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Showing posts from August, 2011

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Wheat Challenge

Tootsie has completed 2 weeks of wheat trials.  In the beginning we introduced a half a slice of potato bread (first ingredient: wheat flour) and she didn't complain of a tummy ache.  The second day we gave her whole piece and that night she had some cramping - then she didn't have a BM for 2 full days.  During those two days we went back to the elimination diet to let her intestines rest.  We ended up introducing swedish pancakes and Pillsbury Crescent Rolls, both made with wheat flour, and she didn't have any trouble.  Right now we are allowing 1-2 wheat items every-other-day so we don't overwhelm her system.  So far it's going good...although it's a slow process...

Testing for Iron Deficiency

I was worried that Tootsie's iron levels could be low since she isn't getting any iron in her multivitamins and she doesn't eat much red meat (and drinks a lot of milk) - so we made an appointment with the pediatrician.  Dr. Z agreed that we should test - just to be sure.  Tootsie wasn't having any major symptoms that would point to a deficiency...just cracked corners of her mouth and sometimes dark circles under her eyes (which could be from any number of things). Here is a photo of little Toots being a very brave girl.  You can't see the bear in the upper left corner very well, but that was her surprise for being such a great patient.  She handles these tests like a champ - never a tear or a complaint! The lab work was taken yesterday and I just received a call from the nurse stating her iron levels are normal!  Yay!  I guess she is getting enough in her bread, eggs, cereal, etc....  I looked at the box of Rice Krispies this morning and it has 50% of the daily

Robert H. Lustig - Interviewed about Fructose

This is a must watch video for all Americans - especially mothers!  Start keeping track of the grams of sugar you are feeding your children and you will be amazed at the total.  It really is no wonder 1/3 of our adult population is obese (33.8%)...and 17% of our children!  ...And the reason why grocery shopping makes me want to pull my hair out when shopping for my FructMal girl!!! This is also a great video, which goes further in depth with research that proves  the damage caused by sugary foods. Dr. Lustig argues that fructose (too much) and fiber (not enough) appear to be cornerstones of the obesity epidemic through their effects on insulin. Robert H. Lustig, MD Professor of Clinical Pediatrics, in the Division of Endocrinology Director of the Weight Assessment for Teen and Child Health (WATCH) Program at UCSF

Elimination diet almost complete!

Well, we have discovered Tootsie has a very low tolerance to fructose.  She ended up having a reaction to the small amounts of oranges and bananas she was consuming.  By reaction I mean abdominal cramping off-and-on for two days, an "off mood",  crying out in her sleep one night, and purple circles under her eyes.  We have taken oranges and bananas out of her diet for now.  That means she is consuming no fruit whatsoever.  It makes me wonder if the SIBO treatment was successful.  We have scheduled a follow-up breath test for early September.  I hate this disorder!  I hate that she can't eat freely among her peers.  I hate that she feels different and isolated.  I hate that I have to say over-and-over again, "No, you cannot have that."  I remind myself on a daily basis that things could be worse, but it still gets me down.  I worry about her long term health.  I worry about sending her off to school.  I can't help but wonder if the antibiotics I was taking fo

FODMAPS Elimination Diet

We have completed 1 week of the elimination diet and tootsie is feeling really good.  She has had very little gas, no issues with constipation, and has a healthy appetite.  Her mood and sleep have been great as well. These are food ingredients/additives that must be AVOIDED during the elimination phase: Bulgar Wheat, Brown Sugar, Crystalline Fructose, Coconut Milk, Dry Milk Solids, Fructo-oligosaccharides/FOS, Fructose, Fructose Solids, Fruit-juice concentrates, Goat's milk, High-fructose corn syrup, Honey, Hydrogenated starch hydrolysates, Inulin, Isomalt, Kamut, Lactitol, Maltitol, Mannitol, Miso, Modified starch, Molasses, Polydextrose, Sorbitol, Soy Protein Isolate, Spelt, Sprouted Wheat, Texturized Vegetable Protein, Tomato Paste, Wheat Berries, Wheat Flour (white, whole wheat, all purpose), Whey Protein Concentrate, Xylitol She is eating Udi's White Sandwich Bread - about 3 slices per day.  It is made with brown rice flour.  I had read that brown rice is a fructan