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It Hurts When I Eat This!

Newbies in the low-carb and paleo community often say, "the diet is great, but I still have problems eating (fill in the blank). What should I do?"

Maybe they're too young to remember a certain old joke. A man goes to see his doctor and says, "Doctor, it hurts when I do this." (Picture the patient holding his arm in odd way.) "What should I do?" The doctor says, "Stop holding your arm that way."

This old joke now represents a radical idea. If you have trouble eating something, then stop eating it. Or eat smaller amounts of it if the smaller amount doesn't give you problems and you can stop yourself at a little bit.

I have FODMAPs problems--polyols in particular. I can't eat more than a strawberry a day or a few spoonfuls of lemon juice without getting an upset stomach and acid reflux. Too much alcohol sugar gives me gas. I could try probiotics, resistant starch, fermented foods and the other latest things that purportedly heal your gut. Having taken antibiotics like candy since childhood for sinus problems and acne and taking a couple of massive courses of them to kill Staphylococcus aureus and Helicobacter pylori later on, my gut bacteria population is probably down to a few isolated tribes.

For myself, though, I don't see a point in eating more starch (carbohydrate) so that I can...eat more carbohydrate. My digestion works perfectly if I don't eat fruit or more than a little sugar alcohol or large meals. And I had some serious upper GI problems--acid reflux and an esophageal ulcer.

What if I could eat all the beans, potatoes, fruit and sugar alcohol I wanted, though? If I did, I'd probably weigh 200 pounds. I'd also have roller-coaster blood sugars and I'd start getting cavities and sore teeth again. As for large meals, I have zero need to be able to knock back a five-course dinner.

For me, taking things to "heal" my gut would be a solution looking for a problem.

Comments

"For myself, though, I don't see a point in eating more starch (carbohydrate) so that I can...eat more carbohydrate." Absolutely agree with you Lori.

I'm looking forward to tonight's lovely meal of smoked mackerel, served with a great salad variety. Good summer low carb high fat (moderate protein) foods. I love this lifestyle.

All the best Jan
Lori Miller said…
I'm having a lamb chop and buttered broccoli for lunch. If the potato heads want to have pea soup, though, that's fine with me.
Lamb chop and buttered broccoli.

Can you send me some over please LOL .....great food.

All the best Jan
Galina L. said…
May be it is convenient when you just can't eat what is wrong for you .Many people simply don't realize some suboptimal foods make them sick.
Galina L. said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Lori Miller said…
Getting horsewhipped with acid reflux within 20 minutes of eating something I shouldn't definitely keeps me on the straight and narrow.
Larcana said…
I agree, It just isn't worth it anymore when I can eat what I like and not have to burp/pass gas. I had some cuban lamb shank last night at a restaurant...but I forgot they load on the garlic. I am not an alum family eater, no garlic onion or leeks for me.
Mmmm but the lamb shank was good...I paid for it with lost sleep and a lot of misery. Oh well I can make my own without garlic and onions...and not suffer!
Lori Miller said…
I love garlic--it's one of the few food pleasures I have left. But I like lamb with rosemary and mustard, too.

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