Re: OT - Martha re sulpates

[Guest guest]

HI, Joan,

Yes, the sulfites are used very commonly to keep foods from discolouring. Sulfites are actually very powerful anti-oxidants! But if you are sensitive to them, havoc can ensue. French fries are just terrible - about 3000 mcg. in one Mc's standard order. (Of course, if the fries are made fresh, they have NO sulfites! ) There is only one brand of potato chips here in the states that doesn't use sulfites: Lay's. (that I know of)

Coconut is also extremely high, again unless it is fresh! And raisins and any other dried fruit = big trouble!

I have read that all pre-cut fresh vegetables are suspect because they are often rinsed with a coating of a corn-based preservative. And corn "by-products" are almost ALL full of sulfites. This is rather suspicious as you say you ordinarily can do OK with broccoli. But if it is windy for you, perhaps you should look at ALL sulfurs...how do you do with other cruciferous veggies? Garlic? Eggs?

I am currently researching this lead, as I think our family's problem is actually broader than just a sulfite problem. "Impaired Sulfur Oxidation" is an interesting article at:

http://askwaltstollmd.com/archives/genome/73802.html

As to the brand of B-12, I have two: "Natural Factors, B12, Methylcobalamin, Biologically Active Form of B12, 1000 mcg.", which I ordered over the internet. And the other is the combination B12, B6, folic acid that is the house brand from Trader Joe's, a natural foods market chain here on the West Coast. One caution: Be sure to check the "other ingredients" and avoid sorbitol, xylitol, and other artificial sweeteners because they have sulfites themselves!

Joan, I would think that a liquid ("syrup" you mentioned) multivitamin could be OK! Just be careful of the sweetener. Also, you can put a regular tablet under your tongue and let it break down. Might not taste too great, but it is a decently efficient way to absorb the B12.

I am now noticing that swallowing pills that previously were a big problem are going down just fine. This is amazing. Hope it continues...

Happy swallowing to you, too!! And I'm sorry walking is difficult for you. Must be frustrating in itself!

Martha

OT - Martha re sulpates

Hi Martha,

You say that sulphates are present in French fries - do you mean the anti- oxidant stuff they put on the potato chips to stop it discolouring - as a preservative ? If so them many other ready to use peeled and chopped vegetables that you buy in the supermarket might have them as well ?

The only broccoli I could find last week was of the ready to cook variety and I felt decidedly ill afterwards. I don't normally eat a lot of broccoli but have been ok before when I have eaten it - it is one of the 'windy'. vegetables which I normally shy clear of.

Another question - you talk about sublingual vitamins. Who makes them ? - the only ones I can find here are in pill form and the syrups which are multivitamins. Admittedly my search range is limited because I have difficulty walking, but if I know who makes them one of the big health shops may be prepared to import them for me.

Thanks and happy swallowing!

Joan

Joan PearseJohannesburg South Africa

[Guest guest]

Hi Martha,

Very interesting 1 Now I know why I don't like Mcs fries or coconut ! We get Lay's crisps here and those I have regularly - one of the few solid things I can eat with out too much hassle.

I can eat onions but don't often - they don't go down happily. I do eat eggs - one a day infact. I find a soft boiled egg quite soothing when I have a bad bout of oesophagitis from acid reflux. We get sundried raisins and dried fruit which I use when I bake a fruit cake.

This is also why I now find I can't use any of the sweeteners ! Sorbital - is that not derived from Vit C (Ascorbic acid) ? I can't have Vit C either - it actually makes me bruise.

The kiddies multivitamin syrup has copper in it ! I can't remember how much. The syrup tends to be a bit 'acid' and irritating so I will keep it for bad days. Right now I am coping with pills if I cover them with milk free margarine.

I am curious - have you ever done B12 levels when you take a reading before and after taking one of Trader Joe's pills or any of the oral ones. Many years ago I was told that B12 could not be absorbed any other way but by injection and eating raw liver ! Anything is possible these days, but I just wonder.

Hugs,

Joan

OT - Martha re sulpates

Hi Martha,

You say that sulphates are present in French fries - do you mean the anti- oxidant stuff they put on the potato chips to stop it discolouring - as a preservative ? If so them many other ready to use peeled and chopped vegetables that you buy in the supermarket might have them as well ?

The only broccoli I could find last week was of the ready to cook variety and I felt decidedly ill afterwards. I don't normally eat a lot of broccoli but have been ok before when I have eaten it - it is one of the 'windy'. vegetables which I normally shy clear of.

Another question - you talk about sublingual vitamins. Who makes them ? - the only ones I can find here are in pill form and the syrups which are multivitamins. Admittedly my search range is limited because I have difficulty walking, but if I know who makes them one of the big health shops may be prepared to import them for me.

Thanks and happy swallowing!

Joan

Joan PearseJohannesburg South Africa

[Guest guest]

HI, Joan,

It does sound like you have a sulfite sensitivity going. If it were a broader sulfur problem you would not do well with the eggs or dried fruit. The Mc's french fries are the acid test!

It's hard to say whether a couple of milligrams of copper in a multivitamin is really a big problem. NOT all people who are sensitive to sulfites have a copper problem. Just a sub-group. Some people have a hereditary problem with sulfa/sulfur/sulfites. Others, like our family, acquire it as a result of mineral imbalance, then enzyme shortage.

I have not evaluated the efficiency of the B-12. This is a very new revelation for us. My son and husband have been having weekly injections of the B-12. I have only had the sublingual. But I have seen tangible improvements, so I could hope that I am absorbing it reasonably well. But I am also avoiding most sulfites, so that may account for some measure of improvement as well. Hard to figure out what is working best...perhaps just the combination.

Many of the people who are on the sulfites group do not take or tolerate Vitamin C either. It is usually from a corn source. That is so interesting that it makes you bruise!

If I were you, I would lay off that syrup for a week or so and see if you improve or worsen. Then I would take one dose and note any improvement or worsening...could be more trouble in there than benefit!

Did you check out sulfites on the net? Google "Rick " and "sulfites" and that should take you to his site. If you read through his free online book, you'll find lots of interesting info.

Can't resist this word of caution: If you even suspect that you have a sulfite sensitivity, tell your doctor and have it added to your chart, etc. Also write it on a card and put it in your wallet, in case of an emergency. Anaphylactic shock is a possible reaction IF the wrong medications are used. (My son's scary instantaneous reaction to a small amount of sulfite in an anesthetic was remarkable.)

Finally,

Hugs back,

Martha

OT - Martha re sulpates

Hi Martha,

You say that sulphates are present in French fries - do you mean the anti- oxidant stuff they put on the potato chips to stop it discolouring - as a preservative ? If so them many other ready to use peeled and chopped vegetables that you buy in the supermarket might have them as well ?

The only broccoli I could find last week was of the ready to cook variety and I felt decidedly ill afterwards. I don't normally eat a lot of broccoli but have been ok before when I have eaten it - it is one of the 'windy'. vegetables which I normally shy clear of.

Another question - you talk about sublingual vitamins. Who makes them ? - the only ones I can find here are in pill form and the syrups which are multivitamins. Admittedly my search range is limited because I have difficulty walking, but if I know who makes them one of the big health shops may be prepared to import them for me.

Thanks and happy swallowing!

Joan

Joan PearseJohannesburg South Africa

[Guest guest]

Thanks Martha,

I have got sulpha on my allergy list ! I had a nasty reaction to Co-Trimoxazole which has a sulpha as one of its ingredients. I have a Medic-Alert Disc which hangs round my neck permanently and is so full there is a note to phone the emergency number immediately!

I stopped taking the liquid vitamins as soon as I could swallow pills as the liquid was a bit irritating. Why they must put sickly flavours in these things beats me - mind you the kids probably love it!

I have been too busy to play around on the net and it does actually cost us rather a lot - we pay by the second ! My telephone bill was almost half as much as my grocery bill for last month.

Regards,

Joan

OT - Martha re sulpates

Hi Martha,

You say that sulphates are present in French fries - do you mean the anti- oxidant stuff they put on the potato chips to stop it discolouring - as a preservative ? If so them many other ready to use peeled and chopped vegetables that you buy in the supermarket might have them as well ?

The only broccoli I could find last week was of the ready to cook variety and I felt decidedly ill afterwards. I don't normally eat a lot of broccoli but have been ok before when I have eaten it - it is one of the 'windy'. vegetables which I normally shy clear of.

Another question - you talk about sublingual vitamins. Who makes them ? - the only ones I can find here are in pill form and the syrups which are multivitamins. Admittedly my search range is limited because I have difficulty walking, but if I know who makes them one of the big health shops may be prepared to import them for me.

Thanks and happy swallowing!

Joan

Joan PearseJohannesburg South Africa

[Guest guest]

> Many years ago I was told that B12 could not be absorbed any other

way but by injection and eating raw liver !

This is what doctors used to believe. However, it has been

discovered since that B12 is absorbed in 2 different ways in the

Gastrointestinal Tract. The most absorption occurs as a result of

HCl breaking the B12 off from the animal protein (no plants contain

B12), Intrinsic Factor (IF) secreted from the parietal cells in the

wall of the stomach attaching to the B12, and then the B12-IF

combination being broken apart in the terminal ileum (the last part

of the small intestine) so that the B12 can be absorbed into the

blood stream.

However, even in people who have Autoimmune Pernicious Anemia (the

immune system attacks & disables the parietal cells in the stomach,

causing B12 deficiency due to the lack of Intrinsic Factor), large

oral doses of B12 supplements can be absorbed by some other

mechanism that is not yet understood. This is why doctors nowdays

are not as likely to recommend shots if one has a mild B12

deficiency.

-Joy S. (sulfite sensitivity, etc.)

Husband has Achalasia secondary to Eosinophilic

Esophagitis/Eosinophilic Gastroenteritis.