… and since I would really love some suggestions on what to eat!!!
Lots of you have asked me to elaborate on the Food Sensitivity Test I had done recently. Since it happens to be Food Allergy Awareness Week, what better time than now?
I first found out about the test from some close friends of ours, who are also Rascal’s Godparents. They had both taken the test, changed their diet accordingly, lost lots of weight, and started having so much more energy!
I started reading more about Food Sensitivities and found that:
Reactions to foods are not always immediate. They can occur many hours later as bloating and swelling in the hands, feet, ankles, abdomen, chin and around the eyes. Much of the weight gained is fluid retention caused by inflammation and the release of certain hormones. In addition, there is fermentation of foods, particularly carbohydrates, in the intestines which can result in a swollen distended belly and gas production. Food allergies as well as food sensitivities can cause weight gain. Yes, it’s possible to have no other symptoms. You can’t count on seeing runny noses or sneezes with some food sensitivities. Instead, a person’s body perceives the food as a poison and limits digestion of nutrients, thus causing the body to store fat.
Symptoms of food sensitivity can include headache, indigestion or heartburn, fatigue, depression, joint pain or arthritis, canker sores, chronic respiratory symptoms such as wheezing, sinus congestion or bronchitis and chronic bowel problems such as diarrhea or constipation.
Hum… I could relate to almost all of those symptoms… The test sounded like just what I have been needing.
I had been trying hard, and eating well (for the most part) and was feeling lousy and tired almost all the time. I know that I am sensitive to some foods due to my angioedema, but I was wondering just what exactly my body doesn’t like. My hubby agreed, and we made the appointment.
Since that’s what he does, Rascal’s Godfather actually drew my blood! For those of you that know me, I have a horrible fear of needles. I would much rather deliver a baby completely naturally than have my blood drawn or be given an IV. Although, I must say, Ed knows what he is doing!!!! It didn’t even hurt! Thank you Ed!
Looking at the list of sensitivities I have, it’s no wonder I hadn’t been feeling well! I had been eating mostly foods that my body doesn’t like. Are you curious to see my results?? I sure was!
Here’s my list:
Severe Intolerance:
- BANANA
- CABBAGE
- COW’S MILK (Including all dairy products made with Cow’s Milk)
Moderate Intolerance:
ALMOND; ANCHOVY; BEET; BLUEBERRY; CAULIFLOWER; CHICKEN; CHILI PEPPER; CORIANDER; CRAB; CRANBERRY; EGGPLANT; FLOUNDER; ICEBERG LETTUCE; MANGO; ORANGE; PEAR; RADISH; ROMAINE LETTUCE (This would explain why I DO NOT digest Lettuce–any kind–when I am pregnant!); SHRIMP; STRING BEAN; VANILLA (NOOOO!!!!)
As well as Candida Albicans so avoid:
- BEET SUGAR
- CANE SUGAR (sniffle…sniffle… Do you have ANY idea how much stuff has Cane Sugar in it?? I had no idea till I went shopping last weekend.)
(So — what has my diet shake been made of recently?? Let’s see: Cow’s Milk/Yogurt/or Orange Juice, Vanilla Protein Powder, Banana, Blueberries, and I usually throw in a few Almonds… Isn’t that GREAT?!?)
Mild Intolerance:
ARTICHOKE; BAKER’S YEAST; BARLEY; BLACK-EYED PEAS; BOK CHOY; BREWER’S YEAST; BRUSSEL SPROUTS; CANTALOUPE; CARDAMOM; CAROB; CASHEW; CATFISH; CHICORY; CINNAMON; COCOA; COTTONSEED; CRAYFISH; CUCUMBER; EGG WHITE; EGG YOLK; FAVA BEAN; FENNEL; FIG; FRUCTOSE; GRAPE; GREEN PEA; HONEY; HOPS; KELP; LEMON; LIME; MACADAMIA; MALT; MILLET; MUSHROOM; MUSTARD; ONION; OYSTER; PAPRIKA; PEACH; PINEAPPLE; PISTACHIO; PLUM; POMEGRANATE; PSYLLIUM; RASPBERRY; SALMON; STRAWBERRY; SWEET POTATO; TUNA; WATERCRESS; WHEAT As well as:
- Gluten and Gliadin so avoid: OAT and RYE
- Casein so avoid: GOAT’S MILK and SHEEP’S MILK
What a list!! I didn’t know WHAT I was going to eat… I had been having Smoothies for Breakfast and Salad with Chicken for lunch! So I hit the store last weekend with my Green list:
Foods I CAN HAVE:
Vegetables:
ACORN SQUASH; ASPARAGUS; BROCCOLI; CARROT; CELERY; CHICK PEA; ENDIVE; GREEN PEPPER; JALAPENO PEPPER; KALE; KIDNEY BEAN; LEEK; LENTIL BEAN; LIMA BEAN; MUNG BEAN; NAVY BEAN; OKRA; PARSNIP; PINTO BEAN; RHUBARB; SOYBEAN; SPINACH; SQUASH (Yellow); SWISS CHARD; TOMATO; TURNIP; WHITE POTATO; ZUCCHINI
Fruits:
APPLE; APRICOT; AVOCADO; BLACK CURRANT; BLACKBERRY; CHERRY; DATE; GRAPEFRUIT; HONEYDEW (MELON); KIWI; NECTARINE; OLIVE; PAPAYA; PUMPKIN; WATERMELON
Meat:
BEEF; DUCK; LAMB; LIVER (BEEF) Ummm.. Yeah right!; PHEASANT; PORK; QUAIL; RABBIT; TURKEY; VEAL; VENISON
Dairy:
NOTHING!!!!
Seafood:
BASS; CLAM; CODFISH; HADDOCK; HALIBUT; HERRING; LOBSTER; MACKEREL; MUSSEL; SARDINE; SCALLOP; SNAPPER; SOLE; SQUID; SWORDFISH; TROUT; WHITEFISH
Grains:
BUCKWHEAT; CORN; RICE; TAPIOCA
Herbs and Spices:
ANISE SEED; BASIL; BAY LEAF; BLACK PEPPER; CAYENNE PEPPER; CLOVE; CUMIN; CURRY POWDER; DILL; GINGER; LIQUORICE; MINT; NUTMEG; OREGANO; PARSLEY; ROSEMARY; SAFFRON; SAGE; TARRAGON; THYME; TURMERIC
Nuts Oils and Misc:
BLK/GREEN TEA; BRAZIL NUT; CARAWAY; CHAMOMILE; COCONUT; COFFEE; FLAXSEED; GARLIC; HAZELNUT; MAPLE SUGAR; PEANUT; PECAN; PINE NUT; SAFFLOWER; SESAME; SUNFLOWER; WALNUT
Isn’t it a cool test! Now what you are suppose to do is avoid all the items in the Red, Orange and Yellow Categories. “RED indicates a severe intolerance and these items should be avoided for a minimum of 6 months YELLOW indicates a mild intolerance and these foods should be avoided if possible ORANGE indicates a moderate intolerance and these items should be avoided for a minimum of 3-6 months GREEN indicates acceptable foods / no reaction.”
Since last Friday I have actually been able to stick to it! It has not been easy, but it is getting easier as I wean my body from its sugar dependence, and since I am feeling so much better — and losing weight!!
Here is a picture of the groceries I came home with on Saturday:
It is so hard to find things made without Sugar, Onion, and Vanilla!! I do have one cheat, and that would be that Silk Hazelnut Coffee Creamer–it has some Cane Sugar in it… If I can’t get my mochas, I need to be able to replace it with something!!
Have any of you tried Corn Thins
Anyways, if any of you have any great recipes, snack suggestions, or food I can get “on the go,” made with the items on my green list, I would love, Love, LOVE to hear them!!
A cup of green tea in the morning actually burns calories. It’s is because it takes all those calories to cool down the tea. But it only works with green tea. Hope this helps!
Wow!!! I have a friend (and her husband) who have done the food elimination thingy…and now if they eat the things that they weaned from their body, they get really really sick, worse than before they started. They both have intolerances to different things, which makes it very hard to cook.
I give you a lot of credit, wow, that’s a lot of work and a lot to remember!!
Needles, I’m a diabetic, 4 shots a day, can’t imagine being afraid of them!!
101 degrees? Wow! It is supposed to reach 75 here finally!! The warmest this year so far!
Have a great day, glad to hear you got a good nights sleep!
Great job on the diet, you are amazing!
Thanks Juliana!
Jamie — From what my friends say, after eliminating the foods for 6 months, you should be able to slowly rotate the foods back into your diet, in moderation, and build a tolerance for them… I am really hoping that that is the case!
I don’t know what I would do if I had to give myself shots… I guess that’s why I am not diabetic… God knows I couldn’t do it! 🙂
God Bless!
Wow! Jessica, did medical insurance cover any costs? And I’m sorry if you answered that already. I keep skimming and I am not finding anything to answer that question. This test seems so much easier than doing the rotational diet.
I keep noticing myself reacting adversely to chocolate and I keep trying to ignore it, but I have to face it as I get depressed over not losing weight. And a few health nut friends keep pointing out the evils of cane sugar, and I keep sticking my fingers in my ears and chanting “la la la la,” but I really can’t keep that up either.
Also, could you perhaps e-mail me. [email protected]. Actually anyone can e-mail me. I am so tired of boring e-mail/g-mail. Thanks.
I have a Kale soup recipe, I will send it to you, it is pretty yummy. I checked your list since it calls for pinto beans, but that was on your green list too!!
I think I am going to call Ed and sign Tony up. I hope he comes out with a sever intolerance for Fava Beans. He is growing those in the garden… yuck!
I forgot. Stevia may be a sweetener that you can have.
Very interesting. You gals have determination to eat right. No allergies in this house. Seems like we can eat anything. And we do!
Keep up the great work!
OOOOOOHHH! I am jealous of all that cool camera equipment! Look forward to seeing some great pics!
Hi Sue! It would depend on your insurance. My insurance will pay up to $500 per year for this sort of test, with a doctors referral. Our friend gave it to us at his discount which really helped, and I ended up not going through my insurance company.
The results are easier to follow, especially when you start to feel so much better! I have heard my whole life how bad sugar was too, but didn’t care… and couldn’t IMAGINE giving it up, but it really HAS made a difference.
I do use Stevia — the little packets of the non-bitter kind, and they aren’t bad. I can also have Maple Sugar, and real Maple Syrup, so I am thankful for that!
Amy! I would LOVE to get that recipe from you!
Christine — I so wish I could eat anything, and feel great… But I guess that is not the way it is! 🙂
Whoa, that is a lot to keep up with! I think that would make my head spin for weeks! I need to stop sugar all the way too, I just might join you in that suffering 😉
Chicken would be so hard for me to give up!!
I am so happy you got the test and you are on the rode to an even more healthy and energetic life.
I can’t believe it is that hot there! That is strange
Jessica, this reminds me a bit of the time I was “eating right for my blood type”. I had plenty to eat and still lost weight. I was thinking of returning to this but it would be a project!
I may check out the test you linked to – would a regular dr. or natural dr. be the one to contact?