But, I still don't feel well...

OK, maybe I shouldn't be in too much of a hurry. I know it takes time to sort out the body and the stomach but I am still rather convinced I have not identified all my intolerances. I have heard these can change over the years. About ten years ago I did a food intolerance test that tested 176 different types of food and was given a list of 34(!) foods I react to. Some were logical. Cow milk, goat milk, sheep milk and all products derived from these such as yoghurt and cheese. I can definitely see a correlation between wheat and barley as they both contain gluten. I can even see the correlation between sugar and beetroot, and the e-numbers don't surprise me at all; MSG, citric acid and the yellow food colours tartrazine and sunset yellow. It is known that many hyperactive children react badly to yellow colourants. But why did the test show I react to kiwis, grapes, almonds and cocoa?

When I had this test done I was really ill. Doubled over in cramps every time I ate anything, regardless what it was, and I had so much joint pain I barely mad eit out of bed. So I believe, or I hope, that some of the things I have reacted to in the past might be ok now. So I want to get myself to a point where I can start re-introducing things and see if I react to them. However, before I do that I have to remove everything I react to and I haven't managed that yet. I am still in pain, my stomach is still bad and my energy levels are still too low.

I have two main suspects, namely yeast and soy. I hardly ever eat yeast, only in stock cubes so that will be easy enough to avoid. [In hindsight this turns out to be easily said but not so easily done. Finding stock that is free of soy, gluten, yeast and sugar is a bit of a struggle. Marigold do a couple, certain well stocked health food stores stock them.] Avoiding soy will be really difficult. I have, throughout the years, learnt to like soyamilk, am very fond of tofu and I have soy sauce on just about everything. Besides, I think the other lactose free milk alternatives are quite icky. I have avoided soyamil for the last few days and right now the evidence is overwhelming. I wake up and want out of bed around half past six in the morning! This is me we're talking about, the woman who happily sleeps for 20 hours if she can get away with it. Besides, this was while I was on holiday and really could treat myself to a lie-in. Even today, when the holiday is over, it wasn't the least difficult to get out of bed when the alarm went off.

So from now on thingfs are going to change. Because now I am eliminating all suspects, and at the same time I want to gain a bit of weight. Because with the stricter diet I started loosing a few pounds and that is not good. If I am going really strict it may be a good idea to cook lots and freeze. Because I am not exactly going to be at home during May. Quite the opposite...