High Sulfite Sensitivity

by Karl

Hello,

I've got a high sulfite sensitivity and I am finding it hard to know what's good to eat and what's not.

For example are bread, pasta, cereals good for me?
Tomatoes, fresh mushrooms, onions, garlic - these have sulfites or not ?
Is yeast good for me?

Can you suggest some recipes that are sulfite free ?

I am really confused when deciding what to eat for breakfast, snacks, lunch and dinner. Sometimes I end up starving - REALLY starving!

I would appreciate any help.

Thank you,
Karl

Sue-Anne' Reply:

Hi Karl,

Sulfites are a health hazard to us all. They are taken from inorganic sulfur found in coal. They are used to stop mold, to stop foods from blackening, darkening and to lighten foods. They kill pests and help food retain more moisture.

Our bodies treat sulfite as a poison. It stays in our organs, causing asthma, headaches, gout, damaging the kidneys and white blood cells. It attacks the immune system and reduces red blood cell count.

Our bodies also leech minerals from the bones, muscles, nerves and digestive system in order to neutralize sulfites. This leaves us mineral deficient and prone to disease.

Two glasses of wine contain the maximum amount of sulfites one should consume in one day.

First of all you need to know the names that are used for sulfites in packaged foods:
Sulphur or sulfur dioxide
sulfur anhydride
Sodium bisulfate
Sodium metabisulfite
Potassium metabisulfite

When buying any packaged foods always check the list of ingredients to ensure they don't contain any of these sulfites.

You can easily see dried apricots that are treated with sulfites are a bright orange color. Organic dried apricots are naturally brown. For many foods it is not as easily detected.

Sulfites are found in:
Nuts
Dehydrated foods
Frozen foods
Dried fruits
On fruits, especially grapes

For the above list and as much as possible buy organic foods. Check with your local health food store. The one I shop at, Tau in the Montreal area, has a policy of not selling any food with chemical preservatives. Sign up for an organic fruit, vegetable coop or buy organic at your local market.

The more you make your own healthy meals and snacks from scratch, using whole, natural ingredients, the more you will avoid sulfites while increasing your health and saving money.