Re: Nutrition vs. taste

[Guest guest]

I'm only 'afraid' to eat my diagnosed allergens, because I dislike experiencing

excruciatingly painful reactions that last 1-2 weeks. However, I weigh what I've

heard about sugar and animal products against how deprived I will feel if I

abstain from sugar and meat containing foods, which don't cause allergic

reactions. I have enough food allergies to feel deprived, even if I eat sugar

and meats every day. I'm actually allergic to cane sugar, but can eat other

forms of sugar (except some artificial sweetners) without reactions.

However, I worry about claims that sugar will lower my 'immunity' when I'm

already fighting a cold. I'm allergic to dairy and eggs, but feel better when I

eat meats, poultry and fish. Nevertheless, what I learned about meat processing

when I watched the documentary " Food, Inc. " made me reconsider certain meat

processing companies which don't raise 'free range' or antibiotic free meats.

I've struggled with enough food born bacterial infections that I don't want to

risk getting campylobacter or salmonella (from poultry) or e. coli (from meats).

So I limit my meat/poultry purchases to reputable companies which sell

free-range, antibiotic free animals.

As far as meats or sugar causing cancer or low bone density, those theories

still come from 'correlations' not proven causal facts. Using certain drugs are

more highly correlated with cancers and bone loss than meats or sugars. For

example, HRT has been highly correlated with breast cancer. Acid blocking drugs

have been highly correlated with bone loss, because low stomach acid inhibits

absorption of calcium from foods. Furthermore, there are higher correlations

between gluten and nonhodgkins lymphoma and autoimmune diseases that between

sugar and/or meats and cancers.

If you want to restrict foods that you like so that you won't overeat, you can

find 'bad press' about almost any food. However, no specific food can make us

overeat, as much as unnecessary restriction or feeling 'deprived' of foods we

enjoy. Since intuitive eating involves choosing foods according to how foods

feel when and after we eat them, I prefer to let my body (and food allergy blood

tests) tell me what foods are safe for me, rather than listening to nutritional

hype, which is more dependent on which food company has the best ad campaign,

than on actual scientific research.

SUE

>

> I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles with this, but sometimes I'm

afraid to eat certain things, mostly sugar and animal products, because I've

read about all the health issues they cause. I eat vegan a lot of the time

because I feel better eating more plant foods, but when I really want cheese or

eggs, I eat them but then worry about what's going on in my body. I was blessed

with a cast-iron digestive system, I don't really have any health problems and

no food allergies, so I don't have any immediate manifestations of problems this

food my be causing, but I just worry about getting cancer or losing bone density

down the road because of casein and sugar messing with my alkalinity.

> Any thoughts?

>

> McKella

>

[Guest guest]

To be honest, I don't worry about it that much. I usually like to eat

a lot of things like beans, vegetables, and fruits, but I also like a

good steak or omelet once in a while, too. Bone density may be an

issue at some point because osteoporosis runs in my family and I take

acid blockers--but right now I need to take the acid blockers, so not

much I can do about that. I have some slight bone thinning in my

spine, but not too much.

The way I look at it, I've already screwed myself up enough by

restricting food in the past; I don't need to mess it up more now. I'd

rather get more enjoyment out of food for the rest of my life than

worry that what I eat might cut a few years off.

Sohni

mckella11 wrote:

I'm sure I'm not the only one who struggles with this, but

sometimes I'm afraid to eat certain things, mostly sugar and animal

products, because I've read about all the health issues they cause. I

eat vegan a lot of the time because I feel better eating more plant

foods, but when I really want cheese or eggs, I eat them but then worry

about what's going on in my body. I was blessed with a cast-iron

digestive system, I don't really have any health problems and no food

allergies, so I don't have any immediate manifestations of problems

this food my be causing, but I just worry about getting cancer or

losing bone density down the road because of casein and sugar messing

with my alkalinity.

Any thoughts?

McKella