Quinoa Or Potato Vodka & A Nice Gesture

[Octoberme]

I have been gluten free for only about two weeks now. I was REALLY sick before this with constant D and stomach pains - all the rigamorole. I self-diagnosed this as the doctors around here are useless :-) For the first week I was doing " okay ", though something was still wrong. I figured I must have another food somewhere that is bothering me, so for the last four days I have been on a " safe " diet of only foods that I know are easy on me. Since then I have been very good.

Last night however I introcuded quinoa into my diet, and because I was feeling so well just a titch of potato vodka too ( Chopin ). Today now I have been having a upset stomach, the constant feeling again that i may " need to go " and just now I had a urgent bout of loose stool.

Could this be from the quinoa or the vodka or neither? What's up here? Everything else that I ate yesterday was prepared by me and gluten free I knwo for sure.

As for the nice gesture. I just have to say that I wrote into Fresh Express a while back regarding their salads. I LOVE their pre-packaged Asian salads and Salsa salads. Well, at least I used to. Anyway, I wrote asking them if their products are gluten free as I love them so much and would like to continue purchasing them, and they wrote back saying the Asian was not however the Salsa was.

Low and behold though I went to me mail today only to receive a letter from them stating this:

Thank you for sharing your comments about our Fresh Express Asian Supreme Complete Salad and Salsa Ensalada Supreme Complete Salad.

Many people are responsible for producing the high quality products that have made Fresh Express a trusted name in the food industry. We appreciate hearing of your satisfaction and will sharte your kind comments with the staff responsible for the production and distribution of these products.

Please use the enclosed coupons on your next Fresh Express purchase. We are confident that your experiences with our fresh products will continue to be positive.

And it goes on from there. But then enclosed were a handful of coupons for a dollar off their salads.

I just had to include that as I thought that was the nicest gesture ever!

[Redsd]

My "handlers" prefer I avoid all grains and pseudo grains (rices, anything you could consider grainlike). I don't know if you're familiar with applied kinesiology, i.e. muscle testing? (see Power vs. Force by David R. Hawkins for the concept. I muscle test weak to anything grainlike. Sugars are also a problem, i.e. alcohol. I have to avoid vodka for that reason (and of course booze isn't good for me anyway). I hope you feel better soon. I basically live on eggs, goat cheese, chicken, beef, vegetables and a small amount of fruit personally.

Good luck!

[missy'smom]

The Ancient Harvest quinoa(whole grain) is processed in a dedicated facility so should be completely gluten-free and safe but the quinoa flakes are processed in a shared facility and are processed on shared equipment which carries with it a risk of CC. I react to the flakes.

[Octoberme]

Thanks all for your replies.

The quinoa I used was from bulk from a natural foods store. Could have been cc'd though....my bad

I have never heard of the muscle testing you mentioned Redsd. I will have to check that out. Really, all in all I probably should just not have drank the vodka. With everythign my intestines / stomach has been through lately, plus the fact I am almost considering that i do have leaky gut, I should not have subjected myself to that. Lol, but I am young and used tolove to sit with friends and have drinks and it has just been so long........

Live an dlearn I guess :-(

[njbeachbum]

i've noticed that quinoa, while very good for you, is extremely high in insoluble fiber which can cause some tummy upset. i've felt a little uncomfortable after eating too much of it... a bit gassy and "going" more frequently on the following day. you just have to find the right balance of how much your body can tolerate, especially this soon into the diet. best of luck to you... it's not as hard as it seems at first

[Octoberme]

Hrrrrmmmm.thanks njbeachbum for that. I guess I maybe just had a bit too much of it :-)

Thanks

[imhungry]

I recall reading to never buy anything from those bulk sections where the stuff pours out as one day it is anuts and the next day it is filled with flour... In addition the scopps are contaminated, and the bags perhaps. I just don't touch it at all.

[Octoberme]

I recall reading to never buy anything from those bulk sections where the stuff pours out as one day it is anuts and the next day it is filled with flour... In addition the scopps are contaminated, and the bags perhaps. I just don't touch it at all.

Ya...*smack my hand *.....I should have known better for sure. Next time it is boxed ONLY!!

[bakingbarb]

Ya...*smack my hand *.....I should have known better for sure. Next time it is boxed ONLY!!

You are not the only one! I was drinking Smirnoff ice for months DOH It is a malt beverage I mean really now how many times can I read the same label with out it getting through to my brain.

Btw being gluten free for only 2 weeks is not enough time to heal. I have been gluten-free for almost 6 months now and I would say the first 3 months were rough. If I ate at home I was fine but eating out even if it seemed safe set me off. Now that my big D is under control I can eat out as long as the staff understand the gluten issue. I am not sure if I am saying this correctly. Someone told me at first to not eat out until I was feeling better but that didn't work in my situation so I ate out and got sick every time. I don't get the big D ever anymore so it isn't that everything has healed (its way to soon) but it is better enough that I am not sick all the time. Eating out safely is ok now.

Still not sure I said that right.....

[Octoberme]

You are not the only one! I was drinking Smirnoff ice for months DOH It is a malt beverage I mean really now how many times can I read the same label with out it getting through to my brain.

Still not sure I said that right.....

Lol, no I am thinking I am getting what your saying. And ya, I am sure that 2 weeks is by far not long enough to heal. I am just so darn impatient

So....smirnoff is bad then? Lol, I thought it was good cause it is made fomr corn?? They emailed me and said this:

March 31, 2008 Dear Consumer, Thank you for taking time to contact Smirnoff. We appreciate hearing fromour consumers because your feedback is important. Please be advised that all of the unflavored Smirnoff vodkas are glutenfree. As well as the Citrus, Orange, Raspberry flavored and the SmirnoffBlack are all gluten free. We hope this information makes your shopping alittle easier. Once again, thank you for contacting Smirnoff. Sincerely, Monica DSmirnoff Consumer Representative Smirnoff is clearly original - check out www.smirnoff.com to find out more Check out www.thebar.com for fabulous drink recipes, party ideas and more

I then wrote back and said " is it true it is made from corn?? And they wrote back this:

March 31, 2008 Dear Consumer, Thank you for taking time to contact Smirnoff. We appreciate hearing fromour consumers because your feedback is important. You heard right Smirnoff vodka is made from corn. If you need anything elseplease do not hesitate to contact us again. Once again, thank you for contacting Smirnoff. Sincerely, Monica DSmirnoff Consumer Representative

So....well now I am confused.....lol....

[psawyer]

Smirnoff vodka is made from corn and is gluten-free.

Smirnoff Ice is not vodka. These coolers may or may not be gluten-free, depending on where you are. In most US states, they are malt beverages. Liquor laws vary by state, and in some states they may be gluten-free. Where I live, they are vodka-based, but can only be sold in government liquor stores.

The use of malt alcohol, rather than distilled spirits, is to allow the coolers to be sold alongside beer in those jurisdictions where beer (and sometimes wine) is widely available, but sales of distilled spirits are restricted to liquor stores.

The same consideration applies to other beverages which may share a brand name with a well known liquor without containing any of that distilled spirit.

I hope this clears up the confusion.

[bakingbarb]

Smirnoff vodka is made from corn and is gluten-free.

Smirnoff Ice is not vodka. These coolers may or may not be gluten-free, depending on where you are. In most US states, they are malt beverages. Liquor laws vary by state, and in some states they may be gluten-free. Where I live, they are vodka-based, but can only be sold in government liquor stores.

The use of malt alcohol, rather than distilled spirits, is to allow the coolers to be sold alongside beer in those jurisdictions where beer (and sometimes wine) is widely available, but sales of distilled spirits are restricted to liquor stores.

The same consideration applies to other beverages which may share a brand name with a well known liquor without containing any of that distilled spirit.

I hope this clears up the confusion.

Yeah, what he said! I was drinking the Smirnoff Ice, which is a malt beverage, not Smirnoff vodka. My thinking was it was Smirnoff so it must be vodka, except the bottle clearly says malt beverage. SIGH

Sorry I caused confusion on that one. I should have stated the difference.

Also as to being impatient, ya me too. It finally dawned on me that my tummy feels so much better and I rarely eat out now but when I do I am much more careful then I was at first. Plus the longer you go with this, the more you educate yourself which makes eating out easier.

[Octoberme]

Lol, see there is my impatience again....lol...read too fast and did not see the " ice " part. But that is now all cleared up ..... so thanks :-)

All in due time I am sure I will get this all under control

Hey,....off topic here, but has anyone heard of getting muscle cramps either as a reaction to being glutened or to going on a gluten free diet? Only wondering as I have been getting them REALLY bad the last two days. Literally 6 times a night and waking up to my calves completely tensed up.

Just checkin...

[Redsd]

Lol, see there is my impatience again....lol...read too fast and did not see the " ice " part. But that is now all cleared up ..... so thanks :-)

All in due time I am sure I will get this all under control

Hey,....off topic here, but has anyone heard of getting muscle cramps either as a reaction to being glutened or to going on a gluten free diet? Only wondering as I have been getting them REALLY bad the last two days. Literally 6 times a night and waking up to my calves completely tensed up.

Just checkin...

Your muscle cramps or restless legs may be from the nutrients you're eliminating from your diet because you've changed food, not necessarily the "gluten free" aspect. I normally eat a banana daily for the potassium, which keeps my restless legs or cramps away. I haven't had any bananas lately, and so I took some potassium tablets the other night when I was feeling the symptoms, and that helped.

[Octoberme]

Your muscle cramps or restless legs may be from the nutrients you're eliminating from your diet because you've changed food, not necessarily the "gluten free" aspect. I normally eat a banana daily for the potassium, which keeps my restless legs or cramps away. I haven't had any bananas lately, and so I took some potassium tablets the other night when I was feeling the symptoms, and that helped.

Hey, thanks bunches for that. Probably is what is it. Lol, my b/f keeps telling me it is because I am not drinking enough water. There is NO possible way I can drink more!! I am a tea-a-holic! Lol.

Bu tyes, thanks for that. I have been having a banana every two days ( if i do every day I find that they can be .... ' binding " for me ), but I am definatly trying to make sure I eat lots of nutritious food ( well as much as i can with my limitations ).

Thanks.