Lifestyle tips

Food intolerances and gaining

I've finally taken a blood test and I'm now looking for your advice on how to maintain my weight and ideally gain without eating the following things, which I'm highly intolerant of:

Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Soybean, Egg white, Peanut, Hazelnut, and Beef.

That has killed off most of the food groups my autistic mind finds safe to eat, and indeed overeat. I've never been adventurous with food, as many tastes, smells, and textures will set me on edge, however I think I'm going to have to overcome this. For example, avocados are too slimy to me, but I see they are often suggested.

All thoughts and suggestions very gratefully received!
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

CustardCream:
I've finally taken a blood test and I'm now looking for your advice on how to maintain my weight and ideally gain without eating the following things, which I'm highly intolerant of:

Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Soybean, Egg white, Peanut, Hazelnut, and Beef.

That has killed off most of the food groups my autistic mind finds safe to eat, and indeed overeat. I've never been adventurous with food, as many tastes, smells, and textures will set me on edge, however I think I'm going to have to overcome this. For example, avocados are too slimy to me, but I see they are often suggested.

All thoughts and suggestions very gratefully received!


I'm autistic with a lot of food sensitivites and allergies. I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to suck it up and start exploring.

The good news is that you still have options. Check out the vegan food and the gluten-free section. You can also check out the natural/organic food scene. There's a lot of food diversity that will open up a lot of avenues for you. I'd also start cooking more because your grocery bill is going to go up no matter what.

Speaking from experience.

That said, you'll lose some weight. This is not fat loss, but rather inflammation and fluid retention leaving the body. This is normal and good.

In the mean time, you can try other nuts you aren't allergic too like almonds and pistachios. There are milk alternatives like oat, rice, and almond. You can find turkey versions of most things out there for reasonable prices.

If you want to get something more specific, just ask. I had to live this life since I was 6 and we share similar allergens.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

CustardCream:
I've finally taken a blood test and I'm now looking for your advice on how to maintain my weight and ideally gain without eating the following things, which I'm highly intolerant of:

Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Soybean, Egg white, Peanut, Hazelnut, and Beef.

That has killed off most of the food groups my autistic mind finds safe to eat, and indeed overeat. I've never been adventurous with food, as many tastes, smells, and textures will set me on edge, however I think I'm going to have to overcome this. For example, avocados are too slimy to me, but I see they are often suggested.

All thoughts and suggestions very gratefully received!

Munchies:
I'm autistic with a lot of food sensitivites and allergies. I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to suck it up and start exploring.

The good news is that you still have options. Check out the vegan food and the gluten-free section. You can also check out the natural/organic food scene. There's a lot of food diversity that will open up a lot of avenues for you. I'd also start cooking more because your grocery bill is going to go up no matter what.

Speaking from experience.

That said, you'll lose some weight. This is not fat loss, but rather inflammation and fluid retention leaving the body. This is normal and good.

In the mean time, you can try other nuts you aren't allergic too like almonds and pistachios. There are milk alternatives like oat, rice, and almond. You can find turkey versions of most things out there for reasonable prices.

If you want to get something more specific, just ask. I had to live this life since I was 6 and we share similar allergens.


Thank you as always Munchies, I had a feeling it was suck it up time!

I plan to spend my day off tomorrow going to see what is there in the "free from" ranges and buying things to start with. I've realised the biggest issue is losing sandwiches, as my work often leaves me without an official lunch break and low smell and noise food can be eaten whilst working - which is often disturbed frequently. I've also thought about soups as a solution there.
I thought once I find my feet with what I like I could start making my own versions. Once I get some ideas I will ask for further help here so that others may benefit too!
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

CustardCream:
I've finally taken a blood test and I'm now looking for your advice on how to maintain my weight and ideally gain without eating the following things, which I'm highly intolerant of:

Dairy, Wheat, Gluten, Yeast, Soybean, Egg white, Peanut, Hazelnut, and Beef.

That has killed off most of the food groups my autistic mind finds safe to eat, and indeed overeat. I've never been adventurous with food, as many tastes, smells, and textures will set me on edge, however I think I'm going to have to overcome this. For example, avocados are too slimy to me, but I see they are often suggested.

All thoughts and suggestions very gratefully received!

Munchies:
I'm autistic with a lot of food sensitivites and allergies. I'm sorry to say this, but you'll have to suck it up and start exploring.

The good news is that you still have options. Check out the vegan food and the gluten-free section. You can also check out the natural/organic food scene. There's a lot of food diversity that will open up a lot of avenues for you. I'd also start cooking more because your grocery bill is going to go up no matter what.

Speaking from experience.

That said, you'll lose some weight. This is not fat loss, but rather inflammation and fluid retention leaving the body. This is normal and good.

In the mean time, you can try other nuts you aren't allergic too like almonds and pistachios. There are milk alternatives like oat, rice, and almond. You can find turkey versions of most things out there for reasonable prices.

If you want to get something more specific, just ask. I had to live this life since I was 6 and we share similar allergens.

CustardCream:
Thank you as always Munchies, I had a feeling it was suck it up time!

I plan to spend my day off tomorrow going to see what is there in the "free from" ranges and buying things to start with. I've realised the biggest issue is losing sandwiches, as my work often leaves me without an official lunch break and low smell and noise food can be eaten whilst working - which is often disturbed frequently. I've also thought about soups as a solution there.
I thought once I find my feet with what I like I could start making my own versions. Once I get some ideas I will ask for further help here so that others may benefit too!


You don't need to give up sandwiches, actually. If you are open to making your own bread, there are ways to do it without using the ingredients you are allergic to. You can also make wraps using corn tortillas. It's like a sandwich and a burrito had a baby.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining



Munchies:
You don't need to give up sandwiches, actually. If you are open to making your own bread, there are ways to do it without using the ingredients you are allergic to. You can also make wraps using corn tortillas. It's like a sandwich and a burrito had a baby.


Ah that's interesting! I assumed that any bread required yeast. Totally open to making it ourselves! I will look up corn tortillas tomorrow.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining



Munchies:
You don't need to give up sandwiches, actually. If you are open to making your own bread, there are ways to do it without using the ingredients you are allergic to. You can also make wraps using corn tortillas. It's like a sandwich and a burrito had a baby.

CustardCream:
Ah that's interesting! I assumed that any bread required yeast. Totally open to making it ourselves! I will look up corn tortillas tomorrow.


You can make bread with baking powder.

www.recipetineats.com/sandwich-bread-without-yeast-quick-easy/

This recipe is yeast and egg free. You can substitute the milk and the flower.

Also, if you are a cheese lover, you may enjoy goat or sheep cheese. Goat butter is also good.

There are vegan options. I'm personally not a fan, but some people like them.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

Wonderful, thank you! I will have a go at that. Strangely we have some loaf tins here, but I've no idea why!

Not heard of goat butter so will look out for that too. I've not been a great one for cheese, but might explore the equivalents soon.

A friend I told about all of this has suggested that I keep a tiny bit of these items I shouldn't eat in my diet because if you do totally remove them, you will have a much worse reaction than I get now when you do accidentally eat something I'm intolerant of. Have you had a similar experience with your intolerances?
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

CustardCream:
Wonderful, thank you! I will have a go at that. Strangely we have some loaf tins here, but I've no idea why!

Not heard of goat butter so will look out for that too. I've not been a great one for cheese, but might explore the equivalents soon.

A friend I told about all of this has suggested that I keep a tiny bit of these items I shouldn't eat in my diet because if you do totally remove them, you will have a much worse reaction than I get now when you do accidentally eat something I'm intolerant of. Have you had a similar experience with your intolerances?


Don't listen to your friend.

So, a bit of background for me. I have a autoimmune disorder that causes a lot of food intolerances and allergies. This is what started my interest in biology. It's focused towards microbiology and immunology, so I know a lot more about this than I know about other aspects of biology. And you've seen how much I know about the other aspects.

There are levels to how your body reacts to certain food sensitivities and allergens. Some you can get away with eating occasionally - especially if they are cooked. Others should be avoided at all costs.

In terms of treatment, there are allegy shots you can take. Basically, you get a shot (usually weekly or biweekly) that has proteins of the things you have issues with. This is built up over time and can help decrese your sensitivites over time. However, it's not for everyone. Some people have complications as the doses increase and have to stop.

This leads back to your friend's suggestion. The proteins for the foods you have issues with will be in much higher quantities than what is in the allergy shot. If you keep eating something you know you have issues with, you are playing with fire. This is especially true during Spring and Fall when common allergens are in the air making you extra sensitive to what you eat.

What you need to do is talk to your doctor about what next steps are right for you. Failure to comply can lead to histamines building up in your body over time which can cause ... unexpected complications.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

Thank you again Munchies!

I will book in to see my doctor as soon as they can. Whilst it is wonderful to have the NHS, it can take ages to get appointments now!

That is why I've paid privately for the autism testing and the food intolerance test. The latter was a do it at home blood test, where I pricked my finger, filled a capillary rod and sent it back. As part of that process, I get a half hour call with a nutritionalist, and wanted to have some questions ready for them, hence making the post here.

Cow's Milk and Wheat scored 100/100 on their test chart.
7 months

Food intolerances and gaining

CustardCream:
Thank you again Munchies!

I will book in to see my doctor as soon as they can. Whilst it is wonderful to have the NHS, it can take ages to get appointments now!

That is why I've paid privately for the autism testing and the food intolerance test. The latter was a do it at home blood test, where I pricked my finger, filled a capillary rod and sent it back. As part of that process, I get a half hour call with a nutritionalist, and wanted to have some questions ready for them, hence making the post here.

Cow's Milk and Wheat scored 100/100 on their test chart.


Oh yeah. Avoid those at all costs.

I will say that once these allergens are completely out of your system (this can take a few weeks) you'll notice a big change in your skin, mood, and brain function.
7 months
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