Other Eliminations

[momothree]

All of my 3 kids are on the gluten-free diet after being diagnosed a few months ago. We have noticed some subtle, and some unexpected changes in them. However, they never really had "classic" symptoms, so it is a bit more difficult to gauge. My question is, how did you know to eliminate other things as well. I read so many posts where individuals with celiac also have issues with casein, soy, etc., etc. Are there tests for these additional sensitivities? Some of the behaviour issues I have read about might, most definitely, relate to at least one (possibly 2) of my kids. Perhaps it has nothing to do with their Celiac, or anything else (although I was desperately hoping it was). Does casein or anything else affect behaviour as well, or would it be mostly physical symptoms they would have??? I certainly don't want to go looking for more problems, but if it is something besides their predestined personalities---I would like to know. Any info in this area would be helpful. Thanks!!

[ptkds]

I have read that all kinds of things can affect personality. Things like garlic can even cause reactions. I belieive you can see an allergist and sometimes get an answer through those tests, but not always.

Good luck and I hope you can figure everything out!

ptkds

[shayesmom]

All of my 3 kids are on the gluten-free diet after being diagnosed a few months ago. We have noticed some subtle, and some unexpected changes in them. However, they never really had "classic" symptoms, so it is a bit more difficult to gauge. My question is, how did you know to eliminate other things as well. I read so many posts where individuals with celiac also have issues with casein, soy, etc., etc. Are there tests for these additional sensitivities? Some of the behaviour issues I have read about might, most definitely, relate to at least one (possibly 2) of my kids. Perhaps it has nothing to do with their Celiac, or anything else (although I was desperately hoping it was). Does casein or anything else affect behaviour as well, or would it be mostly physical symptoms they would have??? I certainly don't want to go looking for more problems, but if it is something besides their predestined personalities---I would like to know. Any info in this area would be helpful. Thanks!!

With my dd, we did an elimination diet coupled with a food journal that documented foods, behavior, BMs, etc.. We pulled one food out for 4-5 days and documented any changes either positive or negative. Then, we'd introduce the food back in for one day and wait another 3 to see if and how things went. My dd cannot tolerate dairy, soy, eggs and food colorings (I HATE yellow dye #5!!! ). And she doesn't do too hot with artificial flavorings, artificial sweeteners and pretty much any man-made concoction added into the food supply.

It took us several months to figure out all of the intolerances. We didn't go too gung-ho on finding them as it was difficult to learn appropriate substitutions and to figure out what to cook. So we tested one or two foods per month. We eventually got there!

[maribeth]

Things like garlic can even cause reactions.

Oh dear!! Are we not to eat garlic? I love garlic and cook with it all the time. Beth.

[tarnalberry]

I did a hard-core elimination diet, eating only a dozen foods for a week, then adding one in at a time. You can also go the opposite route, eliminating one food for a week or two, then adding it back in to test it. At the least, I would encourage eliminating any suspect foods - all the common allergens (peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, wheat (already out, of course), and soy. Anything else that you think, even suspect, he might react to - corn, nightshades, chocolate, etc. - should be elminated too. Add things back in one at a time, and give plenty of time between new items, and try to keep some records or notes about how things are going.

[acousticmom]

I've done both types of elimination diet--the kinder version, where you cut out one suspect food group at a time, and the brutal version of cutting out all but a handful of foods. The kinder version is a bit of a gamble, because if the kids have multiple sensitivities, you may or may not see much of a difference. The brutal version at least gets you back to feeling good (if food is causing the problems), and that's a big motivator for following through even though it's tough. I put off the strict elimination for many years because it sounded too hard, but I wish I had done it much sooner. It's the best thing I've ever done for my health!

And yes, personality & behavior challenges can definitely be caused by food sensitivities. Spooky stuff.

Janice Joneja, PhD and Jonathan Brostoff, MD have both written very helpful books if you want more guidance than your doctor can provide. I think both recommend starting with a "healthy eating" diet first, where you eliminate dairy, sugar, caffeine, & alcohol (if I remember correctly)--since these "normal" foods can have a drug-like effect on anybody. If you journal your observations before and during the healthy eating diet, you may see significant changes without doing the full-blown elimination.

Good luck!

[momothree]

Thanks for all the info. It has been so hard even just eliminating gluten (for my kids and me), but I have a feeling there is more to it. I just don't know where to start. I have a feeling that my oldest child does react to some food colourings, so that might be a good place to start. Is casein in everything that is derived from dairy? What about non-dairy sources? Is it called something else in an ingredient list, or am I simply looking for the word "casein"? As you can see, I really don't have a clue!!

[acousticmom]

Thanks for all the info. It has been so hard even just eliminating gluten (for my kids and me), but I have a feeling there is more to it. I just don't know where to start. I have a feeling that my oldest child does react to some food colourings, so that might be a good place to start. Is casein in everything that is derived from dairy? What about non-dairy sources? Is it called something else in an ingredient list, or am I simply looking for the word "casein"? As you can see, I really don't have a clue!!

Since the new labeling laws took effect last January, companies are supposed to list if milk is in any obscure ingredients. Sometimes you'll see "Contains Milk" at the bottom of the ingredients list, but not always. Unfortunately, there are lots more names than just casein. Jenvan posted a helpful list on this board a while ago. Here's the address: Open Original Shared Link

For me, the easiest way to avoid casein (and gluten) is to eat really basic meats, veggies, fruits and nuts and cook from scratch. Sounds boring at first, but you start to appreciate great in-season fruits & veggies much more than if they were competing with your favorite processed foods for your taste buds' attention. So it's not all that bad. It helps if the whole family eats that way at home, so the kids don't have to look at foods they can't eat.

And if you can help the kids can make the connection with foods that make them feel bad, they'll be more inclined to stay away from those foods. That's why I'm such a fan of the "healthy eating" approach I wrote about earlier (and strict elimination only if that doesn't give improvement). It makes food reactions very obvious, and that's what you need.

[mn farm gal]

I have read somethings in the past where food colorings will make people feel like they have the ADA syptoms, and once eliminated people could think straight, not so argumentive, moody, sensitive to certain people and thier comments, and so much more.