Bitters for digestion?

[knitty kitty]

@AnnaNZ, 

Here's the updated guidelines for a gluten challenge.  

According to recent research, updates to the gluten challenge are being implemented.

Recommended intake of gluten should be increased to 10 grams of gluten per day for at least two weeks. Or longer.

While three grams of gluten will begin the immune response, ten grams of gluten is needed to get antibody levels up to where they can be measured in antibody tests and changes can be seen in the small intestine.  

Keep in mind that there are different amounts of gluten in different kinds of bread and gluten containing foods.  Pizza crust and breads that are thick and chewy contain more gluten than things like cake and cookies.  

References:

https://www.beyondceliac.org/celiac-disease/the-gluten-challenge/

And...

Evaluating Responses to Gluten Challenge: A Randomized, Double-Blind, 2-Dose Gluten Challenge Trial

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7878429/?report=reader

 "In our study, limited changes in Vh:celiac disease (villi height vs crypt depth - aka damage to the small intestine)  following 14-day challenge with 3 g of gluten were observed, in accordance with Sarna et al.  While the 3 g dose was sufficient to initiate an immune response, as detected by several biomarkers such as IL-2, the 10 g dose was required for enteropathy within the study time frame. Based on our data, we would suggest that gluten challenge should be conducted over longer durations and/or using doses of gluten of ≥ 3 g/day to ensure sufficient histological change can be induced."

 

There's a lot of simple carbohydrates in the yogurt, rice bread and rice.  A diet high in carbohydrates can promote a subclinical thiamine deficiency.  Thiamine deficiency and a high carbohydrate diet have been linked to eosinophilic esophagitis, an inflammation of the throat.  Thiamine is found in meats mainly, though are found in some legumes, too.  How much and what types of meat are you eating?  

Keep us posted on your progress!

References:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8533683/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8451766/

http://www.hormonesmatter.com/eosinophilic-esophagitis-sugar-thiamine-sensitive/

[Wheatwacked]

I know. But it has lowered my glucose from 200 to 140. After eating I have energy instead of my tradition sluggishness.

The jumbo eggs have more than AI of choline. The potatoes have potassium, vitamins and an anti-immflammatory omega 6 to 3 ratio of 3:1 (compared to sweet potato 16:1).  The sausage has B vitamins (54 g serving has 25% B12 and phosphorus, potassium vitamin D.  good nutritional value, The Red Bull is B vitamins, magnesium, taurine (an essential amino acid antioxident) and sugar and glucose for quick energy (not HFCS).

with breakfast I had a tangerine and an additional 30 g of sugar water in 20 oz water with 2 ounces of cherry magnesium citrate at 3 pm with my list of vitamins.

Glucose a 12:30 pm on waking: 197 mg/dl

Glucose at 5 pm: 139 mg/dl.

Edited November 18, 2023 by Wheatwacked

[Wheatwacked]

 100 gm russet potato.

[AnnaNZ]

Hi guys. Sorry I fell off the radar for a while. It has been a bit of a crazy time. I will give you an update. I am not even sure I can remember everything that has happened... (I am keeping a comprehensive diary though.)

I am now taking a multivitamin, 1000 IU Vitamin D 4 times per day, Histagest-DAO in the morning with a probiotic pill. (All prescribed by myself.)

I have had grey hair for about 20 years and it is growing back brown at the front! Seems like a good sign to me!

Although I consider myself fairly intelligent and I read every label... turns out the ONE label I wasn't reading was the pre-cooked chicken my partner was buying every 10 days or so which contained gluten!!! (No stuffing in the chicken) I couldn't believe it. I had my last glutinous chicken on 27 November.

I have had additional confusing symptoms over the last 5 weeks, and not all related to the chicken - throat gurgling, throat constriction, lower back pain, sometimes can't get to sleep, heart beating fast, palpitations, dizziness, anxiety, puffy left hand, itchy upper arms with rash, raised pink spots on lower legs, UTI-like symptoms briefly, pulsatile tinnitus - still some joint pain and still my friendly side pain. I suspect fish may be a problem. I am wondering about a thyroid problem too. I have lost 5 kg (11 pounds) since mid-August.

45 minutes after eating the final glutinous chicken I had a strong side pain. The next day I was dizzy and the top of my head felt really hot, trouble sleeping.

I have been transitioning to the AIP diet for quite a few weeks, and as of yesterday (22.12.23) I am fully AIP. I am not eating fish though - I last had fish 22.11.23. The day after that, at lunchtime, I had palpitations and seemed like an aura around me. I went to Accident and Medical, I was so concerned, and they told me to get more exercise for my high blood pressure!

The next week I messaged my own GP saying I thought I should see an allergist or an immunologist. She called me in and prescribed me anti-depressants for my throat constriction and palpitations. I have not taken them.

I have hunted down a holistic GP who is very interested in gut health and asked if I can see him. Unfortunately I can't see him until April 2024 which is a real shame. I am on a cancellation list though so here's hoping.

I have ordered a Microbiome test but unfortunately I waited too long and now can't do that until 8 January 2024. Being summertime here, we tend to have long business closures at this time of year.

I am thinking of visiting one of my current GP's colleagues (maybe a younger one) and getting my thyroid tested.

Thanks all for your input and I hope you all have a lovely Christmas 🙂 

 

[Jess270]

This sounds to me like histamine intolerance. Some foods have more or less histamine. processed or aged meats, fermented food like yoghurt or kimchi and bread (yeast), spinach, eggplant and mushroom are high in histamine. Other foods like tomatoes are histamine liberators, they encourage your mast cells to release histamine, which can also trigger the reactions you describe, flu like symptoms, joint pain, urinary tract irritation, rash, stomach upset, nausea, diarrhoea & fatigue. I had liver pain like you describe, as part of the intolerance is usually a sluggish liver that makes processing all the histamine difficult. There are multiple possible root causes of histamine intolerance, usually it’s a symptom of something else. In my case, leaky gut (damaged gut wall)caused by undiagnosed celiac, but for others it’s leaky gut caused by other things like dysbiosis. Some people also experience histamine intolerance due to mould exposure or low levels of DAO (the enzyme that breaks down histamine in the gut). I’d try a low histamine diet & if that doesn’t improve symptoms fully, try low oxalate too. As others have suggested, supplements like vitamin d, b, l-glutamine to support a healthy gut & a good liver support supplement too. If you’re in a histamine flare take vitamin c to bowel tolerance & your symptoms will calm down (avoid if you find you have oxalate intolerance though). Best of luck 

[AnnaNZ]

Hi Jess

Thanks so much for your response and apologies for the long delay in answering. I think I must have been waiting for something to happen before I replied and unfortunately it fell off the radar... I have had an upper endoscopy and colonoscopy in the meantime (which revealed 'minor' issues only).

Yes I do think histamine intolerance is one of the problems. I have been lowering my histamine intake and feeling a lot better. And I do think it is the liver which is giving the pain.

I am currently taking zinc (I have had three low zinc tests now), magnesium, B complex, vitamin E and a calcium/Vitamin C mix. I consciously think about getting vitamin D outside. (Maybe I should have my vitamin D re-tested now...) I am still 100% gluten-free.

My current thoughts on the cause of the problems is some, if not all, of the following:

Genetically low zinc uptake, lack of vitamin D, wine drinking (alcohol/sulphites), covid, immune depletion, gastroparesis, dysbiosis, leaky gut, inability to process certain foods

I am so much better than late 2023 so feel very positive 🙂

 

 

[AnnaNZ]

I forgot to mention my suspicion of the high amount of glyphosate allowed to be used on wheat in USA and NZ and Australia.

My weight was 69kg mid-2023, I went down to 60kg in March 2024 and now hover around 63kg (just after winter here in NZ) - wheat-free and very low alcohol consumption.

[Wheatwacked]

Definitely get vitamin D 25(OH)D.  Celiac Disease causes vitamin D deficiency and one of the functions of vitamin D is modulating the genes.  While we can survive with low vitamin D as an adaptation to living in a seasonal environment, the homeostasis is 200 nmol/L.  Vitamin D Receptors are found in nearly every cell with a nucleus,while the highest concentrations are in tissues like the intestine, kidney, parathyroid, and bone.  A cellular communication system, if you will. The vitamin D receptor: contemporary genomic approaches reveal new basic and translational insights

 Possible Root Causes of Histamine Intolerance. "Low levels of certain nutrients like copper, Vitamins A, B6, and C can lead to histamine build up along with excess or deficient levels of iron. Iodine also plays a crucial role in histamine regulation."