Reaction To Coconut Milk

[Fairy Dancer]

I had some coconut milk earlier and after eating I had stomach pain, acid reflux and wheezing. It has the following ingredients...Can anyone tell me anything about them as my gut was not hurting before I had some lol.

Coconut extract (obvious ingredient lol)

Water (another obvious one lol)

Guar Gum

Xantham gum

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Distilled monoglycerides

Polysorbate 60

sodium metabisulpite

It seems, in one form or another, I get reactions to the following foods: Grains (except white rice), corn, and I am testing to see if I am having issues with soya as I always seem to get a reaction to foods with it in such as chocolate (although it could be the chocolate or vanillin in it) and some processed gravy containing soya but not wheat (brought me up in a rash).

I am also allergic to duck feathers but that is irrelevant here lol.

I get allergic reactions to some household cleaners (red itchy lumps where it has come into contact with my skin)

I am sensitive or allergic also to many medications including anti inflammatories (result in stomach pain, wheezing and projectile vomiting with in minutes of taking the darn things), certain types of anti biotic (but not penicillin), and various other meds including most anti depressants. I also had a bad reaction to vitamin pills some years back (don't bother with them these days) so god knows what the hell they put in these things lol

Celery gives me a numb mouth but I don't think that's an intolerance or anything lol.

I'm still exploring various foods etc. Don't know if any of those ingredients in the coconut milk are similar to ingredients in other things I am allergic/sensitive or intolerant to!

[AVR1962]

Could be the xantham gum which is in some gluten-free products and doesn't set well on my stomach either.

[gluten free overseas]

A lot of vitamins are made with gluten and/or soy. There are some gluten free, soy free brands--you just have to be really careful. I agree about xanthan gum--it is made from corn, so if you have problems with corn, then you should stay away from it.

[Marilyn R]

Last year I made coconut milk from scratch because I couldn't tolerate soy, or any of the rice, hemp, almond or coonut milks. It was a pain, first I roasted the coconut (a whole one) in the oven, oh, it was grueesome. And the finished product was only good for three days! I figured out that soy products were bothering me (the protein is similar to gluten). I occasionally find pure coconut milk at an Indian or Oriental grocery store. Even though I can tolerate dairy (finally), I still look for coconut milk that isn't polluted with soy, and stock up on it when I find it. (That could just be me,(

[Mango04]

That looks like a really chemical-filled coconut milk. The gums could definitely be an issue.

[Jenniferxgfx]

My money is on those sulfites. Those are scary buggers and I have a similar reaction. (although the reflux may likely be from the other ingredients, I may have an esophagitis reaction to the sulfites if there's a LOT, like poor quality dried fruit.)

Which coconut milk is this? I like to know what brand to stay away from!

[Fairy Dancer]

It is the pride brand (in the UK)

[Takala]

Wheezing.... that is very likely a sulfites reaction. (the last ingredient) It is a preservative used in some dried fruits and dried coconut and wines, sometimes vinegars made from wine will also have it. Asthmatics need to avoid it. Not unusual for asthmatics to react to sulfites AND to NSAIDs (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, etc), but not all do. Sometimes the fillers/binders/coatings of pills will have an ingredient that is not gluten free, or has lactose milk sugar in it, or other grain products that people react to. Soy is also another common culprit for us, especially GMO soy, that *** is in nearly everything.

Can you get coconut milk without the metasulphites ? We can get canned, organic coconut milk here in the USA, a can will last me a week's worth of coffee/tea drinks.

There is another person on this board who has made their own coconut milk by pouring boiling water over dried shredded coconut (that they buy in large quantities mail order) and letting it steep, then straining it.

[CR5442]

It is possible that you are intolerant to Coconut. I had pulse tests with my acupuncturist recently and there were only two things i reacted to... gluten and coconut. Try some pure coconut oil or pure coconut and see if you get the same reaction.

[thleensd]

Could be any of these, really:

Guar Gum

Xantham gum

Sodium carboxymethyl cellulose

Distilled monoglycerides

Polysorbate 60

sodium metabisulphite

I can't do the gums, personally, and I try to avoid as many additives as possible. Only real way to know (if you want to chance it) is try coconut by itself.

Some people that react to trace amounts of corn have trouble with xanthan gum.

BTW, celery makes lots of people's mouths numb =) Open Original Shared Link