Good afternoon All,
Here is another corn poster brought to you by the Center for Crops Utilization Research from Iowa State University. I originally found this poster on the National Corn Growers Website, but it has subsequently been removed. No worries, I saved the file to my computer and was able to search for it on Google. =)
Here’s a link to the PDF from CCUR at Iowa State.
OR Click the Link Below for a PDF file.
UPDATE ON VITAMINS, MINERALS AND SUPPLEMENTS (JAN 2012)
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I’m attempting to add something to my diet to help with my gut issues and to lessen the affect of my allergic reactions. A detox drink (concoction) was posted to the Delphi Forum that supposedly helps others to lessen their allergic reactions. The drink included calcium bentonite clay and psyllium husks. As you all know from one of my earlier posts, psyllium husks are grains. I don’t do grains well. Grains hate me. So, after making a terribly painful, two week extended mistake, I decided to mix my calcium bentonite clay with my probiotic. That is helping somewhat but I’m still experiencing swelling, bloating and “pregnant belly.” TMI….maybe.
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I have decided to introduce aloe vera juice (George’s) into my diet as well as L-Glutamine (Bluebonnet Nutrition – derived from cassava). Based on some articles and asking lots of questions, the aloe vera and l-glutamine will hopefully act as “gut stabilizers” or a “gut repair.” I also added, with no ill effect, milk thistle (Starwest-Botanicals)into my concoction tonight but I think I need the two “gut stabilizers” before I see any type of improvement.
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I’ll post in a few days about the aloe vera juice. I’m going to drink 1 cup in the morning and 1 cup in the evening. I hope it doesn’t taste like anything. I’m a wimp. I know.
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I’ll have to wait a week to let you all know how the l-glutamine. It won’t arrive until Wednesday of next week and I’ll need to wait until the weekend to try it (Kevin needs to be home just in case something goes awry). Fingers are crossed 
I posted this information to the Delphi Forum on June 8, 2011 and wanted to bring the information here.
June 8, 2011
I am having an allergic reaction. My throat is swelling and it’s hard to swallow, I’m dizzy, my left eye is blurry, my head hurts, my speech is slurred, and it hurts to hold my head up. I’ve taken benadryl and some of my corn-anti toxin. My husband is on standby should things get out of control. So far I can still think crookedly straight.
What happened? Cardboard boxes. I thought I had reacted before but I dismissed it. Well, there was no dismissing it today. Kevin did some searching and found this article about the manufacturing of cardboard. Don’t make the same mistake I made. Wear a mask when you unload your internet orders, especially if you’re hyper-sensitive to smelling corn.
What are the possible corny culprits in the manufacturing of cardboard?
“At the corrugating plant, only a few other raw materials are needed to make a finished box. Corn starch glue is used to bond the corrugated medium to the liner sheets. Because so much glue is used, rail cars or large tanker trucks deliver it as a dry powder that will be stored in huge silos at the corrugating plant until it is needed. Drawn from the silo, the dry corn starch is mixed with water and other chemicals and pumped into the corrugator to be spread on the corrugated medium as the layers of liner are added. Other raw materials are used to finish the corrugated cardboard after production. Waxes made from paraffin or vegetable oils can be applied to make a water- or grease-resistant container for food products. Brightly colored inks are also applied to create bold graphic designs for self-supporting displays featuring product name, information, and company name and logo.”
The first time I made muffins they were a little dry, not very sweet but still yummy. Hey, it’s nice to have a change of pace and my slightly dry muffins were absolutely wonderful. I wanted to try the recipe again and I needed to believe that they could be better. I followed the recipe just like last time, instead of trying to change the water to apple syrup ratio. I did make ONE change to my muffins, however and they turned out wonderfully! I substituted apple juice for the water. I did not expect it to turn out so well and this was a very pleasant surprise. The muffins are extra moist, lightly sweet (more sweet than last time), soft, smooth texture, and YUMMY!
Just wanted to let you all know.
This is just a quick post for informational purposes only. Most people do not believe me when I say corn is in everything, so I carry this handout with me. This document is from Casco, which is the Canadian business unit of Corn Products International, Inc. They are quite proud of their ability to hide corn in every items. I suppose they should be, this could very well be a good thing for the environment. I’m all for helping the environment, I just want companies to be forthright with the inclusion of corn in their products (or products made from corn) and label the products as containing this growing allergen.
Go here to find the PDF document. It’s a real eye opener for most people and it gives you a little ammunition and validity, straight from the horse’s mouth.
This quick post was inspired by a discussion on Facebook concerning finding a corn free multivitamin. Someone posted the name of a brand they ardently believed to be corn free. After all, it states “corn free” on the label and it was recommended to them by their healthcare provider. I have a tendency of “not backing down” when I think a valid point needs to be made. Here are my comments from the Facebook discussion:
“The test for corn presence in an end product is quite high (I believe it must be under 50ppm…you can go here to see the p.p.m. for eggs, milk and peanuts…it’s not that high). Also, if protein has been removed companies are allowed to by law state corn free on any label. I, like many other corn sufferers, react to more than just corn protein and when the protein count can be as high as 50 p.p.m. it makes it even more difficult to ensure corn free status for sensitive allergy sufferers. I know other companies that spout corn free on the label also, and that is with the inactive ingredients, vitamin c and e being derived from corn. If it works for you that is fine, however it needs to have a disclaimer if ingredients are derived from corn and are present in the product.”
Here’s the link concerning the p.p.m. for eggs, milk, and peanuts.
I was then asked for a good multivitamin and gave them my list of safe vitamins. I was told that they did not want individual vitamins (there are no corn free multivitamins by the way), so I posted this.
“They are individual vitamins. I’ve contacted multiple “corn-free” labeled companies concerning their multi-vitamins and even tried them (with grave consequences for myself and nursing daughter) only to later discover that the vitamin c, vitamin e, methylcellulose, stearate acid, magnesium stearate, or whatever else was in fact derived from corn but according to the company weren’t allergens because all of the protein was removed. I’ve heard the lie and suffered from it. My reactions last for two weeks so that is a lot of my last year wasted in able to function, going to countless doctors, and being in the hospital. I cannot find a multi-vitamin that does not contain corn.”
I just want everyone to be safe when seeing a company claim of “corn free.” Do your research.
As Carol Ann said in Poltergeist II, “They’re back.”
They being my cravings. My cravings come in waves and when they crash into the shore, whoa boy. The recent craving was for cake. I love cake, all cake (almost as much as the Yipiyuk loves books). I was dreaming about cake, vivid dreams, I could taste it. It was calling out to me. It was intense, I could smell it when I closed my eyes. mmmm…….
I began to scour the internet for cake recipes. I searched “vegan cake recipes,” “vegetarian cake recipes,” “dairy free cake recipes,” etc., etc., etc. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to find a good cake recipe that was meant for someone with limited ingredients, i.e. grain free, sugar free, egg free, dairy free etc. That was until I searched for “grain free, gluten free recipes” and found this lovely site. Grain-free-gluten-free.com has lots of recipes and ideas for someone avoiding grains. Now, I won’t be able to use some of the recipes because of the use of eggs (eggs alternatives don’t always cut it) but I did find a chocolate cake recipe to try.
Ingredients
½ cup buckwheat flour (Arrowhead Mills)
½ cup besan flour (Nirav – http://www.ishopindian.com)
¼ cup arrowroot (Mountain Rose Herbs)
¼ cup coconut flour (Tropical Traditions)
1 teaspoon soda bicarbonate (Frontier)
3 tablespoons cocoa (Ultimate Superfoods)
1 tablespoon Braggs Apple Cider vinegar
6 tablespoons oil (Tropical Traditions – Gold Label)
4 heaped tablespoons apple syrup (homemade)
1 ¼ cup hot apple juice (Martinelli’s – no citric acid)
Method
Sift dry ingredients together. Add oil, apple syrup, and apple juice to dry ingredients. Mix well. Add Apple cider vinegar. Mix. Pour into non-stick muffins pans (Calphalon). Bake at 320°F for 45 minutes.
The recipe only took 20 minutes to make and get it into the oven. I threw away all of my cake pans months ago in a state of fury, so I decided to use the giant muffin tin instead. I reduced the cooking time to 30 minutes (instead of 45) and I am pretty happy with the appearance of the muffins. They aren’t sweet, I used too much water and too little apple syrup. I’m going to have to make a change to the recipe to remedy the sweetness difference between honey and apple syrup. I think next time I will use only 5/8 cup of water and make up the rest with apple syrup, or something like that. I also substituted besan flour for the soy and left out the vanilla (allergy). They have a good texture and flavor, just not very sweet. Overall I will call it a successful endeavor. I’ll update tomorrow if we have a delayed allergic reaction.
The Yipiyuk really loves books, all books. She loves to be read to, she loves to thumb through books and she loves to pretend to read. She is only 13 months (and 4 days) and already has a bookshelf full of books. We encourage this deep affinity towards books. We try to read to her every hour and we try to have books easily within her grasp. We tend to have more of the boardbooks out and about and keep the paper thin paged books put away and out of her arms reach.
She is a very captivated and demanding audience when it comes to story time. The reader must let the Yipiyuk turn the pages, she shakes her head “no” or nods yes in agreement with whatever is read, and she must be the person to say “all done” at the end. You must also finish reading the content of each page within the time she allots, or she becomes upset. It’s actually quite amusing to watch.
Unfortunately, the Yipiyuk has a darker passion when it comes to books. She likes to eat the paper. I know a few other children who liked to chew on the binding of books or the edge of the boardbooks and this is not really a problem, unless your child is allergic to corn. Corn is used in the manufacturing of paper and the binding of books (among other things). So when my child takes 3-4 bites out of “Chicka Chicka Boom Boom” and swallow before I can get to here….we are left with hives, whelps, a rash, bumps/pimples, allergic shiners, itchy scalp and cranky behavior an hour later. You would be cranky too if you were itchy with a stomach ache. I have not figured out how to communicate to the Yipiyuk how we SHOULDN’T eat her books. I’m hoping I will be able to figure this out soon.
I just started to allow books to be out again (within the last two weeks). For now it is back to exile for the boardbooks.
It is quite exciting to find a doctor who will listen to you about your corn allergy and all of your strange and random, “non-textbook related” symptoms. You experience all of those hallmark feelings of excitement: you can finally take in a deep breath, you feel you finally have some help, you’re feel your life is going to get a little easier. The doctor recommends that you start taking some vitamins to help rebuild you ravaged GI tract, poorly responding immune system, and sickly looking skin/hair. You ask for a recommendation and you are told to take/try _________ vitamins, they are “corn-free.”
Corn-free. It must be corn-free it says so on the label. Your doctor prescribed it. He wouldn’t lie. Not only are they corn-free, they are also gluten free, soy free, casein free, sugar free, nut free, preservative free, smurf free…. They are “hypoallergenic” and allergy friendly. You are OVERjoyed. You purchase the _______ vitamins for a few HUNDRED dollars and you begin to take them religiously.
It’s two days (three days, a week, two weeks….) later and you feel AWFUL. You actually feel worse than you did before going to see the doctor. Sometimes you can pinpoint the pain but at other times you cannot, your brain is too fuzzy and you can’t think straight. What is happening? Nothing in your diet has changed, in fact you are doing better at eliminating the corn from your lifestyle and yet you still feel worse, one corny reaction after another. Then one day you take your vitamins and notice an immediate reaction (vomit, headache, fuzzy mouth, swollen tongue, itchiness, etc.). Your brain is racing. Was it the water? Was it the cup? Was it the dish soap? No, all of those things are constants in your life. Was it the ….vitamins?
No. It can’t be the vitamins. Can it? They say corn free (and smurf free). The doctor assured you multiple times there were no corn derivatives in those vitamins. They called the company. Or did they? You are frantic at this point. Your allergic reaction is getting worse, it might be becoming difficult to breathe. You decide to call the company to inquire about the original source of the vitamin c, ascorbic acid, and vitamin e.
The representative answers the phone, “Hello, thank you for calling _________. How may I assist you?” You explain your situation and the representative assures you that no corn is in the product. You’re about to hang up the phone when you decide to ask, “What is the vitamin c/ascorbic acid/vitamin e/cellulose/methylcellulose/etc. derived from?” The representative then explains to you that the culprits were originally derived from corn but do to the meticulous refining process, no corn protein is left in the product. So you cannot possibly have an allergic reaction because of the protein has been removed. You decide to not argue with the particular representative and you promptly call your doctor. You are advised to stop taking the vitamins/supplements if you believe they are affecting you but you are told, “The vitamins/supplements should be ok for you” by the nurse. You begin to feel better within the week.
Sound familiar? Unfortunately, corn allergy does not fit the text book allergic reactions like most of the other allergens. Corn allergy sufferers have reported reactions to corn sugar and corn starch as well as corn protein. If your doctor gives you the name of a vitamin/supplement company, please take the time to phone the company before purchasing the supplement. This is especially important if you know you react to corn derivatives, which includes more than just the corn protein. Remember the list of common corn derivatives and put your game face on. Ask questions on the Delphi Forum if you need guidance before placing that phone call.
FYI, your doctor wasn’t lying. He honestly thought the vitamins/supplements were corn free. He firmly believes that when the protein is processed out, you can not have an allergic reaction. So it’s not lying. It’s ignorance and inexperience with the corn allergy.
The happened to me last year. It took me a while to track down what was causing my allergic reactions but I felt much better after I figured it out and I stop my vitamins (Pure Formulas – they say “corn free” on the label). I hope this helps.
Are you wondering what FIRTITPY means?
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Foods I’ve Reacted to in the past year.
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Items only make it to this list after months or sometimes years of trial and many, many errors. Some of the foods I loved dearly, but needed to be removed from our diet because of the illness they caused to the Yipiyuk and me.
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Agave nectar
Almond
Amaranth
Apple
Apple Cider Vinegar
Artichoke
Avocado
Banana
Bell pepper
Black Beans
Black pepper
Blackberries
Blueberries
Cane Sugar
Cantaloupe
Cashew
Cauliflower
Cayenne
Celery
Chicken
Chili pepper
Chocolate (tear….even my homemade chocolates)
Cinnamon
Corn (all forms, all derivatives, “protein/sugar removed through processing” or not)
Crab
Cream of Tartar
Cucumber
Dairy
Date Sugar
Dates
Eggplant
Eggs
Figs
Grains, all
Grape juice
Grapes
Guar Gum
Honey
Honeydew
Kidney Beans
Kiwi
Lemon Juice
Lemons
Lentils
Lettuce
Lime
Lobster
Mango
Maple Syrup
Melon
Millet
Mushroom
Nectarine
Nightshades, all
Onions
Oranges
Papaya
Peach
Pear
Pecans
Pepper
Pineapples
Pinto Beans
Pistachio
Plum
Potatoes
Psyllium Husk
Pumpkins
Quinoa
Raspberries
Rice
Rye
Salmon
Shrimp
Sorghum
Squash
Strawberries
Tabasco
Tapioca (?)
Teff
Tomato
Turkey
Walnut
Water chestnut
Watermelon
Wheat
Wild Rice
Wine Vinegar
Xanthan Gum
Yeast
