allergic to quinoa?

[HarmonyD]

I've only been eating quinoa for a few months and everything was going fine till a few weeks ago...I started getting the worst stomach ache everytime I eat it. Does anyone have any ideas or is there anyone who having this problem?

[LynneConde]

Hi,
I have a few questions about this posting.
Are you rinsing your quinoa well (several times) before cooking? Do you soak it, before cooking and if so, for how long? Is the quinoa organic? What are you eating the quinoa with (combining) when you find that you become ill? Are you eating one serving of quinoa each time or more? What time of day do you generally eat the quinoa when you become ill? Do you refrigerate the leftovers if you have any?
Thanks,
Lynne

[KandiC]

HI Harmony D,

I don't seem to have an allergic reaction to quinoa. However, when I eat cashews I get the same syptom and it's really bad.  So I'm wondering if a stomach ache is a kind of allergic reaction?
                                    Kandi C.

[HarmonyD]

Hey thanks for the inquiry.  I have soaked it and not soaked it, I do usually rince it.  It is organic, sometimes I eat it with other foods been ill in both situations. I do refrigerate, and I have been sick once in the morning and twice at night. never really more than 1 cup at once. I used to get this stomach ache from avocados but now I don't. I have a fickle stomach, I didn't think I would have a prob with this glorious grain=( Any ideas??

[EmmaS]

Hi There,

I have a friend who has had a really similar reaction when she eats quinoa.  She said she had been eating it...maybe overdoing it a bit, and then one day she got such a bad stomach ache she became sick, now she really can't touch the stuff.  It would be interesting to find out if there is something in quinoa that creates an allergic reaction sooner then in some other foods we eat regulary, hmmmmm.....

[Marlina E]

Quinoa always needs to be rinsed very well, to remove the natural sapogens (sp?) that the grain has.  Perhaps this has something to do with both of the above mentioned reactions?

[LouiseA]

I also get a stomach ache after eating quinoa, so was really interested to hear someone else does.  I get the stomach ache even after soaking for 30 minutes, agitating to release the sapogens, rinsing, and eating it alone or with other foods, (all good considerations).  The stomach ache reminds me of the one I used to get when I ate Chinese food with higher levels of MSG in it, in college (many years ago!!).
I don't do very well with meat, particularly red, and dairy, and wondered after the quinoa experiences, if it could be something to do with an intolerance for one or more amino acids, or is there something else unique to quinoa that we haven't identified? 
- Louise

[HarmonyD]

Hi Louise, I don't know I'm really bummed out though. I guess I'll eliminate it for a while then try to bring it back. I do well with meat and some dairy...

[Nori]

I can use quinoa only intermittently for similar reasons.  Grains can be irritating and I encourage rotation even when they are gluten-free.  Millet, amaranth, buckwheat, and corn have similar effects. 

The best response, if you feel crummy from eating something, is to back off for a while. 

Wait a few weeks and try again.  Listen to the messages you get and decide from there if this is a "sometimes, but not often," or "nevermore," or "twice a week max". 

[LynneConde]

Hi Harmony,
A client of mine said she found that if she cooked two tablespoons of (rinsed, soaked) organic quinoa with her organic oatmeal (1/2 cu) and topped with 1 tablespoon of ground organic brown flax seeds and 1 tablespoon raw organic walnuts for breakfast, she was able to consume quinoa when she had previously been unable to do so. She said the oatmeal "soothed" her, and now she eats this three times (every other day) for breakfast during the week, and has no problems. She said she uses no sweeteners of any kind however, except occasional organic fresh berries, such as blueberries or strawberries, and no dairy.
Health to you,
Lynne

[twodogs]

I have had problems with quinoa. I am trying to be on a gluten free diet and I have had an adverse reaction from quinoa twice now .It starts with a gut burning sensation and then I get uncomfortably warm and  after about ten trips to the bathroom I am finally better.It feels like i just have to get rid of it all it is unlike any other adverse reaction I have ever had to food.I will not try it again.I have no trouble with corn- oatmeal has always been a little problematic even the gluten free variety but I eat it - brown rice at times is hard too but nothing like the quinoa- the warm feeling from the quinoa was alarming and since both times were so similar I can no longer take a chance and eat it.I can not understand how it is touted as such a great foodI have read several posts on different websites describing symptoms like mine.

[blujay]

Hmmm, this seems to be a growing phenomenon.

Here is my two cents...I think that it is predominantly a mild toxic reaction with a slight immune reaction in all cases. Here is why I think it is...

-like all seeds, nuts and grains, Quinoa contains Phytates (search the forum for more info) which are known to disrupt digestion of proteins and iron. This can be especially experienced in women who need all the iron they can get. The best way to avoid the effects of phytates is to soak, germinate, and ferment your foods.
http://www.informaworld.com/smpp/content~db=all~content=a713671591

-Saponins predomently act as a laxative (Saponins act like surfectants or soap and bind with fats), so unless triple rinsed, those who are susceptible to this effect will continue to experience digestive upsets. Anyone can experience these symptoms if the saponins are in high enough concentration...so this is a non-specific reaction, but your sensitivity to it leads me to my next point.

-Those with delicate immune systems (most in the West) can be sensitive to new forms of proteins. These new form of proteins to ones diet can cause over reactions by your immunesystem and can be exasperated by the saponins which act as amphipathic liaisons (water and fat loving transport molecules) used to enhance penetration of macromolecules such as proteins through cell membranes.  Which is why saponins have also been used as adjuvants in vaccines.  So what this means is that it can cause these potentially irritating proteins found in quinoa to bypass some of your immune system road blocks which raises all kinds of red flags for your immunesystem...such as vomiting, raised body temperature, nausea, inflammation to even cold/flu symptoms.
 
-Quinoa is in the same family (chenopodium) as beets, spinach, tumbleweed pollen, grass and grass pollen, so similar allergic reactions to these can be experienced in Quinoa.




So here is a few recommendations:
-Eat it in small amounts with other foods. It seems to be good with oatmeal and other soluble fiber rich foods, as the fiber can absorb and limit the effects of the saponins.

-Rinse and soak, and rinse and soak and rinse and cook, to remove the offensive saponins.

-Even better, soak, rinse, germinate for 24 hours, soak in kefir starter for 24 hours, then cook and eat, for highest nutritional development and bio-availability. (do this in large batches or you'll never do it)