Question:
Like others my, self-made Food-Diary showed a direct link between food and mood, and I have had the same reaction from the medical profession. 1990 to 2010 being told ‘Its all in your mind’ or ‘Your normal’ but only in the last 4 weeks of me getting angry with Dr’s has anyone done anything and have recently started an MAOI, which, in theory, may help.
I have found the ideal solution is a total exclusion diet for 48-72 hrs, but as this isn’t practical I have to eat and put up with the consequences.
For me, one thing that does help a great deal is SucroGuard by BioCare.
My quest is to find professional help that is a cross between a Nutritionist & Chef as, as others have said you crave those foods that make you ill.
Thanks again to everyone as it really does help knowing I’m not going mad – there is also a family connect with my sister and mother having similar problems.
Julian
Joan’s answer:
Dear Julian,
It is great to you believing in yourself and being assertive about diet investigation.
Do discuss the use of MAOI medication as that may be going in the wrong direction. It is the treatment with MAOIs which is liable to produce reactions to amines, including tyramine, and patients are put on a low amine diet for that reason. MAOIs are Mono Amine Oxidase Inhibitors, that is inhibitors of the enzymes that break down the amines, such as tyramine; because psychiatrists consider low levels of monoamines such as noradrenaline and serotonin contribute to depression the medication aims to increase these by inhibiting their breakdown. So the medication may improve the patient’s mood.
Those who are food sensitive are those who have reactions even without having MAOIs. So using them could make your reactions worse. In fact you are more vulnerable to the more dangerous side effects, such as a hypertensive crisis, so you need to be under the care of a local dietitian.
You can also get supportive help via my book ‘Are You Food Sensitive?’ on this site. It is a diet detective process that gives you a good way to start – without going on a total exclusion diet for 48-72 hours – and then you gradually see what you can get away with over months.
If you follow that process one of the benefits of the diet detective process is that the cravings go after the first couple of weeks and you can test things gradually so you don’t go back to the have a big feed, feel great, followed by feeling really bad, with cravings and then having another big feed cycle.
From the chef point of view the important thing to remember that it is “very fresh, good quality food” that is better tolerated. The Diet detective Approach is to say “if any food smells too stale, aged or strong to you, it is wise not to have it”.
Your knowledge of others in the family having similar problems is important information. Do read Chap 2 on Understanding food sensitivity, and Chapter 4 for Family factors to consider to understand the whole idea of food sensivity better.
Kind regards
Joan Breakey
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