Shut up and eat your dinner

Originally posted by citizen smith
Good point, I get that kind of reaction followed by an endorphin rush with curry...the hotter the better, and if I'm having an 'Indian week' my tolerance and craving for chili increases til I get cramps in my gut from a lunchtime vindaloo.

(curry smilie)

In the case of curry, it really is an addiction to the endorphins. I'm nuts about hot food too

The theory goes that when you eat hot food, the tongue is tricked into thinking it is on fire (hot food doesn't hurt the tongue, actually). It then sends a signal to the brain, which in turn releases endorphins (which is the body's natural painkillers) as a response. Those who are used to hot food will notice that eventually, the hotter the food, the better. This is because eventually the same amount of endorphins released can no longer give one that same "kick".

Like me for example, if I don't get swollen Angelina-lips after eating curry-mee, it just won't do. I'll go seek out other hot food and even go through the lengths of not drinking any water for a while (so that my tongue screams and shouts to my brain).

The things people do to get a kick

Originally posted by Jenna
My hubby for example got sick after eating tater tots when he was younger. To this day he swears he can't eat them or he'll get sick. It's all in his head.

I understand all about hypercondriacts.. But I might suggest you get your husband to the doctor.. My best friend Bob, has been having problems with high cholesterol, and tator tots is what got him put in the hosptial!!

Sure some people can get mind over matter.. But you guys will sit here and dismiss so many things!!!

I think if I have something wrong with my body, I would know!! I mean its my body and I can feel when Im getting sick..
Yet some hypercondriacts get to far out, and thus you start sterotyping people who say, I dont feel so good...
I think they would know! its their body!! If you are not in their skin, how can you sit here and say you know its all in their heads???

I made that mistake, and almost died becasue of that...
Im not a hypercondriact, yet I have met some.. Yet doesnt mean there is nothing wrong with them..

[edit on 19-9-2007 by zysin5]

I think the point Asty is trying to make
(if wrong, please correct me), is the
hype surrounding these maladies.

Even the media (as stated) is on the
band-wagon.

Sure, they exist but it seems it's one
of the latest middle-class America
fads.

Like owning one of those sickening
little Paris Hilton mutts. Ugh.

Regards,
Lex

Milk is my nemisis. It is like playing russian roulette, if I am lucky it only causes mild discomfort and slight nausea. If not then I am in for an evening of huching over the toilet until my stomach is empty and then I get to experience the dry heaves for awhile. It has been this way since I was born. Back in the 60's my parents didn't have access to formula and soy products so I was put on Gelatin water as a substitue. (at that time Knox Gelatin was made from cows hooves and was a source of calcium) I do not eat ice cream or any other dairy product if I can help it and usually I don't miss it. There is one exception though, Cheese, love it and a few times a year I throw caution to the wind and indulge. Most of the time I pay for it though.

Originally posted by zysin5

I understand all about hypercondriacts.. But I might suggest you get your husband to the doctor.. My best friend Bob, has been having problems with high cholesterol, and tator tots is what got him put in the hosptial!!

No need for a doctor, he has checkups at least every year and sometimes every six months. (He's a military man.) I just wish he'd get over his anti-tater tot stance because my son and I love them!

I think if I have something wrong with my body, I would know!! I mean its my body and I can feel when Im getting sick..

True, which is why I think that people who believe they have an allergy or intolerance should get checked out by a doctor rather than just saying "Oh, I'm allergic." If it is truly an allergy/intolerance, the doctor can either help you figure out what to avoid or can help you with the symptoms. If it's not, you can start eating that food again and convince your subconscious that nothing bad will really happen if you eat it. I believe that people should be tested for allergies if they have adverse reaction to the same thing over and over. What drives me nuts is the people who get sick one time and just assume they are allergic to whatever they ate.

I never had any "intolerances" to food until about 3 years ago. Well, I take that back, I'll say I gradually developed intolerances to foods, and most have been in the last three years.

At about age 14, I found I could no longer eat Nectarines. That was the first food that bothered me. My throat swells, I get horrible "heartburn", although I've seen a doctor, and he's prescribed many a medication and none work to relieve it. The pain and swelling can last for up to two days on one Nectarine, of course, it took me eating them a few times to realize the connection.

3 years or so ago (around age 27), this same thing started happening with Eggs. I can eat eggs IN something (as an ingredient, in cake for example, or even French Toast) but just eggs, or in an omelet, something where it is predominate, one bite and my throat will start to swell. Since that time, I've developed the same symptoms with almonds and sunflower seeds.

Beleive me, I'd LOVE to eat all of these things again, I do not make this up to avoid eating certain foods or to "get attention".

I wish food intolerances were a myth!

reply to post by Layla


As I've said, there certainly are people who do have food allergies/intolerances. I don't dispute the validity of it. My point is simply that people are too quick to assume they have one. Your throat closing up is a pretty clear indication of an allergy. My issue is people who get sick to their stomach and assume it's an allergy/intolerance with out bothering to ask a doctor about it.

Originally posted by Obliv_au
i drink about 3litres (almost a gal) of plain milk every two days.

love the stuff, cant get enuff.

whats so bad about it? (seriously, im curious)

well, depending on who you talk to, either nothing - or everything.

my personal stance is that first of all milking cows is just a disgusting a cruel process. I could care less about the cruel part, but seriously, it's beyond sick.

Also, contemplate the fact that cow milk is made to help a baby cow grow 200+ points in the course of a few weeks. I used to drink a gallon every day almost, but I started to get sick, and had a really bad problem with mucus buildup (also because of milk).

I have since switched to soy milk (about 3 years ago) and haven't had any milk since (although i still like ice cream, cheese, etc.) I actually prefer the taste, aftertaste and texture of soy over milk by a LOT.

Originally posted by Jenna
reply to post by Layla

 

As I've said, there certainly are people who do have food allergies/intolerances. I don't dispute the validity of it. My point is simply that people are too quick to assume they have one. Your throat closing up is a pretty clear indication of an allergy. My issue is people who get sick to their stomach and assume it's an allergy/intolerance with out bothering to ask a doctor about it.

why would you have an issue?

If I sit down and eat an onion, glass of milk and pinto beans - and then get horribly sick, I would much rather just avoid that combo (or all items) in the future, as opposed to shelling out my hard earned cash to a doctor, to tell me what he thinks. screw all that.

reply to post by Astyanax


I find it strange that you even care what other people eat.

I also find it strange that you call nutritional specialists quacks, but you think the drug dealing doctors are 'legitimate'

Next time you go to a doctor, ask him or her about Nutrition and you will get a mostly blank stare. Sure they might tell you that too much Red Meat is bad for you, but if you possibly are allergic to wheat, you are more likely to get a perscription for some new Antacid that the doctor just happens to have all sorts of Paper Pads and Ball Point Pens emblazoned with in their office. It is doubtful that you will get any reliable information about nutrition from a doctor these days.

So your big point is that you are sick and tired of people imagining food related ailments? Well good for you. Some people fake non food related ailments as well... Some people fake medical degrees also. Or they fake evidence of Weapons of Mass Destruction.

Perhaps you should look into the ingredients that you eat in your food. Oh, the FDA said it is okay, so it must be, right? The Obesity epidemic has nothing to do with bad eating habits, or the ingestion of substances that have no nutrition. But boy does it taste good! You are welcome to continue on the path of poor nutrional choices, and lashing out at people who refuse to eat food that 'they' feel is not nutritious.

I could understand if 'these people' were forcing you to buy their specialty foods for them, but they are not. Instead of trying to deny ignorance, it seem like you are buying into it to me.

To me, you sound like an angry father who is upset that his daughter refuses to eat the food that you worked so hard to put on the table, and how dare she claim to be a vegitarian...

I am not trying to offend you, but inform you how ridiculous this sounds...

Shut up and let people eat what they want.
DocMoreau

reply to post by scientist


There is a difference between realizing that eating a certain combination of foods upsets your stomach, and deciding that you must be allergic/intolerant to something you ate because your stomach is upset. A very large difference I would think. For example, a tuna fish sandwich, salad with ranch dressing, and piece of apple pie do not mesh well inside my stomach, I won't be eating that combination again. But that doesn't meant I'm intolerant to any of those things.

But yes, it does irritate me to listen to people complain about being allergic/intolerant to something because of being sick one time after eating it. It irritates me beyond belief. Maybe I'm just around a lot of hypochondriacs.

reply to post by Layla


That must be awful. I have to say, from your description it sounds like a type of 'vaso-vagal' or sympathetic nervous system reaction rather than an allergy.

IOW, and not to minimize your ordeal or distress, I wonder if you were tested eating eggs (or nectarines) with the taste masked and blindfolded if you'd still have a reaction?

Again, not saying it's in your head. It may be that there's no chemical basis for your allergy. What makes me think this is that you can eat the eggs if they're in something (disguised). If you really had an actual allergy, with the histamine cascade and so forth, then you'd still react to the eggs. (assuming we're not talking about raw vs cooked or something like that).

Obviously this is cold comfort, because, for whatever reason, you still are being limited by your food choices.

Do you think that if it could be proved to you that you were not allergic that you might receive some relief from this?

Does that make sense? Just a thought.



[edit on 19-9-2007 by Badge01]

reply to post by Badge01


I don't know if it would make a difference. It is odd to me that I developed these reactions (I don't call them allergies, because of the same thing, the fact that I can eat eggs IN something). condiering that I LOVE eggs. One of my favorite meals is Chorizo and Eggs and I simply cannot do it now. I also love all kinds of fruit and used to munch on almonds as a snack, so I'm not sure if your theory is supported. Now, if it was something I couldn't stand like Mayonaisse, then maybe

I am VERY allergic to sugar substitutes and didn't really realize it till I was about 17-18. When I was in HS my mother would always give me some extra gum as I went to school and by the time I got there I had a killer migraine. After I got older and the Drs weren't able to help with why I was getting them I started paying very close attention to what I was eating. After a few months of that I put the dots together on artificial sweeteners and how after having a diet soda or something of that nature I'd get a headache.

Odd thing is that peaches do it to me too, and that's a natural source of sugar.

Still haven't found one that agrees with me yet, spenda included.

I don't consider myself to be too consumed with the crap that passes for food these days, but I do buy milk from a local farmer that is in glass bottles and is hormone free. I'm just not a big fan of better living by chemistry when it comes to what I eat daily.

Ay! Ay! Ay! Caramba!

Originally posted by scientist

Originally posted by jedimiller
I hate it when people want to have a conversation while eating. whenever I sit with mom to eat she wants to discuss world events or soap operas... I never talk while I eat, but females love talking on the food table, I don't get it.

i knew i would find something to agree with you on eventually.

not many things irritate me as much as someone asking questions while I am eating, or waiting for my input on something, with food in my mouth. I feel like immediately answering and just spitting food all over them and myself, which would be the ONLY obvious result of their antics.

In The General in His Labyrinth, Marquez talks approvingly about the habit of talking about food at dinner, which he says is good for the appetite.

I agree.

Originally posted by zysin5
I dont understand posts like this??? Your saying that its all in my head when I drink coffee and have bad stomach reactions? That its all in my head???

Nooooooooo.

Lactose intolerance is real. All kinds of people do have it. Some people, like Chinese and South Indians, are extremely prone to it.

Same with other food allergies.

The thing is, for every one person who thinks he or she has one nowadays, there are three more who don't, but think they do. It's in the article -- the one I linked to in the OP.

reply to post by DocMoreau

Originally posted by DocMoreau
I find it strange that you even care what other people eat.

I don't, O Sculptor of Strange Forms in Flesh. I care about them bending my ear about their evidently fictitious and utterly uninteresting 'food allergies'.

I also find it strange that you call nutritional specialists quacks, but you think the drug dealing doctors are 'legitimate'

Yes, but then I -- sigh -- suppose you would. What else do you find strange, as a rule?

Oh, the FDA said it is okay, so it must be, right?

What's an FDA? Oh, yes, those chaps. Sorry, wrong country. Spin the globe and have another stab.

The Obesity epidemic has nothing to do with...

...anything I was talking about. Yes, you're quite right there.

You are welcome to continue on the path of poor nutrional choices, and lashing out at people who refuse to eat food that 'they' feel is not nutritious.

Dear doctor, how on earth do you know what I eat? You aren't that fellow my cook's been sloping off to see in town on Saturday nights now are you?

To me, you sound like an angry father who is upset that his daughter refuses to eat the food that you worked so hard to put on the table, and how dare she claim to be a vegitarian...

Did you like the impression? Good, isn't it? All fake, I'm afraid. Inclination denies me the felicity of paternity. Terribly irresponsible of me, I know. But I have brothers to keep the family name going.

I am not trying to offend you, but inform you how ridiculous this sounds...

You're right, it does sound utterly ridiculous. How do you manage that?

reply to post by Astyanax

The thing is, for every one person who thinks he or she has one nowadays, there are three more who don't, but think they do.

Okay I follow you Yeah I would agree with you on this point.
My sister is like this.. She has a problem with dairy products, and like you said thats noted.. But she goes off on these tangents of many other things.. So I can agree with you with how you explain it..
I misunderstood at first.. So we are clear now.. Thanks for the thread, very interesting read

Why does it matter if people are having involuntary reactions to foods due to a past bad experience, or they have a bona fide allergy?

I seem to recall reading that not everyone that is having an anamnestic response to something is really responding to a known allergen. IOW no evidence of antibody is ever found.

(an anamnestic response is a renewed response which results in a rapid production of antibody on exposure to the same antigen (food))

If someone is gagging or choking on food, don't try and make them eat it. What's the point? If you think they're in it for attention, then just brush it off, otherwise you are still giving attention even if it's negative.

The only thing I can think of for a scientific cause but not related to allergy would be if the reaction was not to the actual food, but to a common contaminant, pesticide residue, insect residue, or an actual contaminant (oil leaks from the tank truck making the delivery).

I have a weird allergy, Meat, pork or beef, I have to eat it in small amounts, like once or a month or so, otherwise I'm on the pot for hours, sometimes days, I refuse to eat soy meats tho, chicken and turkey or fish is fine, but I can't go to Mcd's or BK and have a meal (except for the chicken and salads) I eat a great deal of nuts to compensate for the proteins, and I'm not a bit overweight at all.

I really do not miss it (except for bacon and ham) it started after I joined the Marines, dunno if thats why, but I feel wonderful and have not been sick in 30 years so I guess it's ok