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Chocolate, no wait—it's really cocoa that is my weakness. I've been so bad lately I was spiking my morning protein smoothies with extra cocoa and sugar, and eating so many of SharonMello's FF brownies, and the FF Hot fudge brownies that last week I started to get the tell tail signs of food allergy….the hives, esophageal spasms, feeling generally really sick, etc. Signs I know well from the past 25 years of being allergic to wheat. I knew I'd been good about the wheat/gluten, so it wasn't that…it had to be the cocoa. (If someone has a tendency towards food allergies, then they can become allergic pretty fast to a DIFFERENT common food allergen if they consistently OD on it….….it's a vicious cycle and one that calls for constant moderate consumption of everything that could be an allergy trigger.) So, off cocoa, and feeling fine now…………but that craving is still so right there. I have, staring me in the face a bag of carob, to make the brownies and put in the smoothies, but as anyone who has every had to switch from cocoa to carob will tell you…."it just isn't the same!"  So now, I'm getting up enough nerve to sub the carob, and then condition my mind to make it satisfy that cocoa craving. (Sigh) Tell me I'll get through this, please. 
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i cant have chocolate either, i used to make things with cocoa and no dairy and i wondered why i was still getting sick.
i recently bought carob and right got out all my recipies with cocoa in them and subsitituted. hot cocoa, bronwnies, pancakes!! at first it was hard to adjust to but honestly i dont see that much of a difference.
carob just needs more sugar to it than cocoa...but it really isnt bad!!
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If you can do nothing else...smile 
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Kandee, do you mean you developed a permanent allergy to cocoa?? Or will it go away if you stay away from it for a while? I had no clue you could become allergic to something just from eating it a lot! 
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Quote:
do you mean you developed a permanent allergy to cocoa?? Or will it go away if you stay away from it for a while? I had no clue you could become allergic to something just from eating it a lot!
Yes and no on the first question. What it means is that you'll likely always be somewhat "sensitive" to it, and when it is completely out of your system you can add little bits back in now and then, say once every 4 days, without a problem. I liken it to a cup full of liquid, fill it up to almost the brim and you're ok, but one drop over and you have a mess. Food sensitivities are like that. And then of course, you have that whole issue of people being sensitive to additives and preservatives and dyes..........and those are hard to pin down. I sure wouldn't want to be an allergy specialist...tough job.
As to eating A LOT of something, yes, one can become allergic. I was suprised to read some info just recently on Asian children becoming allergic to rice. Can you believe it? It is their main food staple. What do they then do?
I suppose figure out how to use other grain alternatives like wheat/corn, but in some areas that may be difficult because of both the culture and economic status.
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and add more sugar. I wonder if a little more vanilla would help too???
I'm told carob grows on you (what, like fungus?) so I hope it won't be long that I'll be ok with the substitution. I had to do this one other time, a long, long time ago. Didn't hurt me then, so I don't suppose it will hurt me now. I was just being so spoiled in thinking that as long as I kept the fat out I could OD on all the cocoa I wanted.....silly thinking, ey?
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Not Even Cocoa!
#43323 - 02/05/04 12:32 PM
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Bevvy
Reged: 11/04/03
Posts: 5918
Loc: Northwest Washington State
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"Tell me I'll get through this please."
Okay, KK, you'll get through this please.
Boy, this really sucks. (We can say that, can't we?) As if IBS wasn't bad enough, and you have this damn wheat/gluten problem, now cocoa! *$!@%!! (CERTAINLY we can say THAT!)
I'm sorry, Krazee. I'm just constantly amazed at what some people are forced to tolerate in their lives. I'm reminded of my Canadian friend with the throat cancer who can no longer eat solid foods at all and has to get his nutrition through IVs -- I've mentioned him before. This may not make you feel better, KK, but you just must believe there are others out there who, when you know their stories, can and do bring tears to your eyes.
You give up your beloved cuppa joe, your Jack, cheesecake, hot fudge cake, popcorn, ham, bacon, fried eggs, well I could go on forever -- you give it all up, only to have to give up even more.
If you can get through all that, Girlfriend, then YES -- you'll get through this.
Your friend,
Bag Lady
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<img src="http://home.comcast.net/~letsrow/smily3481.gif">Bevvy
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Another safe craving buster for me - especially for these cold winter days - is warmed up chocolate soy milk. 
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Yech, I've tried carob and I wasn't crazy about it. But I hope Allie is right and it's something that grows on you, Kandee! I suppose soy and rice milks grew on most of us, so why not carob? Oh yeah, and I started eating soynut butter a long time ago because I'm sensitive to peanuts, and I don't even notice that I'm eating that anymore. I guess anything's possible! Good luck, Kandee! 
Wow, Asians with rice senitivities, that is crazy. Although not much worse than you having a wheat allergy in our society that's centered around wheat!
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"Anyone can exercise, but this kind of lethargy takes real discipline." -Garfield
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Yes, all allergies develop from repeated exposure to the allergen, but not all things you're repeatedly exposed to end up triggering allergies.
I've mentioned in a couple posts that I have a confirmed allergy to apples and peaches. I get severe hives and my throat closes up just like someone who's allergic to bee stings. I have to get to an emergency room right away or I'll die of suffocation. And I'd always eaten apples all my life with no problem. The allergist explained that each exposure sensitizes the body a little more until BOOM, you have an allergy! Trouble is, there's no way to predict what you might become allergic to. One of many reasons for a balanced diet with a variety of foods and moderation in all things.
PS. Yeah, it was pretty scary when it happened! Now I'm like Snow White and think of apples as poison!!
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Laura
Keep it simple!
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My goodness LauraSue, as far as I know those aren't common ones, are they? That rather begs the question, are you fructose sensitive as well?
Hmm, how well I know about that horrid feeling in your throat...with me, it's not so much like I can't breath, more like constriction pain that is lower. I'm actually glad now when I get the hives, it's a warning to start investigating to find the cause. I've been fortunate for many years now that I've not had to go to ER.
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there's no way to predict what you might become allergic to. One of many reasons for a balanced diet with a variety of foods and moderation in all things.
Moderation is right!!! I should have known better than to keep exposing myself, day after day to so much cocoa...........that'll teach me!!
BTW, just had some hot carob, like hot cocoa. Not bad, not the same thrill one gets from real chocolate.... so guess I'll just have to get my thrills from somewhere else.
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