettuce???? Well, this is the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit, BUT.....last time I looked..... I was NOT a rabbit....

I still have problems with some chefs throwing up their hands in horror when I present my "to the chef card" to them.... "OMG, I cannot suggesting anything for you" they say and, I say, "well...... you are not a very creative chef then".

I have tried to simplify my 'To The Chef Card' to make it less intimidating to the average Chef......(without losing the essential points of my diet).

In case it is useful here it is - slightly simplified - again. Of course, it is tailored to my intolerance (as far as I know them).....and we are all different....

To The Chef…. I suffer from Celiac & Microscopic Colitis causing multiple food intolerances.
CAN EAT:
• (Unprocessed) meat, fish, shellfish - grilled, roasted, fried or baked.
• Rice – boiled, steamed or fried in olive oil, rice noodles. Rice or water chestnut flour.
• Salt, pepper, herbs, garlic, onion, dried coconut.
• Vinegar (EXCEPT NO malt vinegar).
• Olive oil (not other vegetable oils), pure coconut oil, pure balsamic oil (not artificially coloured since that contains gluten).
• Well-cooked peeled vegetables (EXCEPT NO: bean, pea, tomato, potato, bell pepper and corn).
• Mushroom, banana, olive, avocado, nuts (EXCEPT NO peanuts and cashew nuts), cooked fruit.
• Wine, spirits, coconut milk (no guar gum added), green tea, pure coco, black coffee, tea.
CAN EAT IN SMALL AMOUNTS:
• Cane Sugar, glucose, fructose, pure maple syrup, honey, raw fruit.
CANNOT EAT
• Gluten (and similar) – wheat, rye, oat, corn, semolina/tapioca – that is in flour, bread, cake, biscuit, wheat pasta, cuscus, tapioca, beer, malt vinegar.
• Soy, Soya/Tofu, Soy lechtin, Worcester source or MSG.
• Dairy – milk, cream, butter, cheese.
• Bean, pea, guar gum, peanut or cashew nut
• Egg
• Potato, tomato, eggplant, bell pepper
• Raw vegetables (e.g. salad)
• Cashew nut and peanut.
• High fructose corn syrup, aspartame.
• Vegetable oils – except Olive Oil, which is fine.

Best ant

Deb · Post by **Deb** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 2:49 pm

Dear Ant,
I continue to be amazed by the commitment of those here to determine their food intolerances. I think I've had issues for years but for some reason never really considered individual food causes for...ie indigestion, acid reflux, etc. I guess I just thought it was my body "acting up" or something and took enzymes or whatever to try and "fix it." When the MC hit though, it forced me to look at things differently. I am more and more amazed at how far behind the medical profession seems to be in recognizing diet as a major factor (or perhaps the main factor) in many of our health issues.

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 3:35 pm

Arlene,

I had the same thought process about HFCS and then thought corn syrup well after MRT it shows not only the corn but the cane sugar too. I really already knew this but the test confirmed it. So maybe it is just the corn syrup for you but maybe also the sugar. I hope not for your sake. I think it is a curse for me.

Pat

TooManyHats · Post by **TooManyHats** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 6:05 pm

Pat,

You can't have any sugar at all? That must be tough.

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 7:27 pm

Pat,

My MRT test results showed that I can eat cane sugar, but not beets. I had been eating beet sugar and have now switched to cane. I wonder if you could tolerate beet sugar?

I believe that most off-brand sugars are beet sugar. If it's cane sugar, it will be clearly stated as such, because cane sugar is more expensive. Domino's and C&H sugars are both cane sugar. Someone who is more knowledgeable can correct me if I'm wrong.

Gloria

Post by **tex** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:11 pm

Pat,

The only sugar that I could handle in more than tract amounts when I was recovering, was maple sugar. On the other hand, I remember Polly recently mentioning that she cannot tolerate it, so obviously, there are a lot of individual differences.

Tex

Pat · Post by **Pat** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 8:18 pm

Arlene,

No, I can't have sugar - I had a hydrogen breath test and I was severely intolerant to fructose. I have tried sucrose but now i know why it didn't work from my MRT- cane sugar. I tried dextrose - corn. I tried berries which are supposedly ok for FM but I react to those too. I guess I am waiting til I talk to Mary Beth on Thurs. I think she is designing a diet for me and then I will see.

Gloria,

I don't know if I have ever tried beet sugar. I have been eating without sugar so long now and I can't have grains except maybe quinoa, nor can I have eggs. Can't make cookies or muffins so I just do without.

I am hoping for fruit at this point. Probably healthier that way anyway.

Pat

Gloria · Post by **Gloria** » Sun Feb 13, 2011 9:28 pm

Pat,

You might be able to make muffins using almond flour, potato starch (in place of the cornstarch), arrowroot, and quinoa using this recipe: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12638 I make muffins all the time without eggs or xantham gum and they turn out fine. I use silicone muffin cups and they pop right out.

I have found that I can interchange arrowroot, cornstarch, tapioca starch and potato starch in recipes.

You should give beet sugar a try. I have problems with fruit, but haven't had any problems with table sugar, brown sugar or maple sugar/syrup. I use as small of an amount as I can, which may make a difference.

Another sweet treat for me is pudding. I know you can't eat cornstarch, but you might want to try this recipe for pudding made with arrowroot: http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=12745 It isn't as creamy as regular pudding, but it does satisfy the need for something sweet.

I know that the first few weeks on the LEAP diet will be restrictive, but I wanted to give you some hope for the future.

Gloria