Food allergy detection - Allergies Message Board

DreaC11 · 03-23-2005, 03:51 PM

I suspect I am allergic (or intolerant, if you will) to a whole lot of foods, although the only ones that have shown up on my scratch test were tomato, corn, soy, shrimp, yeast and codfish and my RAST blood test showed a high antibody count for wheat. I am always, always bloated (I am a small girl, but I vary from looking 3 to 6 months preagnant from bloat all the time) even in the mornings when I wake up. On top of that I feel foggy and out almost 24/7 as well, which is the worst of all and is really making life miserable. So I am embarking on a week fast to see if my symptoms improve. Avoidaince, rotation and elimination challenges have so far been of no use.

I was wondering if anyone has ever fasted to discover food allergies? Are there any "safe" foods out there that nobody can possibly be allergic to? Rice perhaps? Does anyone know of any good books on food allergy detection and management?

Thanks
A

sneezydiva · 03-25-2005, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DreaC11

I suspect I am allergic (or intolerant, if you will) to a whole lot of foods, although the only ones that have shown up on my scratch test were tomato, corn, soy, shrimp, yeast and codfish and my RAST blood test showed a high antibody count for wheat.
A

I chuckled when you said you reacted "only" to tomato, corn, soy, shrimp, yeast and codfish and wheat. Corn, soy, yeast and wheat are in so many processed foods, even ones you wouldn't think of. For example, if you are allergic to corn, you need to also avoid foods cooked with corn oil and sweetened with corn syrup. Soy and soybeans are in tons of processed foods like you wouldn't believe. I don't have food allergies myself, but I have a friend with a child with food allergies and she reads labels constantly.

I bet if you are ruthless in eliminating these few foods that showed up on your tests, you will start to feel a whole lot better.

DreaC11 · 03-26-2005, 10:14 AM

Thanks for the input. I thought I was being pretty dilligent about eliminating the offending items from my diet, but I have come to find out recently that there is yeast and soy in just about everything, like the vitamin supplements I take every day, for example. So before I start the fast, I think I am going to give the elimination diet another whirl, this time being super careful. No processed foods whatsoever, no supplements, no tea (I guess they have yeast in them, go figure). So its pretty much fruits, vegetables and "alternative" grains from here on out. We'll see how I feel in a week. I suppose if I don't see any improvement, and once I get in to see an endrochronolgist who can tell me if I am going to kill myself with a fast, then I'll try the more extreme route.

Best
A

sneezydiva · 03-26-2005, 06:33 PM

Good luck with your elimination diet. I know from my friend it is hard work. Just to let you know, I think Naturemade brand and Vitamin World have yeast and wheat free vitamins. But doublecheck the label for soybean oil, especially in fat soluble vitamins like Vitamin E.