• I usually don’t reserve this space in my morning Checkup posts for opinion pieces, but this series of two, by New York Times foodie Mark Bittman, was too interesting to pass up. It all started earlier this month when Bittman used his column inches to talk about a little food experiment he’d been running on himself. Bittman, a lifelong heartburn sufferer, decided three months ago to give up dairy in hopes that it might ease his heart burn troubles. “Twenty-four hours later, my heartburn was gone,” he wrote. “Never, it seems, to return.” Not surprisingly, the column elicited a huge response, with readers—he says 1,300 of them—writing to say they’d dropped milk, too, and saw all manner of ailments vanish, from migraines to IBS to chronic sinus infections and more. Interesting. Interesting to me, I think, because I’ve long wondered if a milk intolerance—or some other food intolerance—could be to blame for my frequent headaches and, to be perfectly honest, digestive issues. A pediatrician recommended that I quit milk when I was younger, so I’ve largely laid off the liquid stuff. But I still get dairy in the form of cheese and other milk-laden products. (No yogurt or ice cream, though—I know for a fact my body hates those foods.) But maybe I should try cutting out cheese and things, too, to see what it does. Or perhaps I should try quitting that other other known food pest, gluten. What do you think? Have you cut out certain foods only to find your chronic ailments suddenly alleviated? What food experiments have you run on yourself? I’d love to hear your stories.
• Other things you might consider quitting? Drinks that mix alcohol with caffeine. This study found it can lead to some, um, unsavory behavior.
• Super-awesome technology alert: an “eye writer” that allows people who have lost the ability to move their arms to write with their eyes.
I just diagnosed myself with a pineapple sensitivity. Twice in the last couple months, I used pineapple in a smoothie (which was totally delicious at the time), and about an hour later, I had horrible stomach cramps and nausea. It’s the only link I could find, and a quick google search confirmed that the acidity can mess with people’s stomachs. So no more fresh pineapple for me. =( However, I also have pineapple fruit cups every day, and they don’t make me sick, so I guess it’s just the fresh stuff that is a problem.
I gave up milk for 2 months to determine if the dairy was progressing migraines. It DID help to jump start some great weight loss (not too much needed, but welcomed!) However, I didn’t determine any sensitivities.
Thankfully, I can still enjoy some oreos and milk!
It’s wise, according to Annalise G. Roberts and Claudia Pillow, PhD in their book, The Gluten-Free Good Health Cookbook, to give up gluten even when one hasn’t been diagnosed with Celiac disease. According to Roberts and Pillow, our ancestors did not eat wheat and because of that we have evolved to be intolerant of wheat, rye and barley ( ice cold beer, anyone?). Their book explains inflammation in the body, what causes it, what can help prevent it, and why inflammation is the cause of so many diseases and annoyances we have as modern day woman/man. They maintain and tell us how to (try) to maintain an alkaline PH verses an acidic one. I think you and your readers may find the information helpful in gaining some control over their symptoms. Please let me know what you think and if you decide to try to eliminate gluten from your diet. I know I feel much better, have less gas and other non-mentionable symptoms when I go gluten-free!
Wow! Mark Bittman certainly whipped the milk debate into a frothy frenzy! As a registered dietitian I’m hungry for the facts on foods so I can help people pick what’s best for them and believe “the more you know, the more you can eat!” Many folks are lactose intolerant but I want to clarify that being lactose intolerant doesn’t mean you have to give up dairy completely. Cutting out entire food groups, such as dairy, can mean cutting out a lot of healthy nutrients. So, don’t throw the baby out with the bath water. Giving up milk isn’t the automatic answer for solving digestive health problems. Research suggests that people with lactose intolerance can actually drink about one cup of milk (at least 12 grams of lactose) with little or no symptoms. In my work with the milk producers as a nutrition educator, I feel good about serving up the good nutrition news about the benefits of milk.
If you like drinking milk – enjoy it in recipes and as a beverage. My favorite right now is in a latte coffee or as a tall cold glass with a slice of summer’s best strawberry rhubarb pie!!!
Thanks,
Carolyn