eating a balanced diet while hfi

[hfimomof3]

Hi there,

I have some questions for the rest of you. I have known that I was HFI all my life, so I grew up eating a mostly fructose-free diet. (not altogether fructose-free, out of ignorance, but pretty close). As I have gotten older, I notice that my tolerance of fructose (in terms of nausea, headache, etc) has decreased. For example, white rice makes me feel ill, as do almost all potatoes, sugar-free soy drink, and even some plain beans. I am wondering if I am losing my ability to tolerate fructans (I had never even heard of fructans until recently, but I googled for "fructose content of soy and beans" and discovered that many foods contain fructans). For those of you who find they cannot tolerate these foods, how do you eat a balanced diet. How do you get carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and micronutrients that are not contained in a multivitamin?

[charlie]

The medics were worried about my daughters nutrition levels so they did some bloods and all mineral levels, and functions were fine so I have stopped worrying about that idea. I just make sure as much food is as fresh and farm sourced as possible. She is one of the tallest in her year and a good weight so that speaks for itself. Its just her energy levels that wobble alot but I am getting the hang of them now.

[hfimomof3]

My parents are doctors. As an infant, I was failure to thrive while consuming infant formula (breastfed also, but she supplemented with formula for supply issues). Apparently I would throw everything up, and I was either lethargic and/or fussy all the time. I threw up constantly in my first year of life. The pediatricians did not know what was going on, and actually my mom was told I was just small, a fussy baby, was spitting up, would grow out of it, etc. This was in 1970. She knew better because she was a doctor, had helped raise four younger siblings, and it was obvious to her that this was vomiting, not spitting up. It was also clear to her that my growth curve was abnormal, and evidently I gained almost no weight my first year. These days, that would trigger an intense investigation but at the time

Eventually, out of desperation she moved me to whole cow's milk, which was not recommended, and I began to thrive. At this point she still did not know what was going on. When she introduced solid food, they normally started with sugar-water, then fruit, etc; I began throwing up again, and eventually I just refused to eat anything with fructose. This clued them in. I am extremely lucky that (a) they were doctors and were able to figure this out; (b) they allowed me to avoid fruit and other sweet foods; and (c) that they knew to supplement me with vitamin C.

I have never had a liver biopsy or a fructose challenge test. By the time anyone ever thought of that, I was in my thirties. Prior to that, doctors just said, "Huh, I have never heard of that. Fructose, that is in fruit, right? I guess you just avoid fruit? Ok well it sounds like you have it under control and we don't need to discuss it any further." At this point, I would not see how it would be helpful to me to do those tests, and I would be afraid of the effect on my liver.

I do notice that people here seem to do annual tests for liver enzymes. I have never done this but I think it is a good idea and will pursue it with my doctor.

I do take a daily multivitamin that contains vitamin C.

What foods did you lose as you got older? Have you found a fiber supplement that is tolerable to you?

[anastazya]

I'm still modifying my diet. I eat white rice, chicken/salt, elk, pheasant, and buffalo (trying that anyway). My new additions are Lactose Free Milk ...since I'm Lactose Intolerant (just found that out 2 days ago) and pumpkin seeds. Am going to try to add a couple of spices in the next couple of weeks. I also take a Vitamin D and Vitamin C supplement that I buy in the store. I had a multi-vitamin made for me at a Pharmacy in Naperville, IL. My Allergist I see normally sent a prescription in for me.

All the foods I am adding to my diet are free of all sucrose, fructose, and very low glucose. I am looking them up as I go and getting the information before I eat them. Seems to be helping me a lot! : )

[charlie]

Thats great if you are finding things improving, it is a very slow case of trial and error and keeping a diary always helps as sometimes the reaction can be delayed for several days, in fact in my daughters case 3 to 4 days I find and when we have a bad day I have to think back - thru the fog that is my brain - as to what she may have eaten. it usually ties up with having gone to someone elses house!!!

Keep up the good work and keep it simple.
Charlie

[ukbill]

Somewhere you are getting too much Fructose in your diet which is slowly getting the better of your liver (at a guess).

You are eating things that I cannot ever tolerate on a good day, without having bad side effects from the breakdown of the small amounts of Free fructose or by the effect of the secondary breakdown in the intestine (Fibre into Sucrose)

When I have gone Hyper sensitive its always been after a massive dose of Fructose (the worst when they gave me 10x too much for my chalenge test in hospital!).

Soy milk is a very big NO NO for me as are all forms of beans.

Keeping a very Low Dietary Fibre intake is essential although I should say "Digestible" Dietary Fibre to a minimum.

I take a Non Digestible Dietary Fibre supplement which has transformed my life!

If you have caused liver damage it can take many months before you will start to feel better ..

After my disastrous HFI Challenge test everything tasted very sweet to me for about 6 to 9 months!

Hope this helps?