Michi8

Yesterday I went in to my new dermatologist for my skin patch test. Since I've got such sensitive skin, we're testing for sensitivity/allergy to various chemicals commonly used in products in North America. Hopefully the information will give some clues as to what exactly my skin is reacting to, and help me avoid potentially irritating products in future.

So here I sit with 47 different patches stuck to my upper back. It's itchy and uncomfortable. I'm afraid to move too much in case the tape comes off...and I can't take a complete shower until Thursday afternoon (yuck!) I tell ya, this test better show something!

Michelle

I'll only mess with color with an experience hair stylist who really specializes in it. It's not worth the risk. I like variety and trying new things. The lady who colors my hair has said no to me before on things that wouldn't work. You want that kind of experience.

Funny all of you who don't like your head touched, I love it when someone else washes my hair ... especially when they really massage my head while they're doing it.

I like having my hair done. I usually enjoy having it washed, and getting a massage, but there is nothing worse then when the hairstylist isn't massaging firmly enough...the touch can just be annoying...the feeling is kind of like having restless leg syndrome. Usually is worse after having the colour rinsed out, and my scalp is feeling a little irritated.

Michelle

I am highly sensitive to fragrances, so much so that if you bathe in your perfume and sit anywhere near me in a movie theatre, I have to get up and move to another seat. Wee use Snuggle fabric sheets but now the new and improved ones are so strong that I have to return them as walking by the laundry room makes me nauseous and the box is not even open. Where do you find/purchase earth friendly househould goods - assuming some of you do? I know someone out there must offer a non scented (or more natural scented) dryer sheet. There were 12 different scents at Target and I got the least offending one which still isn't acceptable.

I'm super sensitive to scents too. Just passing by a candle or aromatherapy store gives me a migraine. And it's the worst when you have to put up with smelling someone who overdoes it with scent.

The best earth friendly cleaning products are really the basics. Borax, baking soda, vinegar, ammonia, lemon juice, etc.

For laundry, I find even the unscented dryer sheets are hard on my skin. I don't bother with dryer sheets...they really aren't necessary. Vinegar in the rinse cycle is a very good substitute for the sheets (helps take out any detergent residue too.)

Michelle

Look lively ye landlubbers! Today be the International Talk Like A Pirate Day!

Open Original Shared Link

Aye, matey! Thanks fer th' reminder. I almost let th' tide pass wi' n`er a word o' seafarin' hearty!

Captain Michi8

its very small on the bottom [back]

I took a look again...read every word on the back of the package. No mention about being lactose free on the Canadian package.

Michelle

it says right on the back of the shredded cheese package "0 lactose per serving" I made chicken tacos the other night and the cheese did not bother me at all..never does, anything else I have to take 2 or 3 lactose pills

That's interesting. I'm looking at my Kraft shredded cheeses (Greek Feta, and Mozza-Cheddar packages) right now, and there is no such distinction on the package. I'm guessing that it is, again, the difference in labelling laws between Canada & US. I know that I tolerate hard cheeses well though, so I've never thought to actually look for lactose info on the packages anyhow.

I'm curious as to how the Kraft products differ between the countries too. I do know that there are some Kraft products produced and sold for the Canadian market that aren't available in the US and vice versa. Are there ingredients differences in products that are sold in both markets?

Michelle

I was kind of shocked when I went to Mexico because none of the meat is refridgerated (at the mercado or market). The thing is that all the meat is fresh. It is also kind of cool in that section of the market. Another thing is that the eggs aren't in the refridgerator section. They just have them sitting on a shelf (and this is at a big grocery store).

It is actually best not to refrigerate fresh eggs (apparently it changes the taste)...if you were to collecct them fresh on the farm, you'd keep them unrefrigerated and use them up quickly. Unfortunately, given that eggs need to sit for extended periods before we purchase them from the grocery store, they need to be refrigerated for health & safety.

Michelle

We have a Sanyo rice cooker with an aluminum pot (no non-stick coating.) I've had this rice steamer for more than 10 years, and have never had a crust develop on the bottom of the pot. I always rinse the rice well before cooking in it (removes excess starch, and any non-rice particles.) I've never heard of rinsing removing that many nutrients...if you're really concerned about nutrient content choose brown rice rather than white, because the process of refining removes many of the nutrients.

Michelle

their shredded cheese is the only one that is lactose free

How can their cheese be lactose free?

Michelle

Growth percentile is based on how kids grow on average and on average the average american has weight issues. I blame a large amount of your nations health on parents wanting to see their kids in the top 50 percentile YET the majority of these kids then grow up and have weight issues. The top 50% is not a competition ... but it ends up being like this....

This is just MY OPINION.... but the facts are that the percentiles are averages and that obesity is a (excuse the pun) growing problem. I'm not saying this is the sole cause of obesity I am saying basiing your 'normal' growth on kids who then turn out to be obese is not clever!

Anyway... the bottom line is kids naturally develop at different rates.... whether he ends up 5'4" or 6'4" is irrelevant unless you want him to be a pro-basketball player. So I would say relax.. take care of the real issues not artifical ones created by percentiles.

Having said all that.. he probably will catch up

Just to clarify, the growth charts in North America are based on formula fed infants. You cannot accurately compare a breastfed infant to those charts, as the typical growth rate is very different...and studies have shown that a breastfed infant is less likely to be an overweight child. Also, height and weight are monitored on different charts...a child can be in one percentile for weight and a different one for height.

However, the point of the growth charts is not to have children compete to be in the top percentile, it is to ensure that whatever curve a child starts on, that they remain fairly consistant. When a child who is in the 50th percentile dramatically shifts to a different curve in growth it's a warning sign that something may be amiss.

Michelle

who has a child in the 90-95th percentile since birth, one consistently in the 50th, and one in the 70th

The list was removed because, like any list, it may not be the most current, and may not match the product you actually have if the formulation has changed. The label on the package will, however, always match the contents, and will always clearly disclose gluten sources. This is better than a list can ever be.

Oh, I understand that and I agree. But why can they not say that in their email response? The way they send form letters back sounds as if they are not truly listening to customer concerns.

Additionally, how do I know that their ingredients lists are treated the same in Canada vs. the US? We have different regulations about listing ingredients (we appear to be behind the US in terms of timing, although it looks like Health Canada will eventually be requiring gluten sources to be listed as opposed to just "wheat" along with the other top allergens.)

Finally, the online gluten listing was still available on Kraft.ca when I first joined this list at the beginning of August...one week it was there, and suddenly it was removed. I would like to hear the reason for that from Kraft, rather than getting the run around.

Michelle

My guess was they removed it because of the whole McDonalds thing(fries !=? gluten free). Companies got scared.

I'm not clear on when the McDonald's thing happened (or what happened?) The Kraft gluten & dairy free list disappeared this August.

Michelle

Thanks so much Im not sure which one it would be lactose or casein but my side effects after the initial diarrhea and cramping is constipation all day today, just like michelle listed. I feel like I have to go but nothing happens.

Just to clarify, it's not constipation for me (although that's my main "IBS" symptom unrelated to lactose intolerance). When I am reacting to lactose, I get horrible gut-wrenching cramps and the sensation that I suddenly need to run to the bathroom, but the minute I sit on the toilet, the sensation passes. When I lie down again, I suddenly have to go...again the sensation passes. When it finally does happen, it's diarrhea. Once the diarrhea passes (takes a few bathroom trips) then my lactose "attack" is over. I haven't noticed any constipation afterward...at least not related to lactose intolerance.

I was starving yesterday, I had been on the go and had not ate anything but 8 grapes for about 7 hours, my daughter ate while we were out but it was glutened stuff so I didnt eat. I came home and I was ready to just stuff myself. I had a huge migraine from not eating all day. I made a half stick of velveeta cheese and melted it and covered it in gluten free tortilla chips. Plus I have been curious to see if I do have a problem. I didnt eat it all but darn near close, I pigged out and paid for it.

I should get tested but have not yet for intolerances. Maybe I'll do another test when Im up to it to see if its lactose. I'll take lactaid and eat some ice cream and see if I get another reaction. Im having other medical problems (vision problems) and unfortunately dont have the money for more testing for me.

You all have helped me alot

I hope that you find relief with the Lactaid. Lactose intolerance can be "tolerable" with it, certainly easier to cope with than casein intolerance.

I use a lot of Dove products, because I find them most gentle (up until now, I hadn't needed to worry about gluten content.) None of the Dove products I use have any ingredients lists on them...shampoo, antiperspirant, moisturizers and facial cleansing products do not have complete ingredients lists. Is the requirement to list ingredients on cosmetics different in Canada than in the US?

Michelle

It's companies like Kraft that make our lives easier!

Except that they not long ago had a very helpful webpage listing all of their gluten and dairy free products. That webpage has since been removed. When I enquired about it, they sent me exactly the same email response. When pressed further, they still would not answer my question, preferring to send the same cycle of canned responses. I'm frustrated by their avoidance of questions, and further frustrated that such a good resource has been removed.

Michelle

Ok, Im google TSP and see if I can find an equivlant French product.

TSP is trisodium phosphate. It's a standard cleaning/degreasing chemical...I alwasy wash the walls with it before painting. BTW, it's also an additive to some foods...Cheerios for example.

Michelle

Lactose intolerance is due to the body not producing enough lactase enzyme to break down the lactose. It's often associated with villous atrophy because lactase is normally produced in the small intestine...when the villi are damaged, lactase production is affected.

Reactions to lactose can vary from person to person. The severity of my reactions is based on the amount of lactose in food. Ice cream, for example, will produce severe stomach cramps and diarrhea within minutes of consumption (I think that the added sugar in the ice cream compounds the problem.) Drinking milk or exposure to lactose in a prepackaged product may show a more delayed reaction with cramping over several hours along with an intermittent need to void, but being unable to. I liken it to a brick moving through my intenstines: prolonged pain finally ending in diarrhea hours later.

Some products, though, I am able to tolerate better: hard cheeses & yogurt are okay for me. To be on the safe side, I always carry Lactaid with me. If I don't have any, I don't consume milk products.

Michelle

My understanding is that teeth grinding is related to stress. I'm sure that going on the gluten-free diet lessens the stress load on the body...it would be logical it would lessen stress-related issues.

Michelle

If you found a supermarket that was truly doing this, you should turn them in, as it would be completely illegal and the store could be shut down. I think the issue here is that ground meat will turn gray on the inside as it ages, while exposure to oxygen in the air causes the outside to stay red or even get a little bit more red. You can test this by buying a small pack of meat, holding it for a week and then breaking it open to see the interior.

Exposure to oxygen causes the meat to brown, whereas exposure to carbon monoxide keeps it bright red even when it's spoiling. There was a news article not long ago about the packaged meats at Walmart & other retailers. Ground beef is prepackaged with carbon monoxide pumped into the packaging, keeping the meat looking vibrant red for a long time, thus giving customers the false impression that the meat was still fresh. Check out this article: Open Original Shared Link

Michelle

Wow! I'd never considered that bladder problems could have to do with gluten. My son is having stomach trouble...he has had chronic constipation since he was a toddler, and it led to having trouble holding his bowels and bladder last year (He's 8 now.) It's not uncommon to lose bladder sensation when you are chronically constipated, and it has improved since starting laxatives (since the fiber and water in his diet hasn't helped!) Although he has had a couple of accidents since starting this newer laxative (polyethylene glycol.) The doctor figures it's just the way his system is, but I believe that there is more to it...and I bet it's something in his diet (and I wouldn't be surprised if it's gluten and/or casein.)

Now he's complaining of stomach upset and nausea, so we're going back to the doctor to do more investigation. His previous celiac panel came back negative though and the xrays & ultrasound simply found his system to be distended with stool (which has cleared up since starting the laxative regime), so I'm not sure what direction the doctor will take.

With myself, I've had bladder issues since having my last child, and it seems to be worse when my stomach is upset...wouldn't it be something if it's gluten-related! I'm still waiting for my biopsy date. I so hope it reveals some answers, because then I would have a concrete reason to pursue further testing for all three of my kids.

Michelle

Raw animal products are easier to digest (I find fried eggs indigestible, but boiled ones are fine) than cooked. Cooked plant products are easier to digest than, as the human body, not being herbivorean, is not designed to digest cellulose, which can be broken down by cooking.

Perhaps that's why sushi is so good. Yum! I like the egg sushi (tamago) too, but of course it's been cooked.

Michelle

Last I was in the hospital was for a cesarean in January 2000. At the time, the only food issues I knew I had to worry about were peanut allergy and lactose intolerance. Well, the lactose intolerance got marked on my alert sheet so the kitchen was aware of it. Because of that, the only food they were sending was jello. Apparently they were unable to make me any foods without dairy! I told them I could take Lactaid with the food, but they would not prepare any other foods for me, because I wasn't "allowed" to self-administer my Lactaid.

Michelle

I read recently that raw food is supposed to be easier to digest because it has more enzymes and stuff. I tend to find that the closer I can get to raw, the better I feel. However, as already pointed out, things like beans and grains don't seem to be good raw. I love peanuts and peanut butter, so protein isn't hard to find in the higher concentrations like that. While I do cook rice and other grains, I add veggies just before I eat, so they just get warmed up a bit. I don't actually 'cook' them. I like the full flavor and vitality. However, I also have to compromise for economic reasons, as well as time constraints, so I use frozen veggies.

Of course, nothing beats fresh raw fruit when you want a healthy raw food that also tastes like it was truly meant to be eaten that way.

I wouldn't trust uncooked meats either. I once saw someone poke a hole in a raw egg and literally suck it out of the shell YUK!! I heard every egg has some salmenila, but it's just that we can tolerate a certain amount without feeling sick from it. I felt ill just watching!

I'm surprised to hear that raw would be easier to digest, I always thought it was the other way around. Regardless, raw would be the last thing I would try, given my allergies. I am unable to eat any raw tree fruit or tree nuts due to my allergies. Cooking, however, alters the proteins in these foods and makes them safe for me to eat.

Michelle

Snopes has a page talking about the history of this website and the then 14 year old student who won a science fair with this project, titled "How gulible are we?" Check it out here: Open Original Shared Link

Michelle

Dihydrogen monoxide is H2O. The site is an example of how the presentation of info & misinformation can get people worked up unnecessarily.

Michelle

You should check out Open Original Shared Link chocolates...they are the best (and way better than Godiva.) They're headquartered in Calgary, AB, and I believe they have a couple of stores now in the US. Their chocolates are very fresh. There are ingredients lists on the website I linked to. Plus there are recipes for using their chocolate as well.

Michelle