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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Wildflower on July 2, 2004, at 13:33:34
This is a very bizarre question but does anyone have a reaction to lettuce? I'm finding that some (but not all) prepackaged lettuce that is used in salads sends me running for the bathroom about a 1/2 hour after I eat it. It's quite embarrassing.
Any thought on what chemical is put on lettuce at restaurants or duing processing that my body can't tolerate?
Posted by shadows721 on July 2, 2004, at 22:41:15
In reply to Lettuce Allergy?, posted by Wildflower on July 2, 2004, at 13:33:34
I think that it's the raw vegetables that you are getting the big D. It's like a broom to your intestines. You have to build up to it. Eat smaller amounts. Yes, if you aren't use to eating it. It will do that to you. Oatmeal is the same way. Whew!
Posted by Larry Hoover on July 3, 2004, at 11:46:34
In reply to Lettuce Allergy?, posted by Wildflower on July 2, 2004, at 13:33:34
> This is a very bizarre question but does anyone have a reaction to lettuce? I'm finding that some (but not all) prepackaged lettuce that is used in salads sends me running for the bathroom about a 1/2 hour after I eat it. It's quite embarrassing.
>
> Any thought on what chemical is put on lettuce at restaurants or duing processing that my body can't tolerate?You're talking about the pre-cut, ready-to-eat salad ingredients, right?
It's generally chlorine bleached, and then sulphated.
I find that I can taste a difference, and that precedes the bathroom thing.
There's a lot of debate right now over what's the right thing to do, since it was discovered that e.g. e. coli bacteria can actually live inside the cells of lettuce, if the plant is irrigated with contaminated water while it is growing.
I know too much.
Lar
Posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 17:22:47
In reply to Re: Lettuce Allergy? » Wildflower, posted by Larry Hoover on July 3, 2004, at 11:46:34
LoL! You know, it is pretty easy to get scared of foods when you know too much -- not to say meds -- isn't it?
My solution to the e. coli in lettuce cells issue is pretty simple: e. coli has been around for a long time, most of us have some in our guts anyway, and it's really only in the past century that we've really known how much of a risk many bacteria can pose. People ate lettuce before they discovered the dangers of e. coli, and one (or at least I) would think that there may have been bacteria in the environment and food of our long ago ancestors throughout most of evolution. I kinda figure, if you eat the healthiest foods you can, and you're in otherwise good health, your immune system can probably handle a little extra bacteria in your salad. Of course, we're not talking billions of new bugs being added to your gut, just the general background radiation style low bacterial load that a lot of our foods have. (And, I also tend to say things to myself like, "Well, I know there are risks involved, but I've also got to live in the environment I live in, so if I get sick from it... well, it's what's available to me in my current environment." I also avoid prepackaged salad greens, though, and wash the lettuce from the supermarket pretty carefully to minimize the risks. And I am married to a man who is not so careful about these things, and does often scare me with how cavalier he can be with our food.)
And I'd guess the pre-packaged salad greens are causing this problem because of the processing, but other than a very vague guess -- the sulphating process -- I can't begin to guess what specific compound is involved.
Posted by Jai Narayan on July 3, 2004, at 20:51:20
In reply to Re: Lettuce Allergy? » Larry Hoover, posted by Racer on July 3, 2004, at 17:22:47
I was never so sick in my life as when I ate lettuce with that sulphating process on it. I was sick almost immediately. The salad tasted great but only 1/2 an hour later I was so sick. I vomited that food up. My intestines were going crazy with gas and pain.
I guess I thought I had a bug because I went back to that same resturant and ate some more salad. I had the same reaction. I was in the bathroom within the half hour again. My intestines were cramping and I was so ill.
I am very careful now.
I thought that process was banned?
Posted by shadows721 on July 4, 2004, at 12:37:33
In reply to Lettuce Allergy?, posted by Wildflower on July 2, 2004, at 13:33:34
Wow! I thought being a vegetarian would be more healthy. (Not that I am one.) But, with all those chemical processes, it sounds like your leaving yourself open to some sort of chemical related illness like cancer.
For me, I just try to eat a variety of foods in moderation. However, I will get whatever chocolate causes;)
Posted by Jai Narayan on July 4, 2004, at 19:59:18
In reply to Re: Lettuce Allergy?, posted by shadows721 on July 4, 2004, at 12:37:33
Posted by Wildflower on July 6, 2004, at 9:29:34
In reply to Re: Lettuce Allergy? » Wildflower, posted by Larry Hoover on July 3, 2004, at 11:46:34
> You're talking about the pre-cut, ready-to-eat salad ingredients, right?
Yes! Regular heads of lettuce are fine.
> It's generally chlorine bleached, and then sulphated.
Yuck! I'm not well educated on the chemicals in food but I was thinking that it was MSG. I've always heard that this can cause similar problems.
> I find that I can taste a difference, and that precedes the bathroom thing.
Sounds like I'm not the only one with this problem... ;-)
> There's a lot of debate right now over what's the right thing to do, since it was discovered that e.g. e. coli bacteria can actually live inside the cells of lettuce, if the plant is irrigated with contaminated water while it is growing.
But why would this only make me sick? No one else I know of has this problem even if they eat the same salad as me. Very strange.
Posted by victoryoclock on July 23, 2004, at 14:24:15
In reply to Re: Lettuce Allergy? » Larry Hoover, posted by Wildflower on July 6, 2004, at 9:29:34
I find that the same thing happens to me. When I order a salad at a restaurant...it never fails...I have to go to the bathroom (running!)about a 1/2 hour later. Also, prepackaged cut salads do it also. What is on this lettuce! It's just the last couple of years that this happened to me...and I love salads!
This is the end of the thread.
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