WWoTE (Wise Women of TE)

Hello all you wonderful ladies! I need some: advice?, reassurance?, alternatives?

As some of you know, I have very strict dietary requirements which doesn't allow for sugars, grains or starchy vegetables. I had added grains back into my diet in a limited quantity since I starting cycling but it just isn't good for me. I've taken them back out the past 2 1/2 days and have felt much better - better than I have in a long time. I did still eat a cup of pasta or rice at night but last night even that was too much.

My question is: every meal I eat has a fruit, a protein and a non-starchy vegetable - every meal. On the rare occassions I snack, it's usually a protein and/or a fruit. Is there enough carbs in that combo to allow me to continue to ride the distances I have been? I'm just wondering since we don't store carbs like men do, would I be ok with what I'm eating??

If yes: thank you very much for the reassurance

If no: any suggestions for alternatives since I don't tolerate grains or starchy vegetables.

Your help/advice/reassurance/suggestions/comments in general are greatly apprciated as I want to try back-to-back 1/2 centuries this weekend.

Corsair, how do you tolerate stuff like quinoa, amaranth, oats?

Have you every spoken with a sports nutrionist/registered dietician?

Sarah

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

Corsair, how do you tolerate stuff like quinoa, amaranth, oats?

Have you every spoken with a sports nutrionist/registered dietician?

Sarah

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oats are grain - the last time I ate oatmeal for breakfast - I was starving within 2 hrs, even down to the tummy growling and cramping like I hadn't just eaten recently. I haven't spoken with a sports nurtitionist but my intolerace was reconized by a registered medical nutritionist and she was the one that set my diet. At the time I wasn't riding but I was running 5 days a week (which I still am) so the question didn't come up.

I've never tried quinoa or amaranth - are they a grain??....the problem is: I seem to convert the starch to sugar which is what creates the imbalance. Depending on how starchy or "surgary" it is, it could even cause blood sugar spikes and drops - hence no carrots. I had a cup of pasta last night around 7:30 and by 9 I felt like I was hungover and I was very sleepy. The better the grain - like whole wheat - the worse the reaction.

http://www.quinoa.net/ Quinoa is very high in protein.

Someone else may be able to answer this but aren't there differences between grain, grass and rice?

More links randomly found on the web.

http://www.nuworldamaranth.com/conte...hyamaranth.asp

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Originally Posted by SadieKate

http://www.quinoa.net/ Quinoa is very high in protein.

Someone else may be able to answer this but aren't there differences between grain, grass and rice?

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hmmmmmmmmmm - 30 grams of carb.....this might be worth looking into. and yes - there is a difference between the 3 but I don't see where quinoa is a grass??...it's listing it as a grain - low glycemic but still a grain?.

Off to research quinoa - and thanks SK! *hugsssssssss SK hugssssssssss*

Somewhere in my little pea brain, I also recall that wild rice isn't really a rice. Anyone know more?

Lessee, amaranth is not a grass, it's more related to lamb's quarters (yes, the weed) than anything else I can think of. It cooks much like a "real" grain though.

Quinoa, I don't think is a grass, either.

Wild rice isn't a "real" rice, but is a grass.

All three are "New World" crops.

Does that help?

As to whether or not Corsair can tolerate them, I'd guess some very careful experimentation is in order. I'd take any excess quinoa off her hands if it doesn't work for her. :)

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Originally Posted by MomOnBike

Lessee, amaranth is not a grass, it's more related to lamb's quarters (yes, the weed) than anything else I can think of. It cooks much like a "real" grain though.

Quinoa, I don't think is a grass, either.

Wild rice isn't a "real" rice, but is a grass.

All three are "New World" crops.

Does that help?

As to whether or not Corsair can tolerate them, I'd guess some very careful experimentation is in order. I'd take any excess quinoa off her hands if it doesn't work for her. :)

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Wild Rice is a grass??................that might be worth looking into??

Instead of taters or rice can you eat squash, like acorn, butternut, spaghetti squash?

They can be filling; you can 1/2 'em and bake 'em like a tater or cube 'em and steam them, eat them cubed or mash them. And you can season them with whatever your palette desires.

spazz

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Wild Rice is a grass??

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Yep, most grains are. Corn is just a Very Big grass - as is bamboo. Amaranth is the only grain (a very minor one) that I can think of at the moment that isn't.

Corsair, why doesn't the same sugar conversion problem happen with fruits? Seems they would be even more of a sugar spike producer. Sounds like you are on the caveman (cavewoman) diet. A friend had this recommended to her recently - only fruits, vegs, and meat to help reduce her reactions to foods. Can you eat beans/legumes like lentils or are they too starchy or allergenic as well? You poor girl - life without pasta! Waaah!

I'll second the question about beans, legumes and even peas. Those might not cause as much reaction since they are high in fiber as well. There is also a grass called Spelt. It is an old Egyptian grass they used instead of wheat. If you google it you'll find several sites. One makes bread, pasta, etc from the spelt. It may be worth a try. I have a teacher at my school who is allergic to wheat but can eat this. It's pricey but she says it's worth it. ;)

Donna

Try this site. www.purityfoods.com

Yes I can eat legumes but only 1/2 a serving size coz it seems to cause problems also: either the sleepies and/or acid reflux. and Nut - your friends diet and mine are the same.

I did find a sports nutritionist (thanks for the suggestion SK) who said while veggies are a complex carbs, it wasn't enough to support my activity level. He recommended I try gluten-free grains like:
Amaranth, Quinoa, Millet, Buckwheat and Rice.
So this morning for breakfast I had some rice. I"m in the waiting stage right now to see if I get any reaction from it.

As for fruit, I have to be careful with that also. The higher the sugar content of the fruit - like dates - the worse the reaction.

wow, corsair! this is wicked stuff you have to deal with!! I see others have asked about beans and legumes, and quinoa....I haven't seen mention of kamut yet. No, I have no idea what it is but my gluten intolerant friends cook with it.

Is there anything in the cocoa family that could help with the carbs? I've found a number of chocolate bars that are gluten and dairy free, good hardy dark chocolate, mostly made of chocolate liquor (not alcohol)...

just grasping, here...

I can't imagine a riding life without potatoes! or enjoyable eating without chickpeas! humous anyone?

good luck!!

~T~