Muesli: I get a wheezy chest at night... - Asthma Community ...

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Muesli

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I get a wheezy chest at night if I have been near Cats or Dogs or in a house where they have been, last October I changed my breakfast cereal from Shredded wheat to Swiss style Muesli and my chest is very much improved. Is it the dried fruit that has caused this? Has anyone else found this works wonders.

44 Replies
Asthma-girl profile image
Asthma-girl

I saw this information on the Internet and thought you might find it interesting.

Most people who have an allergy to wheat are actually allergic to gluten, which is a protein found in wheat. The symptoms of wheat allergy are atopic dermatitis (eczema), and asthma. If severely allergic to wheat, the individual eating wheat could go into anaphylaxis. About 6 percent of children, age 3 and under, are allergic to wheat. People who have celiac disease are also allergic to wheat, because their digestive systems cannot process gluten.

Most people who have wheat allergies can eat other grains, but the problem lies in the possibility that other grains have been cross contaminated with wheat. Aside from gluten, there is another protein that could be causing wheat allergies in some individuals. The other protein that causes wheat allergy is gliadin. If you are allergic to gliadin or gluten you must avoid eating wheat. If you have celiac disease, you must avoid wheat and barley.

Wheat allergies are quite common; in fact, allergies to wheat rank in the top 8 food allergies. Because wheat allergies are so prevalent, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires that every food containing wheat must include the word “wheat” in the list of ingredients. If you or someone in your family is allergic to wheat you have to be very careful to read labels. Reading labels on foods may be inconvenient; however, it could save your life, or the life of someone in your family.

Foods that include wheat are:

Baked goods (unless prepared with non-wheat flour).

Pizza crust.

Spaghetti, macaroni, and other pastas.

Most foods fried in batter.

Canned or jarred soups and chili.

Hot and cold cereal.

Gravies, sauces, and casseroles that contain flour.

Salad dressings.

Barbecue sauce.

Salad dressings.

Any food that contains bread crumbs.

Beer.

Candy.

When eating out, you must always be cautious about what you order, because most foods contain wheat. Most Italian cuisine will be off limits, but you can eat risotto and polenta. You will also need to be careful in French restaurants. You will be okay if you just stick to grilled meats, sauted meats and vegetables. You can also eat potatoes if they are served plain, with no gravies or sauces. Asian restaurants are about the safest to eat in if you have wheat allergies. Check the label on the soy sauce to be sure that it does not contain wheat. You might want to bring your own soy sauce to be sure that you are safe. Avoid the ponzu sauce. Latin American and Mexican restaurants are okay to eat in, as long as you don’t eat the fried food and you avoid flour tortillas.

Wheat allergy should not be confused with celiac disease. Many people believe that if you have a wheat allergy that you have celiac disease. Not everyone who has an allergy to wheat has celiac disease, but all people with celiac disease cannot eat wheat. If you have celiac disease you cannot eat many other grains as well.

Many of your larger supermarkets have health food isles, where you can find wheat free foods. If you live in an area where foods for special needs are not available you can find many places online. The Whole Foods Market can be found online; if you need a reliable source for wheat free/gluten free foods, you can visit this online store. You can purchase wheat-free pastries, wheat-free bread, pizza crusts, and other great foods and treats. Another place you can go to buy wheat-free foods is to the Gluten-Free Mall. There are other places you can go online also. Just type in the words “gluten free foods” or “wheat free foods” into the search engine, and you will find many websites to choose from. There is no need to feel deprived when you have an allergy to wheat.

Just trying to figure out ur response asthma girl .... .. Are you suggesting that when on shredded wheat .. The wheat may have been making asthma worse due to an allergy when changed to muesli less exposure to te trigger thus improving the asthma ... Interesting point of view

Asthma-girl profile image
Asthma-girl

Yes, when I read the article I wondered if Shreaded Wheat could have been affecting asthma and changing the cereal could've improved things, I know some people are allergic to wheat or gluten

Thanks for the replies and for the info on wheat, but I am not blaming the Shredded wheat as I still eat bread,cakes and biscuits. I am convinced that there must be some ingrediant in Swiss style muesli that has almost cured my Asthma or wheezy nights. At the age of 73 I can once again work hard splitting logs or riding my bike up hills and not get a cough or wheezy chest.

Erm....well I'm afraid I think it highly unlikely that swiss style muesli is an undiscovered cure for asthma......maybe you just ""grew out of it"" plumstone!

Whatever it is I'm glad it's working for you :)

This IS a wind up post isn't it........you're not really serious?

Shame the shops just just, will have to wait untill tommorow now :(

I wonder should we do controlled blind trials?

Maybe we could have a group on the well known brand beginning with A and then have groups testing the various supermarket brands?

Do you think twice daily recordings of peak flows would be sufficient evidence?

Think I'll stick wie the azithromycin.... You need to only take it 3 times a week and same effect on the bowels ... And no sugar rush

yaf_user681_32991 profile image
yaf_user681_32991

Fee I do a mean Fruity Flapjack. Do you think I could have a portion of that every day instead?

It's packed with apricots, sultanas, cherries........

butter, syrup, oats.....

Geina x

I need to go and make sure the carrot cakes are ready for frosting.

Hi

Would've been nice if you'd be open to PMs. Trouble is, on this page we are quite often subjected to claims about what could 'aid' asthma. Sadly, all hoaxes or unsubstantiated at the very least. The posters of these claims very often keep their profile as private.

If you were indeed making a light-hearted tongue in cheek comment, then may I apologise for the forum members who appear to have been taking the proverbial. They can be a bit riled when they think someone is making light of asthma and quite rightly so. Myself, I'm known for my anti-buteyko and Vit D rants.

Feel free to PM if you want a chat.

GM x

angievere profile image
angievere

Harry Hill says...

Now.. I like muesli and I like shredded wheat.. but which one is best? There's only one way to find out...FIGHT!!!

I'll adjudicate the fight, I don't like either of them! Grape Nuts are best...but that's just me being weird again I should think. Just can't be doing with the stuff that works for everyone else ;)

Or Shreddies - but do we want to promote being 'locked up till lunch'?

angievere profile image
angievere

No ajudicators in Harry Hill's 'fights'. Muesli and shredded wheat will just have to wrestle until one gives up!! Grape nuts and shreddies welcome to join the fray. :))

I have a gluten free, wheat free diet and caffine free, for other reasons not my asthma. It hasn't helped my asthma in the slightest! And what a nightmare diet it is!

Being a scot ...... I think we should do a clinical trial on the new Alpen porridge !!!!! Tho I hate porridge

Ah ha Gussypoo; I'd love too it looks yummy! But only is there a gluten free version! lmao

Interesting debate here, don't let it put anyone off the forum.

Bring it on, fight or clinical trials?!

Emlou, that is difficult and kindof know the feeling. I had coeliac etc tests, finally realised lactose intolerance, not listening fully to ENT consultant re reflux and caffeine.

Mmm, clinical trials with porridge - I like it and it has to taste better than Atrovent!

I assume one of the research questions would be 'Optimum temperature for consumption: an ursine vs human comparison' ;)

Right folks I've done the wetaBix/shredded wheat all week .... No improvent I

Must confess. Has anyone done dried fruit an muesli that wants to update us all .....

I have to confess I didn't realise we'd started the trials.....so....I'll take dried apricots...who's up for figs?

Although you'd better stock up on loo roll too :D

I'm unsure whether to do the muesli trial or try the homeopathy post………. decisions, decisions! I will suck on a fig while i decide.

Message from Snowy who is on HDU...the muesli doesn't work!!

angievere profile image
angievere

Yeah, not surprised muesli doesnt work. I'm sticking to my weetabix. My son eats FRESH fruit (usually banana) with his cereal and that doesnt work either, so what hope is there for dried fruit??

KateMoss profile image
KateMoss

Porridge and Blueberries doesn't seem to work either, tasty though....mmmmm!

Oh no :( I was hoping for a miracle cure there. But maybe it just doesn't work for Snowy and the rest of us can still try? As we so often say, asthmatics aren't all the same, so it's still worth experimenting in case it's not the dried fruit after all.

Personally, I'd like to suggest an experiment with chocolate. Even if it does nothing for my asthma, I'll enjoy the trial period. ;)

Have tried dried fruit snacks this week as not a big cereal/breakfast person & slightly worse esp in mornings.

Philomena, also have tried chocolate - slightly overdosed me thinks oops - see offtopic memo to self

Ahhh choc coffee beans! If you've overdosed on those you won't get any sleep tonight, but they are soooo good. I like the sound of the cupcakes too mmm.

I think I may have discovered a new miracle cure everyone! I had Grape Nuts last night (as got in after midnight absolutely knackered and couldn't be bothered to cook), then another bowl this morning. And today I blew my best ever PF of 700!!

I'm sure the massive amounts of reliever I had was in no way related - it must be the Grape Nuts. Sadly it's not quite there yet as a cure, since my lungs are still not particularly happy despite the epic PF damn them. What possible use is a PF of 700 if you're still SOB and creeping around like an old lady?

Maybe the chocolate will prove to be the missing ingredient ;)

angievere profile image
angievere

Philomena, Choc should definitely be a cure all BUT if I eat a lot it can make me wheezy.

Thanks again for the serious and not so serious replies. I still think the Muesli has been the reason for the great improvement in my chest. In past years I have found that eating a dozen Sultanas has been as effective as sucking a Menthol and Eucalyptus sweet when a wheeze started.

!!!!!!!!!

angievere profile image
angievere

Feejay - more like ??????

So menthol and eucalyptus is also a 'cure' for asthma? No wonder I've never seen an asthmatic koala.

I count myself lucky in having mild asthma. No big amount of exacerbations that have me on first name terms with the paramedics. Mine sneaks up once in a blue moon and catches me unawares. Just so, the many triggers - dip in altitude on a mountain road, expelled jet fuel in the air near an airport and sadly for me, in terms of your experience, menthol and eucalyptus. Honey is another one.

Glad you found something that works for you.

Can I try coco pops in the trial?

I think in my Nxt life I'll be a koala bear then ...... Everybody loves you and least the lungs will work !!!!!

I think in my Nxt life I'll be a koala bear then ...... Everybody loves you and least the lungs will work !!!!! Definately not as raisin or sultana. Everyone will want to eat you !!!!!

Gussypoo, we would justbhave to hug you to death then lol

Snowy

Gussypoo, I think you'd have to have pretty appalling karma to come back as a raisin or sultana. Reckon you should be ok but better behave yourself just in case ;)

The Muesli is still working tor me, four months with hardly a wheeze. I wonder if it may be the natural antihistamines in the Wallnuts?

Where do you get this muesli from?

tj

I have tried several recipes and brands, at the moment I a using Goody swiss style Muesli No added sugar from Lidl and I add a few Sultanas and Walnut pieces.

I joined this forum to help others but after the abusive replies from some members I am sorry I bothered.

Really sorry, plumstone. We're a bad lot, I know, but sometimes it gets us so down that laughter is the only thing left when we've tried everything else. Glad you are still doing ok. Long may it continue. Cheers!

Moira

PS Sultanas as a rule don't contain sulphides, which is excellent, but they may contain too much salycilates. Be careful.

Thanks for the reply Plumstone,

However, what was abusive about some of the replies? Yes there has been some robust interesting discussion and rather lighthearted posts in response to stating muesli has almost cured your asthma. Good to hear this has helped you but it may not be so easy for many people. Without any background information on your asthma and medication it can be difficult to understand.

TJ (moderator)

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