Additives And Preservatives

[Kaycee 1]

I get quite frustrated at times.

A lot of people claim that once they go gluten free their problems all clear up just like that. I think that is wonderful, but regretfully that did not happen to me.

With me it is different. I spent quite a few months struggling with the diet, eating as gluten free as I could, but there were things that kept getting me.

In an effort to understand or to better know what the problems were, I went on an elimination diet and I went nearly compeltely additive free, and I thought by doing this I would be able to pin point any possible problems. It worked quite well. My stomach and things settled, but then when I increased the dosage of prepared foods, I turned into a bit of a mess and thought it was all gluten realted, so I would cut back on the additive laden food, only to improve again.

I have never had an aversion to additives in the past, my motto seemed to be if it is food, it is fine. I was just getting a wee bit paranoid that the additives might all be made with gluten. I tell you I was quite paranoid, and people would look at me sideways with disbelief.

In hindsight, I don't have any other particular food problems. The elimination diet proved I can eat peanuts, dairy and legumes and drink coffee without any problems. But every now and then I will eat something that I re-act to. I don't think it is a gluten reaction, but now more a reaction that gives me migrains and or keeps me awake and restless at night. I can usually relate this back to eating prepared food, like coke, sauces, prepared rice dishes, icecreams etc. These are all processed food items and I do wonder whether I have an intolerance to some additives and preservatives. These are all seemingly gluten free products.

Does this happen to anyone else? Is there any particular additive that could be the main culprit?

Maybe it is all in my head.

Cathy

[NewB 0]

You are 110 per cent certain that you are not casein intolerant??? I personally avoid all packaged foods...a wee bit of soy sauce can set me off.....the gut is really "old" and it doesn't react well to all these "modified this and thats" and i have stared on digestive enzyemes

[gfmolly 0]

I'm with newB. Dairy is jsut too much of an issue for me. However, I seem to be having trouble with packaged food as well. I don't think it is gluten for me, but maybe your tummy is just taking it's time to heal, and you have developed other intolerances for the time-being. When I ate only fresh foods, I do really well. Add in packaged stuff, i don't know what to link it to!

[Kaycee 1]

Dairy is not the problem for me, as I eat a bit of cheese and milk and hyoghurts and my stomach seems to have healed. I hardly have issues with it.

Yesterday was a bad day, I had a major headache/migraine.

I still think it is additives for me, but which ones cause the worse problems, msg or what, because like tcat, I do find when I eat fresh foods and meals prepared from scratch, I am more often than not fine, but when I add packaged food, I find it hard to find the cluprit and find myself slowly going downhill.

Cathy

[Rachel--24 7]

Some things you might want to look into...

MSG

Aspertame

Sulfites

Food colorings/dyes (i.e. red 40)

MSG and Sulfites are present in nearly all processed foods....although not clearly labeled.

You would have to do some research to get a full understanding of how to identify these chemicals in processed foods.

Generally, when people are reacting to these things...its not just one chemical that they're having problems with.

I avoid all of this stuff...High Fructose Corn Syrup is another one I would stay away from.

[Yellow Rose 1]

I get quite frustrated at times.

A lot of people claim that once they go gluten free their problems all clear up just like that. I think that is wonderful, but regretfully that did not happen to me.

With me it is different. I spent quite a few months struggling with the diet, eating as gluten free as I could, but there were things that kept getting me.

In an effort to understand or to better know what the problems were, I went on an elimination diet and I went nearly compeltely additive free, and I thought by doing this I would be able to pin point any possible problems. It worked quite well. My stomach and things settled, but then when I increased the dosage of prepared foods, I turned into a bit of a mess and thought it was all gluten realted, so I would cut back on the additive laden food, only to improve again.

I have never had an aversion to additives in the past, my motto seemed to be if it is food, it is fine. I was just getting a wee bit paranoid that the additives might all be made with gluten. I tell you I was quite paranoid, and people would look at me sideways with disbelief.

In hindsight, I don't have any other particular food problems. The elimination diet proved I can eat peanuts, dairy and legumes and drink coffee without any problems. But every now and then I will eat something that I re-act to. I don't think it is a gluten reaction, but now more a reaction that gives me migrains and or keeps me awake and restless at night. I can usually relate this back to eating prepared food, like coke, sauces, prepared rice dishes, icecreams etc. These are all processed food items and I do wonder whether I have an intolerance to some additives and preservatives. These are all seemingly gluten free products.

Does this happen to anyone else? Is there any particular additive that could be the main culprit?

Maybe it is all in my head.

Cathy

Could be MSG check out this site http://www.msgmyth.com/symptoms.htm symptoms of MSG toxicity

Also check out around page 7 of the post Oh my gosh I might be on to something. There is lots of info on MSG there.

Yellow Rose

[irish daveyboy 29]

Hi 'Kaycee',

.

Reading through your post, yes people do have reactions to additives and there is no Gluten involved.

.

Here is an extract of a post I made some time ago.

.

People who are sticking to a gluten-free diet and still suffering some or all of the symptoms, should look at food additives in processed and canned products.

.

We all know that modified starch could mean anything if it is not specified.

.

There is a suggesting that some additives and E numbers can cause similar type symptoms to

Celiac Disease (for those that may be susceptible) for example:

Phenylephine: Side effects are nausea, stomach upset, loss of appetite, headache, chest pain.

Zinc: Toxic doses cause vomiting, diarrhea, stomach irritation, depressed immune function, anaemia.

Quinine Sulphate: headaches and nausea.

Taurine: excessive consumption can cause diarrhea.

E110: Sunset Yellow, side effects hives, rhinitis, nasal congestion, allergies, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting indigestion, distaste for food.

E132: Indigotine, may cause nausea, vomiting, skin rash, breathing problems and other allergic reactions.

E219: Tert-ButyHydroQuinone, may cause nausea, vomiting, delirium. (a dose of 5g is considered fatal)

E412: Guar gum, can cause nausea, flatulence, cramps.

E440: Pectin, large quantities may cause temporary flatulence and intestinal discomfort.

E622: Monopotassium glutamate, can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps.

E924: Potassium bromate, large quantities can cause nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, pain.

.

.

You may want to read through this.

.

Additives and E numbers

.

.

[busybee629 0]

Here is another website on MSG. I have found this to be quite helpful. I find if I make everything from scratch I feel much better. Most of the gluten free products have xanthen gum in them, which has free glutamates( which is in MSG) in it. According to the information I read in this websites book ,there is a long list of names of glutamate containing foods. Things like gelatin capules. It is in everything.

I have switched to agar agar that I get from an asian market for my gluten free baking and it works so much better for me.

Here is the website http://www.msgmyth.com/ They are even great about answering questions about msg and offer a email address to contact them.

Hope this information is helpful. I have added the list below that shows foods that contain msg.

Debbie

Hidden Names for MSG

Foods always contain MSG when these words are on the label:

MSG, Gelatin, Calcium Caseinate

Monosodium glutamate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (HVP) Textured Protein

Monopotassium glutamate Hydrolyzed Plant Protein (HPP) Yeast Extract

Glutamate Autolyzed Plant Protein, Yeast food or nutrient

Glutamic Acid, Sodium Caseinate, Autolyzed Yeast

Foods made with the following products often contain MSG.

Malted Barley (flavor) Flavors, Flavoring Modified food starch

Barley malt, Reaction Flavors Rice syrup or brown rice syrup

Malt Extract or Flavoring Natural Chicken, Beef, or Pork, Flavoring "Seasonings" (Most assume this means salt, pepper, or spices and herbs, which sometimes it is.) Lipolyzed butter fat

Maltodextrin Soy Sauce or Extract "Low" or "No Fat" items

Caramel Flavoring (coloring) Soy Protein Corn syrup and corn syrup solids (some companies use another process to make their product, saying it is MSG free)

Stock Soy Protein Isolate or Concentrate Citric Acid (when processed from corn)

Broth, Cornstarch, Milk Powder

Bouillon, Flowing Agents, Dry Milk Solids

Carrageenan, Wheat, rice, or oat protein Protein Fortified Milk

Whey Protein or Whey Anything enriched or vitamin enriched Annatto

Whey Protein Isolate or Concentrate Protein fortified "anything" Spice

Pectin, Enzyme modified "anythng" Gums

Protease Ultra-pasteurized "anything" Dough Conditioners

Protease enzymes Fermented "anything" Yeast Nutrients