Food sensitivities

 Over the past 5 years or so, I have been developing food sensitivities. They seem to manifest themselves in canker sores in my mouth, or in stomach fullness/ burping/ bloating. I have had some pretty severe canker sores in my day... and they are so painful! Especially since they are in the mouth... which you use to talk, swallow, eat, kiss, brush teeth, etc.,

The first culprit for me seemed to be tomatoes... no big deal, right? Wrong... it turned out not to be JUST tomatoes, but tomato sauce, ketchup, BBQ sauce, dressings with tomatoes, etc., Then it started to be hot peppers, which I was never a fan of anyway. Then green chile peppers, green peppers... all of them. I decided thatch's milk really was affecting my stomach, so I decided to cut that out. I can have a tiny bit, but if I have a big bowl of ice cream, I am doubled over in bed that night in pain and bloated. YUCK!

I also realized that sugar affects my inflammation, so I started lowering my sugar intake. I used to have four chocolate chip cookies, now I might have one. I can have part of a brownie, or maybe one mint. I felt terrible after overeating candy on Halloween. I've cut out eating ice cream in the evenings for the most part. When I do have dairy free ice cream, it keeps me awake at night.

I wondered if there was more though, since I was still feeling bloated, but I couldn't pin point any one thing. Instead of eating sweets before bed, I was eating my own trail mix that I made with peanuts, almonds, walnuts, sunflower seeds, coconut and raisins. It's healthy, right? All plant based, so that's good...

I heard about a test on Facebook by a company called Everlywell. It cost over $120 and was a blood test for food sensitivities. If you registered for the test, they would mail you the kit, and you administer the test to yourself at home (they send all of the necessary supplies). I saw an ad where a woman said that she was allergic to almonds and she didn't know it. I started to wonder if almonds were a culprit for me...hmm. I talked to my hubby about it, but it was December... that test wasn't going to happen any time soon. 

After Christmas my hubby received a bonus. He decided to order the test for me. What a sweetie! I received it about January 10, took it that day and sent it back. About two weeks later, I received an email with my results. I am moderately sensitive to white mushrooms, which I've never liked. It also said that I am mildly sensitive to: almonds, peanuts (both of which were in my trail mix), soybeans, pineapple (which I don't like anyway), garlic, cow's milk, and five types of fish... clam, kelp, salmon, , sole and tuna. I like tuna, peanuts and garlic a lot! My test did not show any reactions to tomatoes or peppers, but since I hadn't eaten those in the past 30 days, there was nothing on the test. 

For a while, I was having a lot of almonds... almond milk and almond yogurt (it's dairy-free!), almonds, almond crackers and almond butter. I've got to give all of those up! I was almost moderately sensitive to almonds. I like oat milk, which we recently tried. We also have coconut milk and I'll try cashew milk. It will be a challenge to avoid all of these foods, but it will be worth it if I can get to feeling better. 

Soybeans will be difficult... soy milk, soybean oil is in SO many things! It is in dressings, shortening, some combined oils, MAYO (which I love!), soy sauce, tofu, edamame, some processed meats, processed chips, protein bars and powders, processed meats, soy lecithin, guar gum, vegetable gum, starch, some thickeners, etc. I will just have to do the best I can with that one! (Even Oreos-- which are dairy-free-- have SOY!)😢😳

If you're interested in trying a test, let me know. I can send you a referral code and you get a discount!

These are food sensitivities, not allergies. Allergies have a different type of antibody in your immune system. Food allergies involve a life-threatening symptoms, such as anaphlaxis, after eating a tiny amount of food. Food sensitivities tend to have a more delayed response-- sometimes as much as 48 hours after eating the food, and the reaction is not life-threatening.

Everlywell has great tips for an elimination diet, including a quick elimination diet, phased elimination diet, or a broad elimination diet. They have answers to common questions in their emails, webinars you as schedule with a registered dietician and more. I was impressed with their service!

I would appreciate your prayers as I begin this food elimination process!

Do you have any food sensitivities? I'd be happy to hear about them and answer your questions about my experiences.

Deuteronomy 8:10
When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

Proverbs 24:13
Eat honey, my son, for it is good; honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Isaiah 55:2
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.