Developing citrus intolerance??

[Zizzle]

I'm bummed. Just RAN to the bathroom at work 4x today. It's becoming a familiar pattern after I eat citrus. I've been CRAVING citrus fruits lately and paying a price. I've been able to eat a clementine or 2 a day without much trouble until lately. The other night the craving was so bad I ate a whole grapefruit, then the gurgling began, then the trips to the bathroom. But I can drink orange juice without incident. And I can have lemon and lime juice in my food. My question is, am I reacting in a food intolerance way, or is this a reacton to the fiber, sugar or acids involved?? The pulp is always visible in the toilet. I seem to be intolerant to grapes too, mostly if they are unpeeled and I eat more than 3 or 4. But other forms of fiber, even lettuce, apples, berries, broccoli and raw carrots, don't usually bother me.

So it has to be about more than just fiber irritation, no? Do you think I can continue with modest amounts of citrus fruits or should I avoid them altogether?

And what does a severe CRAVING for citrus mean? I think I'm getting adequate C in my multi.

[tex]

And what does a severe CRAVING for citrus mean?

It means that you are probably sensitive to citric acid, because we tend to crave foods to which we are allergic or intolerant.

I couldn't handle any of that stuff you named, when I was healing - it all made me sick as a dog. For me it was mostly the citric acid, (I think), but I was also sensitive to significant amounts of sugar and/or fiber. To some extent, it seemed to be a dosage thing. After I was in remission for a couple of years, I was able to eat most of that stuff again, (except for grapes - grapes still clean me out, to this day, and I've been in remission for almost 7 years now).

I would guess that by continuing to eat those foods, since you are clearly reacting to them, you may become more sensitive to them as time passes, but that's just a WAG.

Tex

[Linda in BC]

Zizzle, citrus fruits also contain folic acid ( a b vit that is used to make blood.) When I was pregnant with my daughter I CRAVED oranges like crazy. ( You aren't pregnant are you? )

Also, there is contention about what is an adequate daily dosage of vit C ( just like with vit D) but many people take a 1,000 mg a day and I doubt that your multi-vit has that much. Maybe check and see how much it has. Vit C is water soluble so it is my understanding that any excess (unless you were taking extreme amounts ) should just pass right through you.

Linda

[takef586]

This reaction can be specific to the citric acid, it can be related to the fiber ( if you do not react to filtered juice but only to whole fruit), but it also can be specific to the salycilic acid, which is contained in many foods, fruit and vegetables in particular.