Having a grief reaction to needing a diet is an important issue. I remember when I worked with ADHD patients I attended a seminar for disabled children and thought I was in the wrong place as my patients where not disabled in the same way. But one mother talked about the grief of the loss of the normal child they had expected. This was quite a powerful idea. If we apply this to patients who need an elimination diet they have a grief reaction to the loss of themselves without symptoms, and the … [Read more...]
Sport, does red cordial increase speed?
Where people are sensitive to food chemicals red cordial does increase activity. The following ideas help explain how and why it can be useful, or if it produces more problems than benefits. Usually I am writing about food chemical intolerance as a problem. In the general population foods suspect for causing reactions are those which are sought after as they are enjoyable and stimulating. These include foods high in additives, spicy foods, acidic fruit, peppermint, teas, herbal preparations, … [Read more...]
Cinnamon: can coumarin cause toxic reactions?
A thoughtful subscriber asked this question. We all want to know exactly what is causing reactions like knowing that the lactose in milk can cause bloating. Unfortunately where food sensitivity is concerned there are many unknown unknowns. You can see how complicated it is by reading my presentation on this very topic, "Known Unknowns" for Ockham's Razor available here. I certainly have met many people who were putting a teaspoonful of cinnamon on their breakfast and who had quite severe IBS … [Read more...]
Baby fragile but no medical problem
“What if my baby is looking fragile but doctors find nothing wrong?” A mother asked. I had a little 12 months-old patient who was otherwise well but not gaining enough weight. We went through the Family Sensitivity History and used it to help with the process of diet investigation so removed all the usual suspect foods. It seemed strange to the family to exclude some foods where the aim was to have the child eat more. But they were encouraged to eat as much as he wanted of the safe foods. It was … [Read more...]
Lauren’s IBS story
Lauren’s story shows how individual IBS can be. “I am thankful I have had help. The diet detection process offered practical advice at a time when I was at a real loss with what I could actually eat. I now know that everyone has their own food sensitivity symptoms. Some of mine were quite unusual and had really bothered me for years. I had nausea every morning, a burning band of hotness from the waist around the back, after some meals, generally feeling unwell, with bloating and lots of wind. I … [Read more...]
Sleep problems can be important symptoms
One lady wrote: “I have had chronic insomnia for 30+ years which has worsened in the last 12-18 months. I have found a clear link between certain foods and drinks containing preservatives and being awake till 5 am in the morning. I discovered a dietitian who helped me with a low chemical elimination diet and food challenges. I am finding that salicylates also have a significant effect. I have been amazed at how my sleep has improved, for the first time in 30 years. I am very interested in this … [Read more...]
Are you a good re-absorber or a poor re-absorber in your gut?
My wonderful colleague Ashleigh Jones and I presented a workshop for Queensland dietitians on, “If not FODMAPs, then what?” We presented how diet investigation in IBS can be personalised right from the start by noting what symptoms and what suspect foods each person has. It was wonderful to see so many dietitians interested in diet investigation. After 40 years of work and research it is inspiring to know so many are engaged in this interesting area of dietetics. We were able to tell stories of … [Read more...]