Well now. Since writing, photographing and seriously enjoying this recipe, we've received the news my boy is allergic to ginger. And turmeric and egg white. So, it would appear pushing anti-inflammatory spices down his throat for gut healing wasn't the best idea I've ever had, but on the bright side we have rejoiced in the fact it could have been so much worse. Carrots, apples, meats and bacon spring to mind and would, quite frankly, have been 'operation complete disaster' had they shown up. The egg white's a bit of a bummer though. It has to be said, we've been strict AIP for over a year and can eat cake, cake, and cake with the best of them, but all the same it's a blow not to be able to make space for eggs in my future pantry. An overhead thought bubble scribbles 'what no omelettes?' as I type.
The test, before you ask, was the Cyrex Array 10. Extremely comprehensive and highly accurate, according to our amazing Practitioner, but *beeep* expensive. It's a new Array, which looks at 180 foods that are not only in a raw state, like other tests, but once cooked too. Let's face it, you don't often eat raw egg whites do you? The test doesn't tell you what you can eat, but what you absolutely cannot. In other words, you may still have sensitivities that need identifying and addressing but this is a true allergy test, per se. Now don't go telling me he showed allergic to the ginger and turmeric because he's eaten so much of it. Firstly, that simply isn't true because he hasn't and secondly, this test is more intelligent than that. Oh and thirdly, he hasn't so much as clapped eyes on an egg white in the last 17 months. Other testing reveals a few odds and ends that need addressing, for which the protocol is good but he needs to lose the honey. Another blow for a fifteen year old but life goes on, I'll just have to work on a few treats that are sweet-stuff free. Simples!
So now we start the task of reintroduction. Eileen Laird's e-book, Reintroducing Foods on the Paleo AIP will certainly come in useful for the purpose, which we shall take very slowly, one step and one food at a time. I've already had the ultimate fail on white sweet potatoes, which (having created a particularly delicious recipe) hates my guts (literally) as the meanie floored me for two days. Not going there again in a hurry!
If you fancy an anti-inflammatory treat (and you get along just fine and dandy with ginger) go grab today's recipe over at Autoimmune-Paleo.
Good morning; looks yummy, but for some reason only the narrative and photo came thru on the blog post; no recipe appears. Tried accessing thru the recipe tab and it was the same problem.
I look forward to seeing the recipe!
Hi Susan, the link to the recipe is at the bottom of the page - it's my guest post for Autoimmune-Paleo this month. Here it is and I hope you enjoy 🙂
http://autoimmune-paleo.com/strawberry-ginger-ice-cream-sundae/
I love your website! I finally have a birthday cake everybody can have! We are a family of 8! I have been doing the SCD, Paleo, AIP for a few years now. I have six kids, 2 kids on the higher end of the autistic spectrum, and my other children with allergies. I have been able to keep the kids symptoms down. We do better on the SCD, then paleo because of the starches. But I was hoping for much more healing then just keeping symptoms down, and having to just stay at the level of SCD is frustrating. I have never had myself or children tested, because I have most doctors tell me process of elimination is best, and most affordable. But I have been thinking about having the Cyrex test done, as well as stool testing, but I think I am afraid of what the results could say, like my kids are allergic to meat, or certain vegetables, I feel would be a disaster. And having several of my kids tested and having such different results that I would have to make several different meals. My family has been off gluten and dairy for years now, so could the Cyrex still be that accurate? I am not sure if the tests came back saying gluten, and dairy were OK that I could put my kids back on it. Did your son test OK for gluten and dairy, and if he did, do you let him eat gluten now? Any advice you could give would be appreciative. Thank you, Jodi
Hi Jodi
Firstly I am not a practitioner in any way, I am (just) a mum like you who wants the best for my kids. I completely understand your reservation in getting tests done, as I said in the post I was nervous of what the outcome would be for the very same reasons, although I would definitely have acted on them. The test was recommended by our new practitioner as a starting point and the results surprised me a lot. The spices my son is allergic to are ones highly recommended for anti-inflammatory purposes and I would never have found them had it not been for the testing. He was doing a lot of throat clearing over a very long time, with periods of aggression and depression, and I just couldn’t get to the bottom of it. Very often when we are trouble shooting for allergies/sensitivities we are on the look out for one thing, however it turned out there were two in his case. I’m not counting the egg white because we haven't eaten those since March last year. As much as I was rotating his diet, and writing it all down in a food diary, I could never find the cause because I was looking for one thing.
Just so you know, celiac disease is not an allergy to gluten, it is a sensitivity - albeit severe. My son did not test allergic to anything other than the spices and egg white but there will be plenty of things he is sensitive to because of his leaky gut. That includes gluten and dairy so to answer your question, we won't be eating gluten again and no dairy for a long long time. We still need to be aware of what he is sensitive to but at least we have eliminated the main problem, and know not to introduce egg white.
I think it’s all a question of priorities and cost obviously comes into the equation. However, I’m relieved to know about his allergies, especially since his practitioner was going to be prescribing supplements containing turmeric - that would have been a disaster. I also feel more confident about reintroducing foods to him so that’s what we are planning on doing now.
I hope this has helped in some way. We also had his Vitamin D and cortisol levels checked and are treating him for a sleep disorder which is improving greatly. He's a changed boy now - no aggression, no throat clearing and much happier all round. Good luck Jodi!
@Jodi,
If it makes you feel any better, allergies to certain meats or veg are not a "disaster", though it might feel like it at first. I've been through a lot of those, and I can tell you, you will adapt, your kid(s) will adapt, and you'll find a way! You're stronger than you think.
Also, in multi-allergy households, modular meals are a wonderful thing. 🙂
Thank you very much for your response, it was very helpful! I really appreciate it!
No problem Jodi, any time. I'm so pleased to have been of help 🙂