More body science

[kitchen_kink]

Since the results of my elimination diet were inconclusive aside from the obvious big bad of yeast (and even that doesn't seem consistent; commercial bread yeast obviously bad, unfiltered beer obviously bad, wine not so much bad), I decided to continue my body experiments with some longer trials.

The other main things I reacted to were wheat, dairy, and corn, each having a mild reaction. So I thought I'd eliminate two out of three for four days or a week at a time.

Last week I ate wheat, but no dairy or corn. At first it didn't seem so bad. But I woke up tired and nauseated (class-cancelling level of sick) after eating commercial pasta - made with "enriched" flour. Ha. I'm told those vitamins are often derived from yeast. Oops.

Next few days, I ate only whole wheat and stuff I'd made so I knew it wasn't from enriched flour. The nausea went away. But all week I felt rather tired and low-energy - hard to get up in the morning, not terribly motivated, unfocused. I started to notice breathing problems - nothing severe, just an inability to fully catch my breath, and feeling winded sooner than usual, like from climbing stairs. And by Friday, I was sitting in the Diesel having just eaten some sandwiches made from the whole-wheat soda bread I'd made, and I started to feel what I might describe as a very mild anaphylactic reaction: swollen tongue and throat, slight difficulty swallowing.

How about that shit.

So this week, I cut out wheat, and am testing dairy. Only fermented dairy, mind you, as I know milk makes me a bit ill and I don't generally drink it anyway. Results thus far: eh. Yesterday I woke up feeling sort of bleh after eating a lot of cheese the day before, and I didn't get that much done in the way of work. I was able to handle small tasks, household duties, and social stuff, but couldn't buckle down and write or grade papers. Today: slept until nearly 11, and haven't done any work yet - only making stew, planning the next few days' menus, and stuff of that nature. Today I'm eating only goat and sheep dairy (goat yogurt - weird!), but my stomach doesn't seem to know the difference: it's still a trifle unsettled, and the stuff below that is a bit clogged up. (Ick.)

So I'm thinking that the yeast causes much of my nausea, but that the wheat and dairy help. The wheat and dairy, especially over several days in a row, cause sluggishness and low energy. And the wheat causes my exercise-induced asthma, while the dairy contributes to my ADD-like symptoms.

And then, when I'm all groggy and unfocused, I reach for the caffeine. Cycle complete.

Wow. Cool.

Except not, because that means I need to avoid all of it.

To quote lady_tabitha: Pills and water!

But seriously: I love food entirely too much for that. So I'll have to use my judgment. Tomorrow is a holiday: I'm going to go all out and not worry about it. Likely the same for Christmas. In ordinary life, though, I figure I'll not eat any of those things when I can avoid it, eat it when I can't, and eat it on special occasions.

Comments

[lachesis.livejournal.com]

FWIW, I have similar (sometimes moreso) reactions to the same things you mention above. Aside from talking about dietary restrictive stuff the day before a holiday, I thought you might find it interesting that Lactaid (lactaid.com) now makes an EGG NOG. I received a coupon for it recently, but dont actually know where it's sold around here yet. (hmm. nothing on the website yet, after a quick look. hmm.)

[bluepapercup]

So! That's all really interesting! I'm thrilled to find out you're getting in touch with what buggers up your body. In the long run, it's so good to feel better.

But seriously: I love food entirely too much for that. So I'll have to use my judgment. Tomorrow is a holiday: I'm going to go all out and not worry about it. Likely the same for Christmas. In ordinary life, though, I figure I'll not eat any of those things when I can avoid it, eat it when I can't, and eat it on special occasions.


As someone with food restrictions (and possibly more coming down the pike, but that's a different story) this is about the approach I take. 95% of the time I scrupulously avoid eating the things I know make me sick. 4% of the time I say, "ah, fuck it" and 1% of the time they are hiding somewhere and I eat 'em by accident.

Good luck!

[unknownrockstar.livejournal.com]

right, I think if you just cut food out of your diet, you should be fine. :p

I'm sorry. I ought to try your approach, although my problems are minor by comparison.

[dda.livejournal.com]

I think that should be ladytabitha, non? :-)