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I've never had a huge sweet tooth, and even less so now that I've given up so many carb-rich foods... But I think I'd like to keep my quick-energy options open, especially since I've lost a couple of pounds this week. (I'm neither over- nor underweight, so am taking this as part of the diet adjustment and not necessarily a sign of poor absorption, for now anyway.)
I've noticed that several people reacted to honey in MRT testing, so wondered whether honey or maple syrup had been better tolerated by the majority of PPers - though I realize that is not a perfect way to determine what will be better for me.
Thanks for thoughts, if you have any!
Sara
Maple syrup vs. honey?
Moderators: Rosie, Stanz, Jean, CAMary, moremuscle, JFR, Dee, xet, Peggy, Matthew, Gabes-Apg, grannyh, Gloria, Mars, starfire, Polly, Joefnh
Just to add a little confusion to the issue, maple sugar was the only type of sugar that I could tolerate in any significant amount, when I was recovering. Anything more than very small amounts of any of the other sugars, would cause me to get sick. 
My theory about this is that I was a sugar addict all my life, and I consumed huge amounts of it virtually every day, in pretty much every form, except for maple sugar - I don't recall ever eating any maple sugar, before my symptoms started. I'm convinced that my leaky gut syndrome, (LGS), was due to the long-term over-consumption of sugar, and the LGS triggered the other problems. Therefore, the reason why I could tolerate maple sugar, (and no other type), is because I hadn't been exposed to maple sugar previously, and therefore it didn't contribute to my LGS. That's just a wild theory, of course, but if I remember correctly, sugar is the second most common cause of LGS, (alcohol is number one).
Love,
Tex
My theory about this is that I was a sugar addict all my life, and I consumed huge amounts of it virtually every day, in pretty much every form, except for maple sugar - I don't recall ever eating any maple sugar, before my symptoms started. I'm convinced that my leaky gut syndrome, (LGS), was due to the long-term over-consumption of sugar, and the LGS triggered the other problems. Therefore, the reason why I could tolerate maple sugar, (and no other type), is because I hadn't been exposed to maple sugar previously, and therefore it didn't contribute to my LGS. That's just a wild theory, of course, but if I remember correctly, sugar is the second most common cause of LGS, (alcohol is number one).
Love,
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.
Sara - according to MRT, I'm sensitive to cane sugar and honey, but not to maple sugar. Guess you will have to experiment to figure out how you react:(.
Tex - that's some theory you came up with :). Judging from my own reactions, wouldn't be surprised that it has merit.
Love,
Kari
Tex - that's some theory you came up with :). Judging from my own reactions, wouldn't be surprised that it has merit.
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
That's at least as interesting as it is confusing ;)
It makes sense to me on a lot of levels. I won't be surprised if my Enterolab results for eggs are higher than those for pork, because I eat a lot of eggs and have had very little pork for years.
I was thinking in terms of fructose/sucrose, among other things, so was also considering throwing a date in the blender with a little water, and straining. But I see on the "ode to almond milk" thread that Kelly's ahead of me there!
I've certainly eaten my share of maple syrup, as a New England gal, though not in great quantities. It will be interesting to see how it goes - and how it might change over time. I still believe that some minor reactions I might feel now are partly from the 'panicked system' effect. But things are definitely settling.
Sweet thoughts to all,
Sara
It makes sense to me on a lot of levels. I won't be surprised if my Enterolab results for eggs are higher than those for pork, because I eat a lot of eggs and have had very little pork for years.
I was thinking in terms of fructose/sucrose, among other things, so was also considering throwing a date in the blender with a little water, and straining. But I see on the "ode to almond milk" thread that Kelly's ahead of me there!
I've certainly eaten my share of maple syrup, as a New England gal, though not in great quantities. It will be interesting to see how it goes - and how it might change over time. I still believe that some minor reactions I might feel now are partly from the 'panicked system' effect. But things are definitely settling.
Sweet thoughts to all,
Sara
Honey, maple and cane sugar were all non-reactive for me on the MRT test. I also can consume aspartame without any problems.
However, I avoid honey because it is high in fructose. The only time I'll take aspartame is the rare occasion that I order a diet cola when I'm away from home. I tested moderately-reactive on beets, so I don't eat beet sugar, just cane sugar.
I use maple syrup for my waffles and pancakes, cane sugar in baking and puddings.
Gloria
However, I avoid honey because it is high in fructose. The only time I'll take aspartame is the rare occasion that I order a diet cola when I'm away from home. I tested moderately-reactive on beets, so I don't eat beet sugar, just cane sugar.
I use maple syrup for my waffles and pancakes, cane sugar in baking and puddings.
Gloria
You never know what you can do until you have to do it.
Sara - just to add more confusion to the confusion:), I was highly reactive to celery on my MRT test, but haven't eaten it in decades - I developed an aversion to it in my early 20's, and have stayed away from it ever since. Go figure???
Love,
Kari
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
Hm, Kari - very interesting!
I can't wait to try LEAP. The Enterolab test for potatoes should be interesting. I eat them, but I don't love them. And other than tomatoes, I don't like most of the nightshades. I do think some of those negative preferences are trying to tell us something. Unfortunately, as Tex has pointed out, we also tend to crave some of the things that really don't work for us, so there's no simple solution.
I just marched downstairs and had two spoonfuls of honey. So I'll know a little more by this time tomorrow.
Love,
Sara
I can't wait to try LEAP. The Enterolab test for potatoes should be interesting. I eat them, but I don't love them. And other than tomatoes, I don't like most of the nightshades. I do think some of those negative preferences are trying to tell us something. Unfortunately, as Tex has pointed out, we also tend to crave some of the things that really don't work for us, so there's no simple solution.
I just marched downstairs and had two spoonfuls of honey. So I'll know a little more by this time tomorrow.
Love,
Sara
Sara,
I have been using maple sugar on pancakes and waffles too. I never used to, way back I used to sprinkle regular sugar on my pancakes, but as I got older I didn't think that was a good thing to do. I have used maple sugar (real maple not maple flavored karo syrup), I too live in New England. Anyway, I've been OK with using it since I've been diagnosed with MC.
When do you expect your lab results from Enterolab? I should get mine next Thursday.
Good luck with the honey.
Nancy
I have been using maple sugar on pancakes and waffles too. I never used to, way back I used to sprinkle regular sugar on my pancakes, but as I got older I didn't think that was a good thing to do. I have used maple sugar (real maple not maple flavored karo syrup), I too live in New England. Anyway, I've been OK with using it since I've been diagnosed with MC.
When do you expect your lab results from Enterolab? I should get mine next Thursday.
Good luck with the honey.
Nancy
Nancy,
I am glad you specified "real maple syrup" - I am constantly amazed at how many people eat that Other Stuff (shudder) - there's no comparison. NY state is also a producer, fortunately.
I haven't sent in my kit! I waited to take my sample, because the instructions said to wait 7 days after taking any oil-based supplements. I wasn't sure whether my CoQ10 supplements counted, but didn't want to take any chances. So I waited a week.
The next glitch is that NY state has very strict rules about patients dealing directly with labs (to make a long story short). So they could not send me the kit directly, and I cannot send my test kit back from within the state. And the tests have to be shipped Monday through Wednesday, so I have actually rearranged a trip to Mass. so I can be on the road on one of those days. If you see a slightly frantic middle-aged woman driving around that gigantic Charlton service area on the Pike next Tuesday in search of a UPS guy... that will be me!
I called and added the new tests to my order, though I am not sure they will be as helpful as the primary tests, and I promised myself I will not be annoyed about the expense if not a single one of the 11 (!) additional foods shows up as a problem. Because that will be wonderful news! I may still have another sort of problem re-adding some of those foods, but at least it will help me prioritize my food planning, until I can do MRT.
I'll be coming back on Thursday - will think of you and your results. I hope they give you helpful guidance. (And I just got an email from the unbelievably lovely man who lives in the house I grew up in, out of the blue, with a photo of a beautiful plant in bloom that's just finished flowering in my garden.... so I will be making a side trip to see how my house has grown up!)
I will let you know about the honey. I'm delighted that so many people tolerate maple syrup - I don't need a lot of sweetening in my life, but a little is a certain kind of delight. Kari's cocoa with almond milk and maple syrup sounds glorious. (Trying not to "hope" I don't react to almonds - just looking forward to knowing more.)
I used to love plain yogurt on pancakes and waffles. My brother and I never grew up eating that, but have independently come to share that preference. It's been interesting over the years how many quirks we share, at least some of which have a wee bit of genetic influence. I sure hope MC isn't one of those for him.
Love,
Sara
I am glad you specified "real maple syrup" - I am constantly amazed at how many people eat that Other Stuff (shudder) - there's no comparison. NY state is also a producer, fortunately.
I haven't sent in my kit! I waited to take my sample, because the instructions said to wait 7 days after taking any oil-based supplements. I wasn't sure whether my CoQ10 supplements counted, but didn't want to take any chances. So I waited a week.
The next glitch is that NY state has very strict rules about patients dealing directly with labs (to make a long story short). So they could not send me the kit directly, and I cannot send my test kit back from within the state. And the tests have to be shipped Monday through Wednesday, so I have actually rearranged a trip to Mass. so I can be on the road on one of those days. If you see a slightly frantic middle-aged woman driving around that gigantic Charlton service area on the Pike next Tuesday in search of a UPS guy... that will be me!
I called and added the new tests to my order, though I am not sure they will be as helpful as the primary tests, and I promised myself I will not be annoyed about the expense if not a single one of the 11 (!) additional foods shows up as a problem. Because that will be wonderful news! I may still have another sort of problem re-adding some of those foods, but at least it will help me prioritize my food planning, until I can do MRT.
I'll be coming back on Thursday - will think of you and your results. I hope they give you helpful guidance. (And I just got an email from the unbelievably lovely man who lives in the house I grew up in, out of the blue, with a photo of a beautiful plant in bloom that's just finished flowering in my garden.... so I will be making a side trip to see how my house has grown up!)
I will let you know about the honey. I'm delighted that so many people tolerate maple syrup - I don't need a lot of sweetening in my life, but a little is a certain kind of delight. Kari's cocoa with almond milk and maple syrup sounds glorious. (Trying not to "hope" I don't react to almonds - just looking forward to knowing more.)
I used to love plain yogurt on pancakes and waffles. My brother and I never grew up eating that, but have independently come to share that preference. It's been interesting over the years how many quirks we share, at least some of which have a wee bit of genetic influence. I sure hope MC isn't one of those for him.
Love,
Sara
Sara--
I don't have any problem with honey. I think that would be the straw that broke the camel's back for me. For those of us lucky enough to live in the Appalachian Mountains, Sourwood Honey is a delicacy to rival that of any maple syrup. The beehives are kept out in the woods and make honey from the flowers of the sourwood trees; the taste is unique, and the crop small and seasonal. When I lived in Atlanta, I would make my mom go by the honey place that still puts their honey out by the side of the road and lets you put your money in the box to pay for it!
(Insert reference to "Sourwood Mountain" song here!)
Love,
Mags
I don't have any problem with honey. I think that would be the straw that broke the camel's back for me. For those of us lucky enough to live in the Appalachian Mountains, Sourwood Honey is a delicacy to rival that of any maple syrup. The beehives are kept out in the woods and make honey from the flowers of the sourwood trees; the taste is unique, and the crop small and seasonal. When I lived in Atlanta, I would make my mom go by the honey place that still puts their honey out by the side of the road and lets you put your money in the box to pay for it!
(Insert reference to "Sourwood Mountain" song here!)
Love,
Mags
Sourwood is a lovely thing! We're at the northern range of where they can thrive, but there are some in Brooklyn. And beekeeping is taking off here, too - I'm going to start promoting the growing of more sourwood in the area, for flavor's sake.
People still put out foods in stands on the honor system in many areas we can readily drive to - not so much here in Brooklyn, but maybe I'll start a stand of my own ;)
I don't know what would be the straw that broke the camel's back for me. My husband said tomatoes would do it for him, but I looked him in the eye and just waited, and he said, "no, you're right, I could do without tomatoes if I had to." (Aren't you glad you're not married to me and have to deal with that look?)
So glad honey's still in your diet and not just in your heart! I always knew that loving a lot of foods would turn out to be a useful skill - little did I realize that would be because some of them might wind up on the "no fly" list.
Mmmmm....
Love,
Sara
People still put out foods in stands on the honor system in many areas we can readily drive to - not so much here in Brooklyn, but maybe I'll start a stand of my own ;)
I don't know what would be the straw that broke the camel's back for me. My husband said tomatoes would do it for him, but I looked him in the eye and just waited, and he said, "no, you're right, I could do without tomatoes if I had to." (Aren't you glad you're not married to me and have to deal with that look?)
So glad honey's still in your diet and not just in your heart! I always knew that loving a lot of foods would turn out to be a useful skill - little did I realize that would be because some of them might wind up on the "no fly" list.
Mmmmm....
Love,
Sara