esophageal inflammation and fat intake

Patrick Poblocki · 03-18-2010, 04:36 AM

This post is not for me. I'm stumped.

I've been trying to get my mom to follow a more paleo diet and she's made great progress. BUT, with her diet alterations has come a problem that has plagued her most of her adult life: esophageal spasms. These are contractions that feel like small heart attacks. They're very painful. I've had them myself, but only after a lot of alcohol, chocolate, or caffiene--or some combination of all of them.

I guess since she's been eating a more Paleo diet, she's been in a lot of pain. She swears that it's the higher fat content and says "her body can't handle fat." To make matters worse, her doctor recently recommended for her a diet of "easy and gentle carbs" like white rice, white bread, oatmeal, etc. He also told her to avoid fat, alcohol, chocolate and coffee.

Could this recommendation be more harmful than helpful? She just finished Sisson's book and she was really pumped about making progress; now she's pretty bummed.

Is this doctor right? Are some people unable to process nuts and oils? She seems to be most sensitive to almonds and nuts and their butters. Oh, and she has not been able to cut out peanut butter.

Any suggestions I could pass her way?

Thanks!

Patrick

Allen Yeh · 03-18-2010, 05:00 AM

What progress were you looking for? Weight loss? Or just converting to Paleo in general?

Patrick Poblocki · 03-18-2010, 05:12 AM

Sorry...I'm looking for any advice I can give her about her problem. I don't like the doctor's recommendation because it encourages her to eat a lot of crap--stuff that she recently has done well getting out of her diet. Does it make sense that only highly processed grains would work for her esophagus? Does it make sense that she can't tolerate a higher fat diet?

Thanks,

Patrick

Allen Yeh · 03-18-2010, 05:27 AM

Some people don't do well with higher fat diets but you can go Paleo without being super high fat. I'd suggest keeping a food diary for at least a few days marking occurrences of attacks along with what she is putting in her mouth. That will really help you narrow down what is causing the problems.

No one says that you have to eat nuts IOT to be Paleo, in fact some Paleo advocates don't like nuts at all anyway. If you already know that nuts are a problem just cut them out and see how that helps.

Garrett Smith · 03-18-2010, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patrick Poblocki

Sorry...I'm looking for any advice I can give her about her problem. I don't like the doctor's recommendation because it encourages her to eat a lot of crap--stuff that she recently has done well getting out of her diet. Does it make sense that only highly processed grains would work for her esophagus? Does it make sense that she can't tolerate a higher fat diet?

Thanks,

Patrick

It totally makes sense.

I would guess that either A) she doesn't have a gallbladder or B) her gallbladder may be underfunctioning in releasing bile to digest fat.

I see fat intolerance all the time. I use a great supplement that helps deal with it.

Patrick Poblocki · 03-18-2010, 06:53 AM

Thanks Allen. I will recommend the food journal.

Garrett: what's the supplement?

Thanks!

Garrett Smith · 03-18-2010, 08:40 AM

Progressive Labs Digestin. It's available on the web, or you can PM me.

A really good (blood, not skin prick) food allergy test could be quite helpful as well.

Matt DeVoe · 03-25-2010, 01:29 PM

Patrick, I have a similar condition.

Like Garrett said, it could be food allergies. For me that was the #1 cause of the problem. I had those painful spasms/flare ups for 20+ years of my life. Long story short, Paleo, Fish Oil and cutting nuts, legumes and dairy worked wonders for me.

Garrett Smith · 03-25-2010, 01:54 PM

I take anyone with gallbladder problems off of gluten and nightshades (particularly spicy peppers).