Any nutritionists about?

[InTheMoors]

In the section Exercise and Nutrition there is advice on avoiding white bread. While I totally agree that most of the white bread sold in shops is ‘junk food’ what about home baked bread. We have baked our own bread for years and our white bread contains the minimal amounts of salt and sugar. If it is the white bread flour that is to be avoided then what about wholemeal flour and other types of flour?

[PMRpro Ambassador]

Not sure in what context you are asking. Bread is carbs - whether it is white, brown or black (we have black bread). And carbs and pred don't mix well.

The primary problem with white bread is that all the fibre and a lot of nutrients have been removed - and it becomes a simple carb which results in a sudden rise in blood sugar as it is digested. which is bad in itself. Whole grains slow that release of glucose so the glucose spike may not be as high but over a longer time. It still contributes to the BS level on top of that due to pred.

[InTheMoors in reply to PMRpro]

Thanks PMRpro, that explains it nicely. I'll do more wholemeal bread.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to InTheMoors]

And in truth - wholeGRAIN is even better, get lots of that here, Not even ground. You know you have had a slice of that!!

[Groggrim in reply to PMRpro]

Here's my problem, I love wholemeal/wholegrain bread, always have, but since being diagnosed with IBS with the bloating and cramping, and I mean real rolling around eye watering 'please will you get me an anti spasmodic darling' cramps I have been advised that IBS does not really like wholegrain or too much fibre. It's a catch 22 situation.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Groggrim]

And pretty common I think.

[tangocharlie in reply to Groggrim]

One of my best mates was diagnosed or should i say fobbed offwith IBS and gluten intolerance a few years ago which we all thought was odd, how did that come on suddenly in later life? (she was 57 at the time). To cut a long story short it turned out to be Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Symptoms are cramps, diahorrea, bloating etc. So I hope your GP has throughly checked you out? There's a simple blood test called CA125. Nearly all women eventually dx with this type of cancer are told it's IBS initially. Putting this out there not just for you but general info for all women as it's Ovarian cancer awareness week. Better to be safe than sorry if we notice any changes in our bodies

[Groggrim in reply to tangocharlie]

Thank you TC for your concern. I was diagnosed by a consultant gastroenterologist 23 years ago and I said goodbye to one of my ovaries 38 years ago. Most of the time I am ok unless I eat too much of the wrong food. I think an eating disorder in my late teens (which can still flare up under stress) predisposed me to digestives issues.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to tangocharlie]

IBS is even more of a diagnosis of exclusion than PMR - there are far too many nasties that can mimic it. Though to be fair - a close friend was dx'd as coeliac in his mid-50s. It had probably been there mildly for a lot longer but his system broke down after a particularly good grill party with loads of bread and loads of beer!!!

[tangocharlie in reply to PMRpro]

All I know is that far too many cases of Ovarian cancer are missed. The charity Ovacome is now trying to work with pharmacists to spot if women are trying lots of different indigestion meds as research shows women usually wait 12-16 weeks with symptoms before going to a GP and even then most cases are missed. My friend's was only spotted when she went for a supposed hernia op (it wasnt a hernia it turned out) and the surgeon saw the massive tumour. The surgeon who spotted it had come across 2 similar situations so thought quick to do a biopsy and he was right