Kickas.org Forums Treatments, Drugs and Alternatives NSD and diet-related; Honey causing flare ups?

Hi, I am 2 weeks into getting back to low starch after discovering that was why my joint pains went away on low carb paleo, and came back when I added in sweet potatoes and rice.

I have a problem with low serotonin if I eat low carb so have been having 2 tsp of honey 3 hrs after each meal (google Judith Wurtman if you want to know about the science). I've done it before with potato, and the honey is working excellently for me. No sugar cravings and I feel better than I have in years.

The problem- it seems to be triggering flare ups. I am more sore than I've been in years, when usually I am virtually pain free by 2 weeks of good eating. I thought honey would be okay as it is glucose and fructose, but I feel worse than I did when I was still eating low starch but with lots of sucrose! I've also (TMI) noticed very mucousy bowel movements as well.

I haven't changed anything else except removing nightshades, dairy, sucrose, starchy foods and eggs. I've had a little dry wine but was doing that before when my joints were good on low carb paleo. I've cut out all my supplements with any starch or maltodextrin etc, even though I felt good before whilst still taking them.

I just wondered if anyone else has found honey to be a problem or has any idea what is going on? I don't really know what to do as if I go totally low carb I get very depressed. But I am sore and worn out from not sleeping due to the discomfort, and that's no good either.

Hiya,

Doubt the honey would be an issue. My hubby Jon eats it several times a week.

It does seem rather extreme to me that you've cut out sugar, dairy, eggs and nightshades along with starch at this early stage as this usually is not necessary esp when just starting out on the diet. Dairy is the most common 2ndary culprit next to starch. Sorry if you have already explained why you cut these out but it's just there are so many newbies on here right now I can't keep you all straight hehe!

What often happens with new dieters is that once they go no starch for a while when they do have a little bit of starch again it's like they've become super sensitized to it. So often you will have flare ups like this. Do you test your food with iodine as it's possible you are eating starch without realizing it.

Have you listed your typical diet here on the forum? Can't remember sorry! That can help us weed out hidden starches.

Hope that helps

Honey has never caused me a problem.
ETTE.
Darrel.

Horsewoman,

Do you think it could be an overgrowth of candida yeast? I can't see why glucose and fructose would affect you but not sucrose if it were candida yeast overgrowth though. It would all feed the out of control yeast. The only other thing that I can think of is some sort of unknown allergy to bee products.

Hi Horsewoman,

I am sensitive to honey as well
I found it makes my pinky main knuckle hurt and inflames my elbow. I quit eating it and tried a little a few months back.. in short, it did me no favors!
I have suspected candida as I am sensitive (AS flare) to most everything that feeds yeast.

Nice to meet you.

Couple more potential reasons for reacting to honey:

* food intolerance for honey (I tested positive for this, maybe the trace amounts of pollen?)

* honey contains FOS (fructooligosaccarides)
http://ezinearticles.com/?FOS-%28Fructoo...e&id=421409
which can be bad because:
"FOS are also fermented by numerous bacterial species in the intestine, including Klebsiella"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fructooligosaccharide

How about trying plain glucose (aka dextrose) powder in some non-starchy tea? Moderate amounts of glucose should not be a problem, unless there is some other issue like candida.

Thanks. I'm sure it's the honey, it is the only thing I've added in compared to the previous 9 months. I didn't have flare ups during the 9 months I was doing the low carb paleo. I cut out the other stuff as I started out with an elimination diet, cutting out anything that might be an issue, the plan is to get back to not being sore and then try reintroducing them one at a time.

The second flare up happened when I switched to raw honey which is less purified so firstly I will go back to the purer stuff in case that's the issue.

Glucose sounds worth a try, thanks.

There are probably some hidden starches creeping in but I was much less sore than this when doing paleo, even though I was not focussing on minimising starch and so was eating more starchy stuff eg parsnips, on a quite regular basis, which doesn't seem to fit with it being that. I am eating the same diet as I did then, except minus the things I listed above and plus the honey.

It's possible I have candida although I have been taking anti-candida measures for some time just in case that was part of my issues (Oil of Oregano, Boulardii etc).

I found pure liquid glucose at the supermarket this morning, so will give that a try. The honey is working so well, I feel the best I have in years, mood-wise, so I don't want to drop it if I don't have to.

i do react to honey if i step over the line. honey contains sucrose (even if it's not the same sucrose as sugar since it was already digested once by bees) and if this passed our small intestine into the colon it can feed the bad bacterias in our gut, thus triggering a nice flare.