- Re: my journal and 2 reasons why I vary my foods...

[Guest guest]

(((Thank you, ))))

I try hard to give myself a nice variety of foods each day, for two reasons -

I don't want to get bored with anything and, also, I rotate my foods to avoid developing more food allergies...

I had eaten salmon all my life, with no problem...well...about 2 years ago, after eating grilled salmon once a week, my family and I began to eat salmon sushi once a week, too...I didn't realize it, but I had suddenly become severely allergic to salmon and probably because of over doing it (2 times weekly) plus eating raw protein (salmon sushi) is much more of an allergan than cooked protein (cooked salmon)...

I had not a single clue that I was becoming allergic to salmon! My usual food allergy symptoms - hives or very swollen eyelids and a migraine headache the next day - were not happening...Instead, I started to gag and cough uncontrollably for about six hours - with my throat getting irritated and swollen the more I coughed...

How did I finally realize this allergy had developed? - -

I had gotten so ill - due to unusually high pollen counts last year - that I reached a point where I lived on clear soup, scrambled eggs, or tuna with mayo...I couldn't even swallow anything else easily, due to throat irritation and occasional slight swelling...

After about a month, I felt better - also, my doctor now wanted me to take both Flonase and Claritin daily (not just Flonase). I was feeling 85% like my old self (before severe allergies and breathing problems due to that)...

Well, I decided to make baked salmon croquettes that night for dinner. About 15 minutes after I ate one croquette, the gagging and coughing - and choking - began! Severely! I couldn't stop this allergy attack, even with both prescriptions my doctor had given me!!! Severe reactions lasted about 5 hours, but I still had gagging and coughing spells on and off for two more days!!!! The only thing I had eaten was a salmon croquette - bread crumbs, egg, and salmon...I had been able to eat eggs and bread without it increasing my allergy symptoms, so I knew it had to be the salmon -

Also, I realized then that my allergies had been subsiding during the month I hadn't eaten salmon!....*sigh*.....it had been my very favorite fish...

There's a little more about this - my primary care (GP) doctor told me he and his family *used to* eat raw sushi. In fact, he grew up eating it at home with his parents...but, NOW he and his family won't eat any raw fish any more, and STRONGLY ADVISED me and my family not to eat any raw fish, either...

This is what he said: Even if it's the freshest fish, just caught and from "good" waters, you cannot tell if a parasite is present unless you put each tiny section of the fish under a microscope. That parasite is DEADLY. Even in the best restaurants, it can happen....He cited cases where Bette Midler almost died from raw fish sushi! Etheridge was, also, hospitalized from becoming seriously ill from a parasite in the raw fish sushi she had eaten (in The Hamptons - the Beverly Hills of the East Coast...)...it could happen anywhere....unfortunately...

He also explained to me about raw protein being more allergic than cooked protein.

That's why some allergy doctors tell patients with numerous food allergies to cook fruit before eating it (it makes it less of an allergan)...

Hope this long e-mail doesn't put anyone off. Some of my close buddies still say they will continue to have raw fish sushi. They think the odds are in their favor, and feel that the enjoyment of the sushi is worth it....

My family and I now only have COOKED types of sushi -

Like California Rolls, which are made with cooked crabmeat, avocado and cucumber strips, rice and seaweed. Or, cooked shrimp sushi.

*Sayonara, Spicy Salmon Roll and Rainbow Roll! *sniffle*...I really did adore them...

Love,

Cherie

Subject: Re: Cherie's Journal for Friday, June 28th XO

Good journal, Cherie! Wow, you made great choices through the day

and got a huge amount of food for the points! Good for you!