Allergy/Intolerance Symptom?

[Sharqua]

Hello!

I have something rather strange going on that has been bothering me for a long time. This is one of those "Well, my arm hurts if I twist it just so" and "Well, dummy, just don't twist it that way!" kinda things.

I suspect that I am in some way intolerant or allergic to caramel color, but the reaction I'm getting is like nothing I've heard or seen described.

I am gluten intolerant, so my diet is as free of gluten as I can possibly make it. This "clean" diet enabled me to pin down something that has been bothering me for years: Caramel color makes my ears pop (to the point where I have trouble hearing what's being spoken), makes me extraordinarily sleepy, and I yawn uncontrollably. There's no avoiding any of it, and several times I've gotten the symptoms and had to back-track the food I'd eaten, only to discover I had ingested caramel color.

Is this a known intolerance reaction? Is it possibly the beginnings of a true allergy? I've had the problem for as long as I can remember. I figured out about a year ago what was causing it, so I stopped drinking dark sodas and began to watch for "yet another ingredient" that I had to avoid in foods. I can (most of the time) keep it out of my diet, so it's not really a factor except for my curiosity to know what's going on. I'm also a little nervous that I might suddenly discover one day, the hard way, that I actually AM allergic to the stuff.

I'd love a bit of feedback on this. Has anyone else heard of this?

Thanks so much!

-Donna

[StLouis79]

Hi there,
Does this only happen when you drink soda? Or have you been able to trace it back to other foods?

[Sharqua]

Originally Posted by StLouis79

Hi there,
Does this only happen when you drink soda? Or have you been able to trace it back to other foods?

It happens in all foods, no matter what the food. If it has caramel color in it, I react in the same way. Soda was what helped me figure it out, but I get the same reaction if I'm eating something using caramel color as a darkening agent (for example, some protein bars).

Thanks!

-Donna

[scoutmomx3]

I am sorry you are having so many problems. You sound very much like me. I have many allergies to drugs, gluten and foods. Yellow dye #5 makes my ears pop and have swelling in my fingers and all over. Yellow dye is in so many foods. It is derived from asprin so if you have problems with that you can have sensitivity yellow dye #5 and many fruits. If that is your problem I can give you the list.

Migraines make me yawn uncontrollably and it took a while to figure that out. I learned about it in a book called "Heal your Headache". I start yawning before I get one so I use it as a warning.

I feel like I am allergic or can't tollerate more foods than not. It is very frustrating and I feel for you. You never know if something is going to trigger a reaction.

Getting off of the gluten helped a great deal and I was even able to tollerate dairy products after that.

I think intollerances are different from allergies because one of the worst intollerances for me was pineapple and I would have to go to the ER if I was exsposed to it but I did not test allergic to it. I have recently been exposed to it accidentaly and I did not have a reaction. I think you can outgrow intollerances as an adult but not allergies. That is my theory as least. Unfortunately I am intolllerant to many things.

Contact me if you want to talk, maybe we can help each other.
Anna

[Razzle0]

This website provides some interesting information about caramel coloring - http://www.foodadditivesworld.com/caramel.html

Are you sulfite-sensitive? Do you have Asthma? If you answered yes to either of these questions, you may be deficient in Vitamin B12, Zinc, Magnesium, Molybdenum, or Iron. Get tested for these deficiencies, and correct any that show up. Also, take extra Vitamin B12 immediately before the next time you want to eat something that has caramel coloring in it to see if this supplement offsets the reaction. Vitamin B12 binds to sulfites and renders them less likely to cause allergic reactions.

Also, according to the above website, caramel coloring can be made from any carbohydrate. This means it **may** contain gluten...

I hope this information is helpful - and like your quote above, if it hurts to twist the arm, don't do that, LOL...if eating caramel coloring is causing symptoms, it is best to avoid it.

Good luck,

-Razzle
Gluten & Sulfite Sensitivity, other food & inhalant allergies/intolerances.

[hydrograndma]

Hi everyone - I have a grandson who has hydrocephalus so I was brousing the communities and found this one.

My graddaughter has peanut allergies and is a basket case regarding coming in contact with peanuts. She carries her Epi Pen everywhere of course. Also my daughter has issues and worries about it.

My neice is very involved with holisitc and natural medicines. She is a midwife here in Ontario, Canada and also a massage therapist. She gave my daughter the following link regarding a new process to help with allergies.

According to my daughter, my granddaughter is almost cured of the allergy. She also can rid people of a lot of problems.

We are not a bunch of cookes and I must say I was skeptical, but when Chris my daughter believes in it then I am sold. Chris is a very self help oriented person and has been reading up on a lot of things.

If you are interested in reading about this following is a web site you can look at. Also I have other web sites if you would like. Please let me know and good luck to you.

Hydrygrandma (Jo)


Following is the web site: www.dcentreforwellness.com. Her name
is Dana Zangari. Hope this helps.