I've been no-starch (or so I thought) for 8 days and had been feeling a lot better yesterday but had some stomach issues again today which threatened to turn into another damned muscle spasm.

With iodine (finally) in hand I tested all the stuff I had been eating and found that ginger turns the iodine black! Being a natural anti-inflammatory I had been drinking ginger tea and chewing ginger as well. Had loads of it today before I checked!

Those verdammt klebs have just been on a spa break!

btw the root turns black but the tea is fine. The mind boggles!

ginger went black as the ace of spades when i tested it as well.

being a root, ginger is a starch. I wonder if the lacto-fermented ginger 'beer' is ok....

This is interesting!
All roots are starchy?
What about the roots of a plant from a non-starchy non-root vegetable (if someone had the urge to eat them lol)?

I'm just curious... as it could be a new way to base my foods. "No roots, No grains, etc". I never had much luck with iodine testing... everything out of 100's of things I tested turned black. (except water which turned into a rusty color)
Take care,
James.

I've been on the diet for 8 days (started 2 Thursday's ago) and every time I have spicey food it's making the pain in my feet worse and I'm waking up with stiffness in my neck. Each time I've had spicey food it's had root ginger in it. I didn't realise that this had starch in. I think I'd better get some iodine to test things myself!

Thanks for the tip!

Does anyone have problems with Almonds?

No problems with almonds as far a I can tell TinkerBell. I've tested them with iodine and they come out ok - both the skin and the nut though I have seen posts saying the skins have starch - no reaction to iodine though.

I'm having them with dates, Been on the diet for almost 2 weeks and though my digestion improved at first it has been going back and forth since. Another thing I discovered is courgettes are fine when tested raw but the iodine goes grey when they have been lightly stir fried.

Trudi, I'm not sure about all root veg having starch. Carrots are fine though raw carrots when sliced show a slight indication around the cut area but once they are cooked they are fine again. I can't figure out why this happens. Beetroot is also supposed to be fine and I have been eating it though it is impossible to test with iodine.

I find that the diet leaves very few options especially when it comes to breakfast. CUrrently it is eggs every day for me (bacon on every other day) and I really would love a change but I can't think of anything else that works. Any tips anyone?

Hi Jay64
I am sick of bacon and eggs too!
I've been having greek yogurt with honey, dried apricots and raisins and or an apple if I have to get out the door quick - but I'm hungry again pretty quickly!
Oh! I've also been having a slices of ham and cheese some mornings (when I can stomach it!)
Breakfast is the hardest meal isn't it?
Tinkerbell

Too true Tink. Without the carbs you never feel like you have eaten enough. Was looking at the listings of starch-free foods on one of the forums and found that marmalade is fine - with what! Miss my toast, croissants, cereals...

I've also gone no dairy so missing cheeses as well. THe thing is I can't seem to shake this thing. I feel like I've hit a brick wall and sometimes it is so depressing - but what the heck, I'm staying with the diet. I just need break! Been almost two months of pain and ball and chain now!

Forgot to say thanks for the advice about almonds, so thanks a lot for taking the time to help me out. I love baking, so I'm making almond cakes left, right and centre and hoped it wasn't that causing me a problem!

Almond cakes? Without flour? Recipe please, pretty, pretty please