Hazel wrote: My blood pressure is controlled with medication and doesn’t cause a problem for me unless I eat certain foods. I have been sensitive to soy for over 20 years, and have become sensitive to other foods since then. Soy, corn, turkey, nuts, shrimp, and sometimes beans all cause a rise in my blood pressure usually a few hours after consumption. I have been to the ER several times for this as my blood pressure medications will not bring it down. My Dr … [Read more...]
How are our eggs coloured?
Does anyone know what colour is added to poultry feed now? Back in the 1970 eggs were blamed for reactions by my patients, both keeping their hyperactive children awake at night and aggravating eczema. I learned that tartrazine was used to colour feed. After much fuss by self-help groups and dietitians the dye added to feed was changed to a colour derived from crab shells. Reports of reactions to egg greatly reduced. Those who were allergic to eggs still had reactions. It has always been … [Read more...]
Testing food at Christmas
Will you do daring or careful testing over Christmas? You might be lucky. Every January I heard people say they got slack with their diet over Christmas and some said they got away with what they had, and others did get distressing symptoms and will never be that slack again! Some ideas if you want to test carefully Take nuts you want to test to family functions (but not almonds!) Try a small amount of a seasoned turkey (but not stuffing!) Try a diluted commercial mayonnaise with … [Read more...]
Low Chemical Diet using Diet Detective Method
Do you suspect you react to foods? You may be sure you get symptoms after foods you use occasionally such as chocolate or red wine, but wonder if other foods may matter, as your symptoms still continue, and they may get better or worse even with no noticeable change in your usual intake. You know other people do not feel the way you do. The right diet is in the person not in the diagnosis When a diet is named, such as the ‘migraine diet’ it gives the impression that the correct diet … [Read more...]
The Diet Detective Method
The Diet Detective Method is most suited to diet investigation where an initial elimination diet is not known so a best-fit or suggested diet is used. The Method is used for a trial time, usually four weeks, and any changes in symptoms noted. Then detective work continues assessing the outcome when various foods are reintroduced—which we call ‘challenges’. The diet detective method is clearer now but it has been developing over the last forty years. Not everyone reacts to the suspect food … [Read more...]
Quality of life and needing a diet
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...]