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No More Burning Skin
I'm still doing well overall, but I wanted to post about recent setbacks after eating foods containing moderate levels of lutein/zeaxanthin. My reactions have been the following:
- Extreme dry eye within minutes of eating the food. It is to the point that I cannot open my eyes, and putting in (preservative free) drops causes a stinging sensation.
- Anxiety, anger, irritability
- Acne - this usually takes one day to manifest after ingesting even moderate levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, but it happens every time
- Skin itching/eczema - this can take an hour or more to manifest, and usually keeps me up all night (insomnia)
Recently I had these reactions after eating bagels I made using bread flour, and I discovered that per 100g, bread flour has 79mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin. (I do not have this reaction with all-purpose flour used to make pretzels or other baked goods; all-purpose flour has 18mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin per 100g.) I also had this reaction to a graham cereal made with whole grain wheat, which apparently has 220mcg lutein and zeaxanthin per 100g. In the past, I have had these same reactions to spinach, kale, and even parsley or celery flakes on my food. Spinach, kale, celery flakes, and parsley are all extraordinarily high in lutein/zeaxanthin (and also have beta carotene).
I feel good again avoiding whole wheat and bread flour. I just wanted to post in case someone else is having difficulty with these foods.
Quote from eliza1275 on April 5, 2019, 7:21 amI'm still doing well overall, but I wanted to post about recent setbacks after eating foods containing moderate levels of lutein/zeaxanthin. My reactions have been the following:
- Extreme dry eye within minutes of eating the food. It is to the point that I cannot open my eyes, and putting in (preservative free) drops causes a stinging sensation.
- Anxiety, anger, irritability
- Acne - this usually takes one day to manifest after ingesting even moderate levels of lutein/zeaxanthin, but it happens every time
- Skin itching/eczema - this can take an hour or more to manifest, and usually keeps me up all night (insomnia)
Recently I had these reactions after eating bagels I made using bread flour, and I discovered that per 100g, bread flour has 79mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin. (I do not have this reaction with all-purpose flour used to make pretzels or other baked goods; all-purpose flour has 18mcg of lutein and zeaxanthin per 100g.) I also had this reaction to a graham cereal made with whole grain wheat, which apparently has 220mcg lutein and zeaxanthin per 100g. In the past, I have had these same reactions to spinach, kale, and even parsley or celery flakes on my food. Spinach, kale, celery flakes, and parsley are all extraordinarily high in lutein/zeaxanthin (and also have beta carotene).
I feel good again avoiding whole wheat and bread flour. I just wanted to post in case someone else is having difficulty with these foods.
I think it is the same for me, I dropped all oats, wheat, potato and now having bad detox reactions, like it removed the bottleneck.
I dropped Oats awhile ago, but was still using small amounts of homemade bread, sunbutter and potatoes. I am doing rice/beef for 3 meals until I have close to 99.999% healed!
@orion - yes, with oats containing 180mcg lutein/zeaxanthin per 100g, I'm sure I would have a reaction to them, too.
I hope I don't have to go 100% rice and beef, because I am underweight, and I have an easier time keeping my weight up eating wheat and potatoes. I also wonder if I need the extra nutrients from wheat and potatoes, because I felt awful eating just rice and beef (tried for about a week). I would like to eat beans as well, but I am sensitive to sulfites and thiols. Have you tried beans?
Quote from eliza1275 on April 5, 2019, 9:35 am@orion - yes, with oats containing 180mcg lutein/zeaxanthin per 100g, I'm sure I would have a reaction to them, too.
I hope I don't have to go 100% rice and beef, because I am underweight, and I have an easier time keeping my weight up eating wheat and potatoes. I also wonder if I need the extra nutrients from wheat and potatoes, because I felt awful eating just rice and beef (tried for about a week). I would like to eat beans as well, but I am sensitive to sulfites and thiols. Have you tried beans?
Hey @eliza1275, I didn't want to go strict rice/beef, because I have seen fairly good results, with keeping low VA fruit, some grains and potatoes, but I realize that it might be too slow for me.
Two rounds of accutane and high dose retinyl palmitate dug a deep hole for me!
I do use white navy beans with my lunches, I prepare them by 24hr soaking and 2hrs cook time, make a big batch then freeze them(not going to worry about RS at this point). My digestion seems OK with them.
I use 600g dry weight medium grain rice per day for 2400cals and with beef, some beans, sugar, coconut milk, lemonade, Gatorade I hit ~2800cals per, and maintain weight and strength at the gym.
I hear you on extra nutrients, also flavors! My plan is to stay strict until Dec 1st, and see where I am at.
I'm posting to update that I have had very regular cycles the last few months, after not having one for YEARS. I'm only 44, but thought I was in menopause. Nope. Just too much vitamin A. I feel great!
My weight is stable after gaining a few needed pounds, I hardly itch at night, acne is much improved, dry eye is better, I have less plaque on my teeth, and very little hair loss. Things that haven't improved are raynauds (have had it since I was little), seasonal allergies, and the pinguecula on my eye.
HO! Raynauds eh? I have that occasionally. And I have a rough patch on the white of one eye.
I was wondering if mysterious Raynauds would be a thing here. I'll go back and read your whole log.
@eliza1275 we have a lot in common, especially since I do some of my shopping in NH. We might be able to share resource ideas. For instance, the milk I'm getting is from NH. Nothing like the cold NH winds to bring on Raynauds. 🙂
Very interesting, @lil-chick! Small world. My husband and I are actually looking into moving to a warmer climate because the Raynaud's seems to get worse every year, and I don't want to have to get my fingers amputated! I wish I knew what caused Raynaud's.
Pingueculae is a fatty deposit on the white (sclera) of the eye. I have two of them, and they get more irritated and swollen during spring (pollen), windy conditions, and when I eat lots of greens, carrots, tomatoes, or peppers. Not sure if there is a vitamin A connection, but it seems possible.
It does make you take "gear" seriously. And although I work outdoors in winter, I do it in short bursts.
Hey, the soles of my feet have gone white in a chilly bathroom lol. I'm not sure Florida would totally fix the Raynauds.
Well, I'm a dyed-in-the-wool New Englander and doubt I'd ever move somewhere else! But those are famous last words.
My best friend is a hot water bottle, LOL