I Have No Idea What To Eat

[ami27]

I have stated before that the first month or so going gluten free I felt great. Then I seemed to be reacting to dairy. Now it seems I'm reacting to everything I eat. I'm currently only eating chicken and brown rice. I'm not necessarily having GI issues. But sinus/allergy issues. I was recently tested for food and airborn allergies which all came back negative. The only thing I reacted to, which was minimal at that was oats and some spices. I didn't react to anything airborn. Now I'm having runny eyes and my ears feel congested. I go from being congested to running nose and drainage in my throat. I just don't know what to do at this point.

Ami

[RiceGuy]

Well, I'm sure your diet includes more than just the chicken and the rice. You do eat veggies, yes? I get a sinus reaction from some varieties of corn, in particular the ones labels as sweet corn. The extra sweet ones are noticeably worse.

There are a lot of things that can cause the sort of allergic reaction you have, so if you can list more of the things you eat, it would help others to guide you better. Don't forget to list fruits too, as you may be reacting to one of those.

As for air-born stuff, what about mold? I know that bothers many - myself included.

What kind of brown rice are you using - long or short grain? There's a big difference in the texture and taste, and perhaps you'd find one suits you better than the other. Have you tried other grains such as millet, buckwheat, t'eff, quinoa, amaranth, etc? Millet is said to be one of the least allergenic grains known, and it is quite nutritious as well as tasty. Also don't overlook legumes (beans). There are many varieties and zillions of ways to prepare healthy, satisfying dishes with them.

One thing to practice carefully is to add new food items one at a time, and give it enough time before trying the next. That way if you react to something, you won't have so much trouble figuring out what it is.

[ami27]

For the past 2 days I have only eaten long grain brown rice, chicken, 2 apples and a handful of cherries. I'm scared to eat anything. I was going to see if I could stop reacting and then slowly add one thing back in at a time. I really think I started having a problem with dairy first then corn and eggs. I was eating a scrabled egg on a corn tortilla for breakfast most mornings. One morning I ate this and got really tired and sick feeling so that's when I decided to stop eating that. Then the next day I had some pinepple that seemed to make me react in the same way. It was canned so that could be the problem. I would prefer fresh, but used canned in lieu of having fresh. After the pineapple episode it seemed to spiral into what's going on now. Mold could be a problem for me. It's been raining here since yesterday. It seems like there are just too many variables here to really figure out what's going on much less correct the problem.

Prior to trying the chicken & rice route I was eating chicken, ground turkey, fish, rice, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, tomatos, apples, oranges, cherries, blueberries, almonds, pistachios, corn tortillas, eggs, corn tortilla chips (said gluten free), hot sauce (confirmed gluten free), cheese, yogurt. Then I cut out the dairy, corn and eggs. I have been trying really hard to eat in such a way that I will feel better.

Maybe I just have a cold? I'm just very confused...not sure what's going on with me.

Ami

[Budew]

I had terrible sinus issues and when I completely cut out corn they cleared up. It was like a miracle.

I also gave up rice shortly after. It took care of a low grade headache that seemed to linger for days. The corn reactions for me last about 3 days, so maybe your pinapple reaction was just lingering corn.

Legumes are healthy but some people do have problems digesting them.

I am still looking for the right combination for feeling great.

Good luck, Budew

[RiceGuy]

For the past 2 days I have only eaten long grain brown rice, chicken, 2 apples and a handful of cherries. I'm scared to eat anything. I was going to see if I could stop reacting and then slowly add one thing back in at a time.

...

...

Maybe I just have a cold? I'm just very confused...not sure what's going on with me.

Well, firstly, your diet is currently over-limited. You will definitely not feel well on it. You cannot slowly add things one at a time from this point without feeling terrible for awhile, until you're getting a more complete set of nutrients. Plainly and simply; You need veggies - Eat them. Don't fill up on stuff right away though. Your body is out of wack, your digestive system is not operating at the usual pace. Start off by nibbling on a few things over the course of the day, just as if you're recovering from a bad stomach virus that had kept you from eating for a few days. Light soups can be good, and it may be helpful to let the veggies cook until very soft, so you can digest them more easily. I don't think I'd eat any raw veggies yet, as those require more digestive power to break down. Celery soup is nice, and you can add some of the chicken and/or rice to it. Broccoli and carrots are good, as are many other common ones like peas, cauliflower, green beans, turnips, summer and winter squashes, etc. Don't forget onions and garlic, as they are quite healthy.

One thing to keep in mind is that your immune system had been working overtime while dealing with gluten. So now that it has a chance to rest a bit, any other offending substances which may be lingering inside you may be getting addressed. It has happened to many once going gluten-free, that they begin seeing other issues appear for awhile. Things should normalize over time though. It just may take a few days or weeks. Everyone is different.

About the possibility of a cold, what symptoms are you having? You said you seem to be reacting to most things, but in what way? Are the symptoms the same as those you experience from gluten?

[Carriefaith]

Have you been tested for food allergies?

[ami27]

Thanks for the info. I know I need to add more to my diet. I was just in panic mode thinking everything was making me ill so I justed picked a few things to eat for a few days to see if things would settle down. I did make the rice with a broth I made out of water, carrots, celery, garlic and onions. Not a lot of veggies, but at least a little. Today I will definitely be adding in more veggies.

As far as reactions, gluten normally makes me overwhelmingly tired initially. Then afterwards I just feel like I'm in a fog and very fatigued. I also had chronic sinus infections and the GI problems with urgent restroom trips. This is what started happening with dairy, corn and eggs. Friday and yesterday I was having really bad headaches, major sinus drainage and my eyes would not stop watering. So I wouldn't say this was a normal gluten reaction for me. That's why I was saying I didn't know what was going on with me. Maybe just a symptom of an out of whack immune system? I'm feeling better today. Only mild headache and drainage. I'm hoping I'm on the road to feeling better again.

Ami

[ami27]

Yes I have been tested for both food allergies and airborn allergens. The only thing I tested positive for was oats and a few spices (thyme, nutmeg and cloves).

Ami

[Rachel--24]

You sound exactly like me. I have the same problem due to candida overgrowth. Candida causes leaky gut and increased allergies.

Candida has been shown to suppress one branch of the immune system -- the part that helps fights infections. Yet it stimulates another -- the immune system branch that makes allergies worse.

Candida is probably the #1 factor in the development of leaky gut. The #1 reason for having a candida overgrowth is antibiotics....although there are many other causes including Celiac Disease.

If this is your problem....alot of the foods you're eating can add fuel to the fire.

Candida problems will worsen with any moldy foods, sugar, processed foods, corn products, fermented foods, fruits, cheese, mushrooms, gluten grains, simple carbs/starches (i.e. potatoes, white rice, pasta), peanuts or peanut butter.

Looking at your list I would eliminate corn tortillas (very high in mold), all of the fruits, tortilla chips, cheese, yogurt (I'm assuming your yougurt is sweetened?), pistachios (high in mold).

Stick to veggies, fresh meat....eggs (if you're not sensitive to them) and some fish.

Avoid beans.

If you have candida you might actually feel worse eating this way for a few days and then you'll feel better. If you notice reactions to any food....avoid it.

What do you drink??

[ami27]

I drink water (filtered and bottled) and black coffee. On a rare occasion I'll drink sweet tea that I make at home. But that's very rare. I usually have a cup of coffee and water the rest of the day.

Ami

[Rachel--24]

I drink water (filtered and bottled) and black coffee. On a rare occasion I'll drink sweet tea that I make at home. But that's very rare. I usually have a cup of coffee and water the rest of the day.

Ami

I dont know how often you drink coffee...or ifts its caffeinated...but caffeine and alcohol are both major gut irritants and contributers to leaky gut.

Water is the best choice.

I would recommend avoiding the foods I mentioned for a couple weeks and see if you notice a difference. It looked like you were eating alot of fruit...which could really be contributing to your symptoms.

[RiceGuy]

I second the possibility of candida. Your description of symptoms are very very familiar to me as well! I had a terrible time until I finally figured it out, and eliminated all yeasts and sugars. I also took Caprylic acid for awhile, which really seemed to speed up the recovery. It was like the fog had lifted, and I had a whole new body. So tremendous, I've never eaten anything with yeast in it since. I still never eat any processed sugars either.

[diamondheart]

I hate that feeling of not knowing what to eat and being afraid to eat for fear that I'll have a reaction to something. The best thing is to take charge of your situation so you don't get yourself in panic mode. Reading on boards like this helped me figure out what to do next.

If you can get tested for intestinal fungi, bacteria, parasites, and other pathogens, I think it would be worth knowing exactly what you have so you can be treated properly for it. Go with a lab that tests for everything. My local hospital lab was worthless . They only tested for the "big" things, like giardia. Even though my insurance covered it, I'm sorry I wasted my time. I spent a couple of months thinking I was a hypocondriac. Then, I asked my GP is she tested me for Candida, and she said no . I was so mad, I found another doctor to work with. I didn't test positive for any fungi, but I do have an overgrowth of bad bacteria. I did my testing with Diagnos-Techs laboratory.

You can get tested for leaky gut too, in case you really want to know if this is what is going on. For me, it was obvious I had leaky gut since I was intolerant to so many foods, so I didn't bother testing for it.

Claire

[Sillyyakdidi]

I dont know how often you drink coffee...or ifts its caffeinated...but caffeine and alcohol are both major gut irritants and contributers to leaky gut.

Water is the best choice.

I would recommend avoiding the foods I mentioned for a couple weeks and see if you notice a difference. It looked like you were eating alot of fruit...which could really be contributing to your symptoms.

i agree with you, coffee kills anyones tummy! maybe you should try cutting that out like she said and that might make a big difference!

[hathor]

Have you tried an elimination diet? You start out with things that few people react to, then slowly add things back in to see what you can and can't tolerate. It takes time, but it may be better than guessing, multiple tests, etc.

Here is one explanation of how this works, what foods you start out with, etc.:

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