The Meat, Carb & Dairy Trap – A World Without Fruits & Veggies…
What I’ve Learned In My First Year… & Some Very Helpful Books
So I have officially made it to my 1 Year Anniversary of being a Fructose Malabsorber, a diagnosis that has changed my life drastically.
I started this blog a year ago because I want to be a positive resource for people who are struggling to keep their tummies happy, just like I do every day. It is hard, there is no way around it. And I’ve been sick a lot, despite my best efforts to keep on a strict diet.
I had a “Lightbulb!” moment a couple weeks ago, and though I’m embarrassed it took me so long to put these pieces together, I’m going to suck up my pride and share this with you in the event you find yourself continually sick while trying your best following the “Formal Food List.”
Here it is… I am fructose intolerant. I was given a food list, but I never really understood how my diagnosis fit it or compared to the larger diagnosis of Irritable Bowel Syndrom. My understanding of it now…
Fructose Malabsorption IS Irritable Bowel with an Extra Focus on Fructose!
Open the flood gates to piles of books on IBS, FODMAPs and Tummy-Friendly Recipes!!! These resources are wonderful! I purchased The Complete Idiots Guide to Eating Well with IBS (which I LOVE). It is a fun read and bursting with useful information. Now I know that the historically “safe” “staple” carbs in my diet are likely the source of my continued tummy trouble. I am not intolerant of wheat, BUT wheat is a fructan (which turns into fructose once gets broken down in your gut), and must be eaten in moderation (which is my second problem…*guilty face*).
Here are the books I am excited to read in my 2nd year as a Fructose Malabsorber…
Click on the book to be linked to the associated Amazon page 🙂
And as always, please feel free to email me at HappyFructoseFree@gmail.com if you have any specific questions or just want an understanding person to listen to your story. I am happy to help in any way I can 🙂
Happy Tummies For All in 2013!
Fructose Free Staples: Part V
Daily Multivitamin & Probiotic Dietary Supplement
When many fruits & veggies go off the menu permanently it should be no surprise that you absolutely need to take a multivitamin & probiotic to maintain your health. The challenge is finding safe products and remembering to take them everyday.
Vitafusion is an allergy-friendly brand in general (all of their gummy vitamins are completely free of wheat, gluten, milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts & soy) and their daily multivitamins are made with sugar so I these fit right into a Fructose Malabsorber’s lifestyle.
Did I mention that they are gummies? Healthy, chewy, and sweet, these vitamins take me back to my childhood and make this daily necessity something to look forward to 🙂
Culturelle makes a number of great probiotics that are fantastic for everybody, since, let’s be honest, we all could use a little help maintaining the bacteria balance in our digestive systems.
On top of that, there is a capsule made specifically for those of us with some common dietary needs! Look for the little banner at the top of the box that says “Dairy and Gluten Free.” No yogurt needed, and we still get all of the benefits. Hooray!
Fructose Free Staples: Part III
It is wonderful to make everything from scratch, but having convenient fructose free pantry staples are important to maintaining your health and your sanity on those crazy-busy days.
Here is another installment of the Fructose Free Staples that keep me Happy 🙂
Cereal
~The key to success is always learning~ Please check out the updates at the end of this post 🙂
I have been addicted to cereal for as long as I can remember. Going though each level of my dietary-needs evolution I lost more and more of my beloved breakfast options every time. Fructose malabsorption is doubly tricky in the morning because even the cereals that are organic, gluten-free, soy-free and dairy-free often times use honey, molasses, or fruit to sweeten them.
Thankfully, I already had Gluten Free Rice Krispies in my pantry after I got my Fructose Malabsorption diagnosis, and I stumbled upon the toasted oats cereal by Full Circle when I had to ditch my Rice and Corn Chex. Both are crispy, light and perfectly satisfying with milk or on their own as a late morning snack.
Hooray for Fructose Free Breakfast!
Instant Rice
Yes, a rice cooker and good ol’ fashioned long grain rice is delicious, but there are (many) days that I simply don’t have that kinda time to wait around.
In addition to their instant rice, Minute Brand now has super convenient single portion cups that only take a minute in the microwave and they come in an array of flavors. We fructose free folks are best to stick with the plain white and brown rice versions. Quick note, the Ready to Serve Cups do contain soy.
Peanut Butter
I know… PEANUTS are not PISTACHIOS (the only nut that is OK’d for people living a fructose free lifestyle), but transitioning from a vegetarian lifestyle I absolutely cannot live without peanut butter. Small steps…
This particular natural peanut butter from Skippy only uses sugar to sweeten, and it doesn’t require stirring. Easy, delicious, and affordable!
If you have access to freshly made nut butters, go for it! They are awesome and are certainly the healthiest option, but I find that this peanut butter is a “Happy (Fructose Free) Medium.”
Please remember to test your tolerance with peanuts before diving in, and always Enjoy in Moderation 🙂
~The key to success is always learning~ Updated 10/14/12
Over the past few months I realized that I don’t digest brown rice very well. Luckily I can still work with normal wheat flour. Here are a few more cereals that are free of honey, brown sugar/molasses, and dried fruits.
My new favorite cereal is Special K – Original. The first ingredient is rice, and it has lots of added vitamins and minerals (including iron which I am having a tough time getting enough of right now), plus fiber which all Fructose Malabsorbers need. ~This cereal contains wheat and milk products~
Here are a couple sweetened cereals that I have found to be safe for my tummy. *As always, please test your tolerance first and enjoy in moderation*
Craving Chocolate? Bear River Valley – All Natural Cereals makes an excellent version of Cocoa Pebbles called “Choco Chomp.” The name might be a little silly sounding, but this delightful cereal soothes my chocolate urges frequently and has earned a permanent spot in my kitchen. I love it! To keep my portions under control I often add a 1/4 cup to a bowl of Special K. Plus you still get some yummy chocolate milk afterwards a without a ton of extra sugar. Oh happiness! 🙂 ~This cereal does contain wheat~
Craving Cinnamon? Cascadian Farm Organics makes a convincing version of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, called “Cinnamon Crunch” that uses whole grain wheat and only sugar with dextrose (which is our friend) to sweeten. Amazing! I find these make perfect portable snacks, but it is sooo hard to stop eating them. I would recommend getting some snack-sized zip-top bags to avoid any self-control related sickness (Been there, done that. Totally worth it, but now I try to prevent it :)). ~This cereal contains both wheat and soy~