Ill Effects From Eating Pork? Beef?

[Caryl]

My husband and two daughters are celiac, and we are pretty successful at a completely gluten-free household (family of 9 all together- so it get's interesting). My question is about pork. My husband and kids cannot tolerate it. Has anyone else had this effect? In addition, we raise 100% grass fed beef and one of our customers said he and his two brothers (severely celiac) have found that our meat is the only beef they can eat without any ill effect. We're wondering about grain-fed meat. Any ideas?

[mouse]

I had a friend that was allergic to pork and that could be the case in your family.

[Felidae]

I have problems with non-organic meats. I know there are others here that have similar problems.

[Carriefaith]

They could be allergic to pork. Maybe you could ask your doctor for allergy tests?

[aikiducky]

I have problems with non-organic meats as well. In my case though it's most noticeable if I eat non-organic chicken.

Pauliina

[plantime]

In addition, we raise 100% grass fed beef and one of our customers said he and his two brothers (severely celiac) have found that our meat is the only beef they can eat without any ill effect. We're wondering about grain-fed meat. Any ideas?

It could be that your customer is actually referring to the hormones and antibiotics that are fed to commercial beef cows. If you grow your own grain, and don't let anything be added to it, it might be just fine. My grandpa always grew the corn that he fed to the cows that were for his family to eat, he said it was better all around.

[Rusla]

I am not a big meat eater and not red meat. On occasion I have had pork but it is not something I crave or even want. My red meat problem started about over 30 years ago. My nose would run and I would get very ill. They figured it was the red dyes, antibiotics and other things that was injected into the meats. I used to stick with chicken and seafood and still do. Because I was getting sick from chicken, I would hardly eat in the last few years. I still barely eat it but now if I get any I get it from an organic farmer, like my eggs and honey. I don't get sick from his chicken or turkey because there is no anitibiotics or grain feeding, he corn feeds his chicken. I still do not eat a great deal of chicken or seafood. Getting it directly from him I really don't pay an enormous price for it like one would in a store.

[bluejeangirl]

Grass fed free range animals have more omega-3 fatty acids which are anti inflammatory. Just like the cold water fish or salmon which gets alot of attention these days. When farm animals are fed corn and other grains their muscles contain almost no omega-3's and substantial amts of saturated fats...very inflammitory. The cows themselves wouldn't live along life but it doesn't matter because they are usually slaughtered before they're 4. Did you read Fast Food Nation? I thought that book was very informative about the whole beef industry. I know you can pick that book up pretty cheap because its out in paperback.

In that book they talk about how dirty the slaughter houses and the e coli and other bacteria.

It only makes sense that if we eat this meat we're not going to feel well. I'm so grateful for people like yourself who allow the animals to free range and eat wild grasses. I always look for a farmer in my area who can sell me that type.

Gail

[darlindeb25]

In my honest opinion, it doesn't matter what the cow ate before we serve it up. Myself, I can't digest beef and pork--red meat is much harder to digest then say chicken or fish. My mom always said that red meat rots in your tummy. I just know it does bother me. If it does matter what the cow is fed, then feeding it all corn would make me very ill, I am intolerant of corn. The old saying I remember is: milk is for baby calves and corn is for fattening hogs. That's what mom always said! Deb

[Caryl]

We've only been gluten-free for a bit over a year, and since we raise our own beef we haven't eaten any from the grocery store in over a decade, except when we're visiting friends (and even then, we usually bring the beef!). We don't eat grocery store chicken or pork either, although we raised our own chickens a few years ago (loved them) and sometimes buy the free-range/organic chicken from the same stores that carry our beef (they often give us a good deal).

What started me thinking is when we were given a ham this Christmas, and it made my husband so very sick (we knew what was in it because the processor who does our beef gave it to us; there was no wheat or gluten). Then, these regular customers of ours who are celiac said that they couldn't eat regular beef. They even found that our cube stakes didn't agree with them (we thought that perhaps our processor did that set of cube steaks right after processing a grain-fed beef and the cuber machine was contaminted--it probably wouldn't be hormones or other feedlot junk, since most of what this processor does is our beef, organic grain-fed beef, and beef for families). My husband also cannot eat our sausages, made with our beef and high-quality natural pork, and our own blend of organic seasonings.

My husband is very careful when we're away from home because an episode wipes him out for about a week, and his ranching work is physically demanding. He's had "mystery" attacks, however, and now we are starting to wonder if it was the protein (beef, chicken or pork), which up until now we had considered fairly safe.

Gail, I wish everyone would read Fast Food Nation; if more people bought meat from small-scale, grass based and organic producers, it would change the face of American agriculture.

Caryl

[flagbabyds]

Pork makes me barf almost instantly, i think it might be that i just hate the taste, but i think that i might also be allergic to it.

[VydorScope]

Beef and Pork both are allergens they test for in normal food allegery test, so while all the dye and addtive and grass talk my have merit, its likely just a simple allegery. Have you considered getting tested for the mre common food allegeries?

[gf4life]

I cannot digest beef or pork. I haven't been able to for years. We almost never buy pork, just the occasional bacon or ham that the kids like. I only eat bacon/ham a few times a year when we eat away from home. I limit myself on both the frequency and serving size of the beef. I use digestive enzymes when eating either. It is a pain to eat this way, but more pain if I eat them more often or larger servings. I swear it feels like the food just sits there for about 2 days without the enzymes! I have not been allergy tested for foods other than the top 8. I have thought about doing a full panel, but not gotten around to it.

I eat chicken mostly and some kinds of mild fish. A lot of times I just have to skip the meat if I have been having it too often. It is hard to eat out, since mostly what is on the gluten-free menus are meats, veggies and salads. If I don't choose a meat then I just don't feel full on just veggies and salad...needless to say I keep the digestive enzymes in my purse! I once forgot them on a weekend trip and couldn't buy any gluten-free brands of enzymes. I was suffering so bad by the time I got home. All the eating out and no enzymes!

I wonder if grass fed beef would be easier to digest?

Caryl, do you think it would matter if the cows were fed alfalfa (do they feed that to cows?) and a person (like me) were severely allergic to it, would it cause an allergic reaction? They grow a lot of alfalfa around here and I was just wondering if I found a free-range grass fed cow supplier would it be alfalfa and would it be safe for me... Most of the cows in the area are grain fed on feed lots. Here in Fresno County we have Harris Ranch and they have the largest feed lot in California. They are the only place I hear about for cows. They are grain fed cows. That doesn't mean that there aren't smaller suppliers who offer organic, grass fed cows, I just haven't heard of them. I guess I could check into it. I'm just not sure it is worth the trouble if it ends up I am allergic to beef...

[ms-sillyak-screwed]

I can't do pork... I can't do ARMOR THYROID natural thryoid medication thats gluten and dairy free. It's made from pigs thyroids they dry and turn into pills. I can't tolerate pork. My only sympton is I get mouth sores.

I can do fish, chicken - steaks big fat juicy ones almost rare are my favorite. Most of my life you would never hear me say that. I was meat free about 20-years. I think it screwed me up not eating meata ll those years.

I'm looking to find a place that sells wild game... This is making me hungry.

[pixiegirl]

I'm allergic to pork as well, I tested allergic to it and if I eat it I get really sick. Someone said that they don't think it makes a difference what the cow ate before we eat it and I have to disagree, most cows are fed tons of antibiotics and hormones and I don't see how you can think thats good for you?

I eat organic as often as possible and that includes beef and poultry.

Susan