Dammit, dammit, dammit.

[kitchen_kink]

Well, either I'm reactive to everything (which doesn't make sense, and which the nutritionist says might mean it's something else) or so far I have mild sensitivities to citrus, corn, and milk. Eggs were fine.

I wonder if it's possible that these mild reactions (slight nausea, slight tiredness, usually passing before day's end) have anything to do with my body's simply having gotten used to not having these things, and needing to readjust?

This is getting a bit frustrating. I was really hoping I'd have some big reaction to something, the way tafkar did to corn. So far, citrus was my strongest reaction - sharp, sudden stomach pains, stomach discomfort the rest of the day, crankiness by nightfall. But nothing is making me pass-out tired, or very sick, or anything.

Is it possible that all of these things are simply bad for people and should be avoided anyway?? Or is it the sum totality of all of these mild sensitivities that has been making me feel mildly shitty all the time? Will I have to be on this diet (plus eggs, apparently) forever??

Crap.

Comments

[exoterica.livejournal.com]

Well, of all the things to omit from your diet, citrus corn and milk are not too bad. Wheat and gluten seem to be much tougher.

I read that 50-75% of all adults react to milk. That one is common.
Corn is not easily digestable by humans. Hence corn poop.
Citrus.....don't know what to say there. The acid is definitely harsh, especially in the morning or on an empty stomach.

I was amazed the first time I got away from dairy. Turned my health around on a dime. Stupidly I went back to it, and the second time I gave it up the results are similar. Now I rarely go for it (except for an occasional piece of gouda, I can't resist smoked gouda dammit!)

The wheat/gluten sensitivity is also very common -- some docs estimate that 50% of all Americans are actually wheat/gluten intolerant.

I wonder if eliminating preservatives and dyes long-term would make the difference. You may have a buildup of toxic chemicals.

It's incredibly hard to find good healthy alternatives.....it's easier here in CA with farmers markets and plenty of organic/vegan/rawfoods restaurants. Good luck finding a diet that works for you.

[regyt.livejournal.com]

Corn is not easily digestable by humans.

That's scary, considering that corn has achieved hegemony over the human race.

[exoterica.livejournal.com]

Thanks for that article!

To clarify, the husk of the kernel is undigestable, but if you chew corn kernels the insides are fine for most people.

The milk/sugar of corn is what some people lack the enzymes to digest, similar to lactose intolerance. Corn syrup is a notorious accomplice in many chronic diseases, especially for those who lack the enzymes to properly digest the sugars.

If you are consuming too many undigestable sugars (splenda and many artificial sweeteners are in this category) then your body can also have a toxic reaction. Aspartame in particular has been linked to many chronic (and potentially fatal) conditions.

Looking back on my mom's primary diet: microwave popcorn and diet coke :it's no wonder she passed away at 42. The popcorn was linked to her colon cancer (the hard kernels can rip up the insides of the digestive tract). Aspartame (too much diet coke) was blamed for the double kidney failure that almost claimed my best friend's mother.

For more on aspartame and splenda, visit: http://www.shirleys-wellness-cafe.com/nutraswt.htm

[dietrich.livejournal.com]

I have yet to test wheat, but I'll soon find out whether I have that sensitivity. I do know that when I eat a lot of pasta, I can't stop. Freakishly enough, food cravings (particularly for the food one is sensitive to) seem to be a common symptom of sensitivity.

I do not touch artificial sweeteners with a 30-foot pole, and I try to avoid all hydrogenated fats and most refined sugars (esp. high fructose corn syrup) as well, so I'm well ahead of a lot of people. Aspartame is evil.

I now know to avoid corn for the most part, and will make exceptions for fresh-popped with real butter at the Brattle or the Somerville, and corn on the cob at barbecues. :)

[ectropy.livejournal.com]

Freakishly enough, food cravings (particularly for the food one is sensitive to) seem to be a common symptom of sensitivity.

That's because food intolerances cause an endorphin release that covers up the feeling-bad reaction, so you end up craving the endorphins and think that it's the food that makes you feel good (which it does... sort of).

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

Corn syrup is a notorious accomplice in many chronic diseases

*raises hand* Yup, that was me!

I lived on popcorn until I discovered all corn products are the culprit for my ailments. I'm OK with giving everything else up, but popcorn sucks.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

The reaction you describe to corn, citrus and dairy is what I had to eggs. Means you're mildly intolerant, from what I understand. I don't think it's that your body isn't "used" to it, because eggs didn't get any better with the next few meals.

And - if you're having this reaction to all three things - imagine what a Mexican meal would do to your system, piling all three atop each other. One alone may be mild, but combine them and you've got a recipe for ick. Which may explain why you've been so sickly - it's not one big problem, but a bunch of little ones piled atop each other.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

oh, and also...I'd dub your citrus problem to be more than mild. It's not quite as bad as my corn reaction, but my reaction to corn is pretty much an unheard-of level of severity.

[dietrich.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all this - the Mexican food comment makes a lot of sense.

I guess I'm setting the bar high for food reactions. I have a similar thing to you - if I'm not DYING, I feel like I shouldn't complain. I used to feel horrible staying home from work when my worst complaint was that I was exhausted and nauseated. But it happened all the time.

So the citrus reaction, I guess, was pretty strong. I wonder why I didn't react that way to lemon or to teas with orange peel in them? Grah. Much to discuss with Ms. Carroll.

[rednikki.livejournal.com]

I suspect it may be that the amount of citric acid contained in the lemon or the teas with orange peel was significantly lower. If you can bear to do it, try drinking a glass of lemon juice one day. That oughta give you your answer right quick.

[fanw.livejournal.com]

Two thoughts. First, it's all about KNOWLEDGE and CHOICE. You seem to have identified some sensitivities. Now you get to choose what to do. You can choose to totally eliminate them from your diet. Or you can choose to have them infrequently. Weigh the annoyance of never finding food you can eat with the complaints from your stomach. Case in point: I'm sensitive to apples. Do I eat them anyway? Yes. I just don't do it frequently and I eat them in small amounts (say, half an apple). This is a good balance for me since they are just too tasty!

Secondly, I think you may still be able to do dairy. I know that I have a reaction to both meat and dairy if I have not eaten them lately. I don't think I'm sensitive to either one (who's sensitive to meat?) but it's just a matter of handy enzymes. If you really like dairy and don't want to lose it, try a few things first. Milk is probably the hardest thing on your system. Can you eat yogurt? Can you eat cheese? Can you repopulate your gut by makin' a trip out to California for raw milk? Try stuff with enzymes already there or if worst comes to worst, drink Lactaid "milk". There are ways not to lose everything.

[Take all this with a grain of salt of course. I'm very pro food!]

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

FYI, I'm sensitive to meat, when I'm exercising a whole lot. *shrug* When I'm only moderately active, poultry is fine, and when I'm less active,I can eat beef. Pork is never okay, and the smell of bacon frying actually makes me feel sick.

I'll still eat a bit of David's steak most of the time when we go out to eat, because a bite or two of good steak is worth the very mild occasional upset.

[moominmolly.livejournal.com]

...and I take this to mean that I'm sensitive to meat, slightly, and more sensitive to foods in general when I'm exercising, which is true.

[bluepapercup]

Which I find interesting, because for me, the more I work out, the more I can eat, and I actually crave meat, sometimes to the exclusion of carbs. My ability to tolerate my allergic foods also goes up.

v. Strange.

[dietrich.livejournal.com]

I'm pro-food, too - I don't want to have to give ANYTHING up! But I was still kinda hoping it'd be one obvious thing. Now I have to, like, exercise willpower or something. ;)

I feel the same thing about dairy (that it takes some time to readjust after not eating it for three weeks), and I never drink milk anyway, but I was supposed to test by doing so. I always feel great when I eat yogurt (plenty of little happy bacteria friends), and I don't think I have a problem with cheese. Then again, I was eating it all the time, as one of my major protein sources.

Whole foods carries some raw cheeses that I love. And I'm going to look into having raw milk delivered.

[bluepapercup]

You can always go to non-cow dairy. That's what I do.