Sensitive To All Grains - Help!

[jaknhk]

I have add a dairy allergy for years. Recently I stopped eating wheat and felt so much better. Increased energy , better sleep etc. Went to the doctor to be tested for Celiac - had the blood test and tissue sample from my intestine - both came back negative.

For the past 5 months I react to all grains - rice, corn, quinoe, the gluten free products from Whole Foods etc. My reaction is facial bloating, sinus congestion, puffy eyes, fatigue. Almost the same reaction I get if I eat dairy products. I have some bloating and gas but not like what I've read described by other people on this forum.

I am so frustrated - I'm currently not eating any dairy, grains, vinegar, eggs.....Its so limited that I go crazy sometimes and eat grains....its a viscious cycle as I know you all can relate to.

Anyone have similar symtoms? Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance!!!

[rinne]

Hi and welcome.

I can't handle grains either. I understand the frustration with wanting something in the bread/cake department and would suggest you check into using almond flour. I follow the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and do all my baking with almond flour. I make delicious breads, cakes, muffins and cookies with it and in my opinion they are far tastier than any of the gluten free substitutes.

If you decide to try it I suggest ordering it through Lucy's Kitchen, they have a very finely ground almond flour. The Bob's Red Mill is much coarser and works but not so nicely.

There is a dedicated SCD recipe thread that I've bumped and added my latest almond flour recipe. It should be on the active topics page, if it is not you could do a search for SCD recipes or PM me and I will find it again.

[chatycady]

I too can't do any grains, dairy and citrus fruit. Don't understand the citrus fruit part. I can eat apples, pears, peached, but react to oranges, strawberries, lemons, etc.

I too use almond flour, but sparingly as too much gives me hypoglycemia. I also follow the SCdiet and make my own yogurt and make my own ice cream. Being able to eat yogurt again was the best present I have had in a long time!!

The yogurt is fermented 24 hours so all the lactose is used up. It's an excellent diet and well balanced and the best part is I'm getting better! I hope you decide to try it and that it is sucessful for you!

[jaknhk]

I too can't do any grains, dairy and citrus fruit. Don't understand the citrus fruit part. I can eat apples, pears, peached, but react to oranges, strawberries, lemons, etc.

I too use almond flour, but sparingly as too much gives me hypoglycemia. I also follow the SCdiet and make my own yogurt and make my own ice cream. Being able to eat yogurt again was the best present I have had in a long time!!

The yogurt is fermented 24 hours so all the lactose is used up. It's an excellent diet and well balanced and the best part is I'm getting better! I hope you decide to try it and that it is sucessful for you!

Thanks for the reply. 2 questions - where can I find more information about the SC Diet? and how do you make your own ice cream? You mentioned that dairy bothers you.

Thanks!!!

[jaknhk]

Hi and welcome.

I can't handle grains either. I understand the frustration with wanting something in the bread/cake department and would suggest you check into using almond flour. I follow the SCD (Specific Carbohydrate Diet) and do all my baking with almond flour. I make delicious breads, cakes, muffins and cookies with it and in my opinion they are far tastier than any of the gluten free substitutes.

If you decide to try it I suggest ordering it through Lucy's Kitchen, they have a very finely ground almond flour. The Bob's Red Mill is much coarser and works but not so nicely.

There is a dedicated SCD recipe thread that I've bumped and added my latest almond flour recipe. It should be on the active topics page, if it is not you could do a search for SCD recipes or PM me and I will find it again.

Hi - thanks for the posting. I'm going to try the Almond Flour. I tried baling with Garbanzo bean/Fava flour and still reacted!!

Curious if you have been tested for why you react to grains? I have gone in for testing ( western doctor) and they finds nothing wrong. Is there a reason that our bodies react to grains?

Thanks, Julie

[chatycady]

Thanks for the reply. 2 questions - where can I find more information about the SC Diet? and how do you make your own ice cream? You mentioned that dairy bothers you.

Thanks!!!

You can find out more at Open Original Shared Link or read or buy the book Breaking the Vicious Cycle. I got mine from Amazon. Also Open Original Shared Link has recipe's (ice cream) and all sorts of information about this diet.

I bought a yogurt maker from Amazon - Yogurtmet. It makes a half gallon of yogurt that is lactose free - you can find information about it on those websites. I use 1/2 and 1/2 and whipping cream to make the yogurt that I use for the ice cream. My favorite is Butter Pecan Ice Cream. I can not tolerate any other dairy. I eliminated dairy as it causes all sorts of problems, but I'm fine with this yogurt and I love it! It tastes so creamy and is so satisfying.

The book has a chapter on celiac disease that is very very interesting and explains why some of us can't digest grains, and other foods. But the diet is suppose to cure this.

Hope this answers your questions.

[wschmucks]

Hi I'm an SCD'er too! The fava bean flour is a no-go. There can be startches and other things added to it, so you will probably react to that too. Give the book a read, its small and really interesting. Bottom line is that our intestines are really over loaded because of the Celiac and havent been given time to heal because we keep giving it hard work to do (digest grains and startches). So we cant heal properly, so we still feel crappy. Good Luck!

[RiceGuy]

I'm curious; what exactly defines a grain as far as reactions go? I mean, buckwheat is a seed, but is it a no-no just because it "behaves" like a grain? Is there some common component to all these things which makes them difficult to digest for some people? And wouldn't bean flours and potato flour be entirely different too? What about coconut flour?

jaknhk:Have you looked into the possibility of an intestinal yeast overgrowth? Your reactions are very much like those reported by many people with this problem. I also had terrible sinus problems, puffy eyes, and fatigue from candida. Vinegar is said to be a no-no in this case too, as is sugar. What happens if you eat sugar?

Rice, corn, and quinoa are relatively starchy. And prepackaged gluten-free products are usually very starchy too. Have you tried buckwheat, teff, or amaranth? As for the garbanzo/fava flour you tried, was this the only flour in the recipe?

[Gobbie]

OH MY GOD!!!! I am SO GLAD to have found this forum!

I have been miserable for such a long time cos I thought that perhaps having too many food sensitivities are purely my psychological issues but knowing that there are others like me... I'm so assured.

Here are the lists of food sensitivities I had for if not all, long periods of my life with noticeable symptoms:

Allergies

-Nut: Some nuts are worse than others. Causes itchy skin, rash all over, swollen and inflammation of mouth&throat, burning sensation.

-Soy: same reaction as above. Although I can tolerate Soy light milk.

-Coconut: especially coconut milk. Similar symptoms as above but milder though it brings on major indigestion.

-Chestnut: Indigestion.

-Dust: Ie, house dust. Causes one day cold or brings about the symtpoms of cold such as cough, runny nose, temperature, blocked nasal passage or throat which lasts few days or turns into cold if untreated. Oh, and the fatigueness and a slight diffiulty in breathing which results in dizzyness. Every time I clean up my room or house, I become ill LOL so I only do this during the holiday seasons or the weekends.

Intolerances

-Lactose: Causes upset stomach, indigestion, noisy tummy, bloating, gassy and everything. This lasts up to a week. Milk and cheese especially concentrated ones like mature cheese causes this almost instantly. Such a discomfort. Lacto free milk is fine but have not tried free from cheeses yet. Even milk chocolate does moderate damage.

-Grains: My family loves Asian food like Japanese, Chinese or Korean which are evolved around rice. Though I could only tolerate maximum of half a bowl of rice per meal. Rice cakes would fill me up too easily and are almost indigestible. Symptoms have worsened recently, diarrhea, constipation, bloating, indigestion, muscle cramps, abdominal pain, feeling sick, fatigue, total loss of energy, disturbed sleeping pattern, does it also effect joints and muscles? I can not even tolerate a tiny amount of it.

-Red meat: Never liked it nor have been able to digest them.

-Chicken: Been told to stay away.

-Fried foods: Indigestion so Fast food, Indian food or Chinese foods are definite no no. So many times have I fallen ill after eating them.

-Heavy seasoned food: Like Indian curry or Chinese food or salty food causes stomach problems which often turns into illness.

-Potato & Sweet potato: Thought I'd give them a special mention. I have always found it difficult to even finish one potato, fills me up too easily and rather painfully. Sweet potatoes, I can only have about two per day but in one condition that I have nothing else to accompany it with. Mixture of sweets or caffeine sometimes even fruits ALWAYS cause indigestion problems.

Then recently other intolerances have risen but come to think about it, I am 99% convinced that these have been with me all the time and only worsened recently due to my carelessness and stress.

Allergies

-Hayfever: Developed it with weak symptoms about 4 years ago but it has accelerated over time and now causes inflammation of eyes, feels like someone is constantly spraying garlic + spring onion with bits in them, unstoppable runny nose, coughs, sneeze, headaches, dizzyness, loss of energy, stress, disturbed sleeping pattern and general cold symptoms but constant.

Intolerances

-Wheat & Gluten: Initially diagnosed as Wheat since I have not tried other gluten before but recently realised that the offender is the entire gluten family. Causes same symptoms as grains but also brings about rashes and itchy skin after a day or two.

-Egg yolk: Even one egg has made me gassy quite badly but I think it is because of the yolk. I can tolerate meringue or Angel food cake which has no yolk but other pastries or fried foods with yolk..milder but same symptoms as above.

-Corn puff: Same symptoms as grain or gluten but much milder and painless.

-Carrot: Causes abnormal bloating every time!! How annoying!

This REALLY makes life harder.

MAJORITY of alternative food uses RICE FLOUR especially baked goods or snacks...

I tend to react worse to rice flour than to wheat.

Plus Whole meals are slightly better off and a little bit more painless so I often end up consuming gluten products.

Or even when discovering me friendly pastries, like brownies they ALL contain NUTS!!!!

So most of the time I give in and eat them only to be followed by consequences... arrrrgh!

Thankfully I am a sea food lover but I miss snacks so much :'(

Or dining out without having to do endless amount of research only to realise there is nothing I can have!!!!

x

[jaknhk]

I'm curious; what exactly defines a grain as far as reactions go? I mean, buckwheat is a seed, but is it a no-no just because it "behaves" like a grain? Is there some common component to all these things which makes them difficult to digest for some people? And wouldn't bean flours and potato flour be entirely different too? What about coconut flour?

jaknhk:Have you looked into the possibility of an intestinal yeast overgrowth? Your reactions are very much like those reported by many people with this problem. I also had terrible sinus problems, puffy eyes, and fatigue from candida. Vinegar is said to be a no-no in this case too, as is sugar. What happens if you eat sugar?

Rice, corn, and quinoa are relatively starchy. And prepackaged gluten-free products are usually very starchy too. Have you tried buckwheat, teff, or amaranth? As for the garbanzo/fava flour you tried, was this the only flour in the recipe?

Hi - I have thought about Candida. Sounds like you have the same symptoms I do with puffy face, congestion and fatigue. How are you eating? And what are you doing to fight the Candida?

Whats the best way to get tested for Candida - blood test?

[notsickanymore]

Hello! I just read your post and would like to refer you to The Body Ecology Diet website. I'm not a doctor, but you maybe suffering from Candida, which is a yeast overgrowth in your intestines. It gives you bad stomach problems, bloating, gas, etc, vomiting, acid reflux, acne, rashes on skin & face. It's awful. It can be caused from taking too many antibiotics growing up, birth control pills, the "typical" American diet which includes antibiotics, growth hormones, & god knows what else they pump animals full of & spray our lovely veggies & soils with. A lot of Western Dr's don't know about Candida either. In the book, The Body Ecology Diet(to be referred to as BED here on in), by Donna Gates, there's a test you can take to see if you may have it. It's from Dr. Crook who is a nutritionist also who has written book(s) on women's health. Very cool.

I had suffered at great length & for years while I was being tested & misdiagnosed & given more antibiotics as well as taking anywhere from 3 to 6 different types of digestive meds, some masked my problems for a little while, but none of them even came close to curing me. The only thing that cured my problem was going on the BED. During the 1st 3 months it's recommended that you stay away from all sugar & grains while your body starts repairing & cleansing itself. After that you can slowly start adding raw, organic honey & the easiest grains to be digested: Quinoa, Millet, Amaranth, & Buckwheat, & after your belly feels better you can add brown rice every so often. It's all recommended that you soak the grains 8-24 hours before cooking them. This makes them even easier to digest. You should also consume 2-4tbsp's of fermented vegetables with every meal. This aids in digestion. And let me tell you, it TOTALLY works! Fermented veggies are sauerkraut & sometimes you can find mixed veggies in a glass jar that are fermented, like carrots, onions, cabbage, etc. But in the BED Donna gives you recipes on how to do it yourself & what veggies you can use.

For a bread substitute I've found Amy Lyn's Flax Seed Crackers/Bread substitute. I've only found them @ Whole Foods. They are only flax seeds, sesame seeds, water, sea salt, garlic & onion. That's it! And they are delicious!!!! Yummy! Then there's Mary's Gone Crackers. They have only a few ingredients also & are quite tasty as well: quinoa, brown rice, sesame seeds, water, sea salt, wheat free tamari, & I think that's it. They come in 4 varieties. I prefer the Black Pepper ones personally.

Gluten free breads: by Food For Life: there's a rice/almond, brown rice, pecan/raisin. Oh, and Manna Bread. Then the company Ezekial makes sprouted breads, hamburger buns, English muffins even. They do have wheat in them, but I heard they make 1 that's wheat-free. I haven't found the wheat-free yet, but I'm looking for it still. With that being said, I have eaten their bread, and super surprisingly I didn't have any problems @ all! Shocker!

Oh, there's also another book you should check out called Patient Heal Thyself by Dr. Jordan Rubin. Who cured himself of Crones Disease, typically fatal! It's an incredible read.

Both the BED & Patient Heal Thyself use the "Maker's Diet." This is based on the diet from the bible. You certainly don't have to be all into god to utilize this informative information. It really works!

Also, cow dairy is extremely difficult to digest for most people. Baby cows are born between 70 - 100lbs, so the mother's milk is made to nurture that size baby. The milk proteins & fats are too large & digest for humans to digest. Goat & sheep babies are born 8 - 10lbs, much closer to human babies. So most of us who are lactose intolerant can easily digest goat & sheep milk, yogurt & cheeses. Try to stick with raw goat & sheep products, not pasturized which kills a lot of the good bacteria our bodies need to replenish from being stripped of them from antibiotics & way too much over processed foods full of bleached flour & sugar, sugar, sugar!

So try to find an informed Dr who can test you for Candida perhaps. These diets help with a ton of different digestive & immune system problems & if we don't fix our inner ecology & we stay on these unhealthy diets they can lead to major problems like Diabetes, Cancer, Lupus, folks with AIDS can easily die from Candida also.

I know I've loaded you up with a bunch of info. I hope some or all of it can help you out. And I strongly suggest you pick up both of the books I have referred to. A lot of my friends and friends of friends have & have all reported remarkable health improvements. They both contain menus & recipes to help you get started. I wish you all the best of luck, and please feel free to send me an email if you'd like to chat any further.

Good luck!

Jeannie

I have add a dairy allergy for years. Recently I stopped eating wheat and felt so much better. Increased energy , better sleep etc. Went to the doctor to be tested for Celiac - had the blood test and tissue sample from my intestine - both came back negative.

For the past 5 months I react to all grains - rice, corn, quinoe, the gluten free products from Whole Foods etc. My reaction is facial bloating, sinus congestion, puffy eyes, fatigue. Almost the same reaction I get if I eat dairy products. I have some bloating and gas but not like what I've read described by other people on this forum.

I am so frustrated - I'm currently not eating any dairy, grains, vinegar, eggs.....Its so limited that I go crazy sometimes and eat grains....its a viscious cycle as I know you all can relate to.

Anyone have similar symtoms? Can anyone help me with this? Thanks in advance!!!

[notsickanymore]

RE: test for Candida: it can be done by blood & feces. If you see any mucus in your bowel movement, it's a distinct possibility that you have Candida. If you get yeast infections easily or every time you take antibiotics, you probably have it. I don't want to say definitely as I'm not a doctor, but those are symptoms for sure. And to fight it you have to kill it. You do that with your diet. It thrives on sugar and everything that turns into sugar. You can begin your day by drinking a 4oz glass of room temp - warm glass of filtered water with 1-2tbsp's of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar. I buy Braggs brand, but Spectrum makes a good one as does Eden. You have to shake it because there's a lot of sediment in it. I also sprinkle it on almost all my meals. It's delicious on grains, veggies such as kale, collard greens, spinach, and I make all my own salad dressings always using raw apple cider vinegar. Also, for cooking, you should exclusively use unrefined extra virgin coconut oil. It's yummy & has a lot of lauric & caprilic acid in it which heals the body. It's a good fat. Adding ocean veggies into your daily diet is great as well. That's Nori, Dulse, Hijiki, Arame, etc. You can buy them dried in a shaker to use instead of salt. Maine Coast's Dulse with Garlic is a favorite of mine. And Celtic or Mediterranian Sea Salt is fantastic, or Himilayan Sea Salt is very good as well. If you're in the NYC area, The Fairway market in Red Hook is a great place to shop. Much much cheaper than Whole Foods.

Good luck!

Jeannie

Hi - I have thought about Candida. Sounds like you have the same symptoms I do with puffy face, congestion and fatigue. How are you eating? And what are you doing to fight the Candida?

Whats the best way to get tested for Candida - blood test?

[nyctexangal]

I too am just figuring out that I'm reacting to all grains as well- had a TERRIBLE reaction to brown rice cakes last night. Booo!! Thankful to have found all of your responses on this matter!

[PrincessHungry]

I too am just figuring out that I'm reacting to all grains as well- had a TERRIBLE reaction to brown rice cakes last night. Booo!! Thankful to have found all of your responses on this matter!

Hey people!

I don't know what's going on with me exactly but I have recently come across the low oxalate diet. I had a serious reaction to brown rice. Serious. However, white rice is very different. Not perfect, but VERY different. This diet hasn't been perfect. I still react to all food, but understanding the differences in the types of foods has been helpful.

Good luck people.

[mushroom]

Hey people!

I don't know what's going on with me exactly but I have recently come across the low oxalate diet. I had a serious reaction to brown rice. Serious. However, white rice is very different. Not perfect, but VERY different. This diet hasn't been perfect. I still react to all food, but understanding the differences in the types of foods has been helpful.

PrincessHungry, have you also considered lectins as a possible culprit. The lectins in rice are found in the outer bran, so it is recommended that those who are lectin sensitive eat only white rice despite its higher glycemic index reading. I have come to the conclusion I am lectin intolerant to most high lectin foods except dairy, and have myself switched to white rice. Just a thought to consider in your dietary adjustments.