Chain Reaction

[bartfull]

Well, when I first went gluten free, my psoriasis and insomnia started improving right away. Then I discovered that corn does me in too.

Now, it seems that raw almonds are a no-no. I have had digestive problems with salad greens (oil and vinnegar) and sweet potatoes. I have no idea what that's all about.

So it seems the only time I sleep well, have clear skin and no bathroom issues is when I stick to brown rice, plain meats, and either broccoli or cauliflower.

But I keep hearing that we shouldn't eat the same thing every day or we run the risk of developing sensitivity to those foods. Am I hurting myself further by trying to stay well? I want to start adding new foods, but it seems everything I try gives me problems!

I could live on the brown rice with meat and broccoli forever if I knew I were getting the nutrition I need, and if I knew I wasn't making things worse in the long run. Right now, I'm starting to worry. Have any of you eaten brown rice every day, and did you develop problems from it?

[GFreeMO]

I eat rice several times a week. 4 or more and have never had a problem with it. I think you will be ok with rice. The things that people tend to get an intolerance to are corn, soy, eggs, dairy etc. Rice will be ok.

How about having some fruits or applesauce or try making something with the rice like dairy free rice pudding or something. Maybe try some cooked carrots or canned fruits. Canned fruits are easy to digest. Pears or something.

But as far as the rice goes, I wouldnt give it another thought. It's good for you.

[pricklypear1971]

If you seem to have problems adding food you may want to break down and try something like the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. I hear it helps a lot of people add back foods.

[Marilyn R]

When it seemed like everything I repeated in my diet (soy, dairy, corn, eggs ... everything) I searched for the foods that were the least likely to be allergens, and I tried rotating protein, vegetable and carborhydrate sources. I had to totally eliminate all processed food, even gluten-free foods from reliable sources. I reckon it was from the trace soy ingredients, but I can't say for sure.

I've also never been sick from potatoes, sweet or white. I've mashed potaotoes with just some of the hot water they were boiled in and some olive or walnut oil because all of the alternative milks where I live have a soy derivative in them, and kicked me the wrong way.

My mom had celiac disease and was noncompliant with the diet. When she was in a crisis, I'd fly up and make mashed potatoes or rice (white or brown), plain poached or sauteed chicken, applesauce, get her on pedialyte, and would avoid a hospital admission for dehydration, etc.

If it seems like you're getting new food intolerances, I'd recommend trying foods you didn't eat before.

I never had a problem with brown or white rice. Or with any fresh/frozen/canned fish or seafood. Exception: carefully read the ingredients on canned fish! (Most of them have soy, if indeed soy is what is bugging you.)

[bartfull]

The problem with canned fruit is that most of it is processed with corn. They use a "citric acid" wash, and although you'd think citric acid comes from citrus fruit, somehow they get it from corn. That's why I can't eat bananas or white potatoes (unless they are "new" potatoes)- because they are GASSED with ethyline - the potatoes to keep them from sprouting, and the bananas to "ripen" them.

I do like carrots, but I have to avoid the baby carrots in the bag. They and almost all of the bagged salads have been washed in that citrus wash.

I'm going to that "Gluten Free Festival" in Rapid City that the administrator of this site posted about. It will be an interesting Sunday afternoon for me. I called the lady who is putting it on, and she said that every sample offered will have an ingredients card, so maybe I can find something I can eat.

The main reason I am going though, is there will be a compounding pharmacist there. I need ibuprophen made without wheat or corn, and the only way to get it is to have it made. (I've been told that it usually costs about a dollar per tablet. This whole thing may drive me bankrupt!)

[Twinklestars]

Do you have an organic store near you? Or one that delivers? Perhaps you're not reacting to the actual food, but rather the pesticides and chemicals they're sprayed with. I have read that potato farmers grow their own crop of potatoes for themselves - SEPARATE from the ones they grow commercially. And that's due to the chemicals they use. I buy at least my apples and potatoes organically. If I can afford nothing else organic I buy those.

It may not be what's causing your issues, but it may be worth a try?

[dilettantesteph]

I've eaten a banana a day for most if not all of my life. I think that is an old wives tale about developing sensitivities to stuff we eat every day. Otherwise none of us would be able to drink water anymore. You should add stuff, but wait till you are feeling better and then add just one thing a week so that you can be sure that you don't react. You sound like a super sensitive celiac to me.

[Marilyn R]

Water and bananas aren't common allergins, so your response lacks logic. Sorry!

I've read a few books relating to IBS and food allergies that recommend rotating foods (even food families) in your diet. Most authors were dieticians or MDs.

Open Original Shared Link

[ArtistinChina]

  On 9/16/2011 at 9:28 PM, bartfull said:

Well, when I first went gluten free, my psoriasis and insomnia started improving right away. Then I discovered that corn does me in too.

Now, it seems that raw almonds are a no-no. I have had digestive problems with salad greens (oil and vinnegar) and sweet potatoes. I have no idea what that's all about.

So it seems the only time I sleep well, have clear skin and no bathroom issues is when I stick to brown rice, plain meats, and either broccoli or cauliflower.

But I keep hearing that we shouldn't eat the same thing every day or we run the risk of developing sensitivity to those foods. Am I hurting myself further by trying to stay well? I want to start adding new foods, but it seems everything I try gives me problems!

I could live on the brown rice with meat and broccoli forever if I knew I were getting the nutrition I need, and if I knew I wasn't making things worse in the long run. Right now, I'm starting to worry. Have any of you eaten brown rice every day, and did you develop problems from it?

Join the Club! I am in the same boat all the way. Any suggestions are very welcome.

[bodhizatfa]

  On 9/16/2011 at 9:28 PM, bartfull said:

Well, when I first went gluten free, my psoriasis and insomnia started improving right away. Then I discovered that corn does me in too.

Now, it seems that raw almonds are a no-no. I have had digestive problems with salad greens (oil and vinnegar) and sweet potatoes. I have no idea what that's all about.

So it seems the only time I sleep well, have clear skin and no bathroom issues is when I stick to brown rice, plain meats, and either broccoli or cauliflower.

But I keep hearing that we shouldn't eat the same thing every day or we run the risk of developing sensitivity to those foods. Am I hurting myself further by trying to stay well? I want to start adding new foods, but it seems everything I try gives me problems!

I could live on the brown rice with meat and broccoli forever if I knew I were getting the nutrition I need, and if I knew I wasn't making things worse in the long run. Right now, I'm starting to worry. Have any of you eaten brown rice every day, and did you develop problems from it?

I went gluten free 9 months ago and like you I have discovered that I have suddenly developed issues with other foods. Almonds caused me issues because I discovered that they are packaged using the same machines that are used for gluten products. Nuts and trail mix are a big no-no as well. Lettuce caused me problems in the beginning but got progressively better when I started working on my intestinal flora.

Some coffees seem to trigger me too...love my coffee in the morning...gave it up...someone suggested that I try organic....tried it and it was better. My naturopath suggested pesticide sensitivity. Perhaps she's right. There seems to be the possibility that there are other factors at play.

Keep the faith!

[T.H.]

  On 9/16/2011 at 9:28 PM, bartfull said:

I have had digestive problems with salad greens (oil and vinnegar) and sweet potatoes. I have no idea what that's all about.

I might have some ideas. :-)

Distilled vinegar usually has yeast added after distillation, to help with the fermentation. And many yeasts have cornstarch (or other starches, but usually corn, here) added just before drying, because it helps in the formation of a yeast cake or the powder. So, possibly corn contamination?

Sweet potatoes are often gassed now, too, like the potatoes. Also, it looks like some places are starting to wax their sweet potatoes, although I don't know what's in the wax that is being used.

Just....argh, eh? Let me just say I have totally sympathy! I was living on about 5 foods myself, too, before I figured out how to find things safe for me. I know exactly what you mean in trying new foods, just to try and get a well-rounded diet, and getting sick over and over! SO frustrating.

From what I hear, the rotation diet works for some things, and doesn't for others. It seems like something based on a theory, but it's not completely proven, because allergists just don't fully understand everything about allergies and how they develop, from what I understand.

I did a rotation diet when I could get enough food, because we were all worried I was developing allergies. I had the same food, every day, for over a year, and I never had an issue with it (Quinoa - although they changed their packaging process and now it makes me ill with a gluten reaction, darn it). At the same time, I had other foods every day, or every other day, that I DID develop an allergic reaction to, within weeks. So just from personal experience, I suspect that if we DO react to foods that we have every day, we might be in a more susceptible place, or they are a food that we aren't so great with anyway. Just my own pet theory, though.