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Food Sensitivity Testing - worth it or not?
Digestive Health | Last Active: Dec 17, 2023 | Replies (11)Comment receiving replies
@debhammel The "food sensitivity testing" world is yet pretty undeveloped and unregulated, I'm not surprised you're having a hard time figuring out what to do. And trying "standard diets" like FODMAP do not account for individual sensitivities or interactions.
You have already begun your own sensitivity testing - why not continue? That is what my neighbor is doing because the results of her tests were "all over the place."
Do you have a list of foods that feel safe for you at this point? Devise an eating plan that includes those, preferably fresh/frozen and minimally processed. For example, an egg sandwich you prepare, not a frozen sausage & biscuit combo. Plain frozen veggies you cook and season, not the pre-sauced. Lean meat or fish you bake, broil, poach or panfry with your own seasonings - you get the idea.
Next make a list of foods that feel "questionable" to you based on your diagnosis and your history. Try to concentrate on high-value nutritious foods, or that you really miss if they are not in your diet. Then add one food at a time for a period of 3-5 days. If it goes OK, leave it in and move on to the next, if not, eliminate it & wait for your body to settle, then try the next.
Finally, remember all your beverages, spices, seasonings, oils, preservatives...
This is a process - one we have gone through repeatedly in our highly allergic family. I have learned some really interesting things - I do well with lactose free milk, but can also eat pure Greek yogurt and hard cheeses with no problem whatsoever. But protein supplements with whey in them give me issues. So I would say my body is "dairy selective." And I eat a gluten-free diet because I am allergic to wheat, but I tolerate modest amounts of pure rye flour in bread or plain barley in soup. I can eat one slice of fresh pineapple or 1/2 grapefruit, but then must let my body rest from it for 2-3 days before another.
It is a matter of patience and personal care.
What are you willing to try next?
Sue
PS I very rarely "cheat" because I hate the aftereffects. And my friends and acquaintances generally respect my choices.
Replies to "@debhammel The "food sensitivity testing" world is yet pretty undeveloped and unregulated, I'm not surprised you're..."
I just read your blog and you have given me hope, after 2yrs of throwing up, after my last meal,every morning and 3 Gastros told there was nothing wrong with me, finally went to the VA HOSPITAL, I'm a veteran they sent me to the University of Miami, they did the myotomy test and told me I have ACHALASIA TYPE 2, BASICALLY THEY SAID YOUR ESOPHAGUS IS PARALYZED AND YOUR SHINXSTER IS CLOSED, AND HAD TO HAVE THE PROCEDURE POEM, SO THEY BASICALLY CUT THROUGH MY ESOPHAGUS AND CUT THE SPHINCTER OPEN, AND NOW I CANNOT EAT,BECAUSE IMMEDIATELY I GET SO NAUSEOUS AND HAVE TO THROW UP, SO FAR I HAVE NOT EATEN FOR ABOUT 9 DAYS I DON'T HAVE AN APPETITE, I HAVE LOST ABOUT 20PDS, IAM SO DEPRESSED, DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO, 🤮😵💫🥺😭💀💀please HELP
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Thank you, Sue, for your insightful and detailed response! My husband and I have been eating "cleanly" for many years: local, organic produce as much as possible, locally-raised/pastured/grassfed, etc. meat and poultry; very few desserts; not much in the way of alcohol; very minimal processed foods- you get the idea. Since my diagnosis I have learned that I can tolerate small amounts of dairy - half & half in my mostly decaf coffee, a splash of organic A2 milk in my tea, hard cheeses appear to be no problem, and the Good brand of cottage cheese is okay, too. Haven't tried yogurt yet, although I did buy some Greek yogurt recently and maybe that's the next food I will try.
I minimize gluten exposure; however, I am able to tolerate my homemade sourdough bread that I make with heritage wheat. Wine in small amounts (about a 3-4 oz pour) is okay with a meal and I limit that to weekends. For a while I went totally decaf free, dairy-free, gluten-free, alcohol free along with the low FODMAP stuff and when I wasn't seeing any changes in my symptoms I gradually added back in the items listed above. So far, beans and raw veggies are a definite "no" and I've noticed that even well-cooked broccoli gives me gas and bloating, so I'm avoiding that for now. Other veggies like corn, cabbage (well-cooked), green beans, winter squashes, carrots and avocado are well-tolerated, as are fruits like blueberries, bananas, and apples - haven't tried citrus yet except small amounts of lemon as a seasoning. But with all this, and the meds, I still experience more gassiness and bloating than is normal for me which is why I was considering the food sensitivity testing. While I was still heavily symptomatic, I noticed that there were many foods that just didn't appeal to me, so I followed my gut if you will, and ate what did appeal - and generally found that I was okay with those foods. I think I will continue to do this and see what happens as I taper off the Budenoside starting this weekend. I greatly appreciate your advice and information!
Debbie