I've got FODMAPS on my mind. My son has developed a throat clearing condition that's had me searching for answers for a couple of weeks now. Obviously the first thing to cross my mind was food intolerances so I looked back through my journal and worked out that every time he did it, he'd eaten a meal containing garlic. So that was the first to go. It did the trick but it was short-lived, because not long after it started up again. This time I removed onions because they're in the same allium family as garlic and it seemed only sensible that the two should be linked. Yet still he did it. So then I removed coconut, because we eat a fair amount of it in various forms, but again the problem didn't stop. My husband and I decided that perhaps it takes a while for the offending food to clear the system so I kept all those things out of his diet. However, a couple of weeks later he is still doing it, in fact he clears his throat after eating pretty much anything. That's why I've started thinking about SIBO and FODMAPS.
As well as the AIP, we incorporate the GAPS diet which is based on starving bacteria in the small intestine in order to heal the gut lining. The difference between GAPS and the standard Paleo diet is that GAPS eliminates the more starchy vegetables (a perfect breeding platform for bacteria), such as sweet potatoes, parsnips, yams, plantains etc. However we have never eliminated high FODMAPS such as cauliflower.
Of course we all need balance in our eating habits, after all the way we eat is so restricted anyway, it is probably a bad idea to be restricted still further, so denying us of essential nutrients. It's important to ring the changes, not to eat the same things day in day out and that way the body doesn't start to rebel. So we shall gradually reintroduce onions and garlic but not use them every day and the same goes for coconut. Though I'm not ready to eliminate all high FODMAP foods just yet, I shall be concentrating on rotation. And that's where this veggie side dish comes in since it is happily a low FODMAP recipe.
If you're wondering what foods are both low FODMAP and AIP, you may like to check out this great post from Petra8Paleo and Christina Feindel's latest e-book, 28 Days of FODMAPS.
Update : The throat clearing has stopped. Now I need to work out why 🙂
Further update : the throat clearing was down to food allergies - read more here.
crushed roots with herbs
I love that this veggie dish is rustic and you can see what's inside. If you prefer to blend it that's fine, but you'll have to call it mash!
(serves 6)
Print the recipe here
650g (5 medium) carrots, chopped into 1/2 inch rounds
900g (1 large) celeriac, peeled and chopped into 1 inch pieces
2 tbsp solid fat (I use lard)
salt (I use this one)
1/4 packed cup coriander leaf (cilantro), chopped
1/4 packed cup parsley, chopped
Put the carrots into a large pan and the celeriac on the top. Half cover with filtered water, put a lid on the pan and bring up to a simmer. Cook for approximately 20 minutes until tender. Drain and leave in the pan with the lid on for a minute or two to evaporate as much excess water as possible. Add the fat and using a potato masher, roughly crush the vegetables until rustic and still quite chunky. Stir in the herbs, check to see there is enough salt for your taste and serve.
My husband has Tourette's and throat clearing is one of his many tics.
Have you considered this?
Good luck.
Hi Laurie, thanks so much for commenting. It isn't a tic, he says he actually feels something blocking his throat (mucus). Actually my husband and I do it too sometimes and it is definitely blocking. We shall get to the bottom of though. Thanks 🙂
This recipe looks great and I'll use so I'm sorry you came upon it by worrying about your son. I agree with the other poster about it be some type of tic or OCD thing. I have 2 co workers who do it and say they "feel" something in their throat, but two hours after lunch they are still doing it and I don't think they even know it.
Hmm, something to think about. Thanks Apelila.
This looks delicious! My dad has the same problem with the throat clearing after eating and it does seem to be worse when he eats the things he shouldn't (dairy, gluten). I will be interested to see what you figure out is causing this annoying issue.
Thanks Riley, I'll get to the bottom of it 🙂
Thanks for the recipe, it looks good! It's never easy to limit your diet even more, but have you checked out a low histamine diet? your son is lucky to have such a determined mom/chef.
Aww thanks Ulrike. He doesn't have any of the symptoms associated with histamine intolerance so that isn't it. Thanks for thinking of him though 🙂
HI! My daughter went through 7 months of excessive throat clearing. I removed gluten and dairy but that didn't seem to help.So, I assumed seasonal allergies or environmental sensitivities. It slowly decreased but she still doesn't periodically. She said it feels like her throat is full and like there's something stuck in there. It is very concerning. I hope you post frequent updates with how your son does because I'm very curious how it goes.
jada
Hi Jada, funnily enough he isn't so bad now but then, just as I think it has disappeared, he'll start up again for a short time. I've been experimenting with rotating coconut and FODMAPS but I don't think they were the issues. Yes, I'll update when we get to the bottom of it though. Thanks for your message, I hope your daughter is sorted soon too 🙂
Have you ruled out EOE. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/eosinophilic-esophagitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20372197
My son is 32 and was just diagnosed with this autoimmune disease. He has to have his esophagus open wider due to his EOE. This diseases usually starts as a child.
I have the throat-clearing problem too and it drives me nuts. It absolutely feels like there is something in my throat that I need to un-block. I went to see my ENT doctor and after examining me he said it looked like acid reflux. What??? I thought that was really strange because I had never had any symptoms of reflux, that I knew of... I tried medication for reflux, and sure enough the throat-clearing went away. If I forget to take the meds for a day or two, it returns. Now I need to figure out how to treat the reflux without medication -- probably dietary changes and weight loss.
Hi Anne, I'm sorry to hear about your throat clearing woes. We found the cause of my son's problem - it is allergies to turmeric and ginger (plus a couple of other things) which I was using in our diet for anti-inflammatory purposes. There was I looking for a single food, when there were two of them which I had been using in rotation. You may like to have a read of this post, where I explain the test that we used for him. Good luck with your own search!
http://healingfamilyeats.com/strawberry-ginger-ice-cream-sundae-aip/
I'm glad you got to the bottom of it! I'm experimenting with removing nightshades, as I've had extra thick mucus and slowed digestion. After digging and digging (as there is very little research), I'm thinking mine is an issue with alkaloids. It is definitely a learning experience!
Oh goodness that is a challenge. Wishing you much luck with that Sarah.
Maybe some answers here? http://www.amazon.com/The-Chronic-Cough-Enigma-neurogenic/dp/1940561000
Well we sorted out the cause but this book is great. Thanks so much Tracy, it looks really interesting!
Have you tried freezing the crushed roots?
I haven't but it will work absolutely fine.
Thanks! Will give it a go for some batch cooking.
Looks delicious! I love celeriac! And I would never have tried it without the AIP. What do you like to serve this with for a full meal? Thanks for your recipes!
I love this with anything and everything. Think of it as a mashed potato alternative - perfect with grilled meats and fish, roast chickens, sausages. It's a great excuse to get in a variety of veggies and some healthy herbs. Thanks for trying the recipes. Enjoy 🙂
This IS amazing. I've made it a number of times. It's a staple now and one of my favorites. THANK YOU.
So happy to hear you're enjoying it, thanks for letting me know!