Canary in the Coal Mine

History

The canaries were used before in mine tunnels because they are susceptible to the odorless and colorless carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases that are undetectable to humans. If a canary is found dead, then it is highly likely that the tunnel is too dangerous for humans. Early detection of carbon monoxide is necessary because, by the time the symptoms manifest,  the miners may be too deep in the mine shaft or tunnel and then it will be too late to save the unlucky miners. Today, electronic detectors have replaced the canaries.

Recently, I have been more attuned to what happens to my body after eating a certain kind of food. I have been mindful of what I eat and have paid attention to how I feel like after eating certain foods.

I have found out that when I eat carbohydrates, my finger joints start to hurt. Last month, I tried to self-experiment with cinnamon rolls with peanuts.  After eating a cinnamon roll, the joints on my left two fingers started to hurt. The aching happened within minutes. To see if there is a dose-related response, I tried another one. Then the joints on my right fingers started to hurt.  And since I want to offer my body for scientific study and for the further pursuit of medical knowledge, I ate one ensaymada. An ensaymada is a very soft, delicate bread with grated cheese on top with a bit of sugar.  This time I developed a moderate headache that lasted throughout the whole morning.  All the symptoms went away after a few hours, and I am left with the conclusion that gluten and sugars are really not for me.

Medical Studies about Obesity and Osteoarthritis

Is there science in any of these? In a 2008 study published in the BMC Musculoskeletal Disorder showed that there is a relationship between obesity and hand osteoarthritis.   Another study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology also demonstrated an association between hand osteoarthritis and obesity. And where there is obesity, most likely, there is also a metabolic syndrome. This review supports the hypothesis that symptomatic hand and knee OA is closely associated with systemic metabolic dysregulation.  Having the Metabolic Syndrome is nothing to sneeze at because it puts you at risk not only for heart attacks and strokes but for many other diseases.

Years ago, I had a hand x-ray that showed osteoarthritis. I was overweight at that time with a BMI of 29. I thought it was just from doing yard work and sports. I was also starting to develop the “trigger fingers” or tenosynovitis and enlargement of the finger joints secondary to the osteoarthritis.  Those symptoms have gone away since I have lost weight thru intermittent fasting, HIIT or High_Intensity Interval Exercises, and resistance exercises. At first, I did not see the relationship between weight loss and resolution of my arthritis. I only saw the connection when at one time I ate purple rice and the next day, all the trigger fingers and achiness suddenly came back.

I look at my hands’ achiness as an inflammatory reaction to easily absorbed carbohydrates, gluten, and sugar as a blessing in actuality. Some people may not be aware of the damage that some of the food that they eat and then go on and continue to develop widespread internal inflammation that will manifest as ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular accidents, diabetes, and all its complications.

Food reactions may range from skin reactions like hives, rash. Gastrointestinal like diarrhea, bloating, nausea, and vomiting. The respiratory tract can also be affected and present as shortness of breath, inflammation in the sinuses manifesting as a headache, nasal congestion, wheezing, coughing, chest pain and postnasal drip.  The joints may manifest as achiness or pain.

Don’t Be a Frequent flyer in the Emergency Room

If you present yourself to a physician about your symptoms, chances are you will be prescribed a medication that may work or not work and also give you side effects.

If you continue that food, then the symptoms will be recurrent, and then the visits to the doctors or physicians become more frequent and expensive. Sometimes the side effect of the medications will need more prescriptions. It can be a slippery slide.

My Suggestion

Be mindful about how your body reacts to what you eat. Maybe your body is telling you that some foods, like gluten and grains,  are not good for you.  If you continue to eat that particular food that you are reacting to, it may lead to chronic inflammation.

Start a food journal with the date and what foods or drinks you had. Write ALL the foods. It does not matter whether you have been eating that food all your life whether it be rice, bread, pasta or sugar. And then document what happened minutes, hours or a day after. Then repeat to see if the reaction is reproducible. That way you can establish cause and effect or at least association. If there are a consistent cause and effect, then you should consider avoiding those foods to prevent chronic inflammation that will eventually result in illness.

Your food reaction may be the canary in the coal mine and warn you of a food allergy, gluten reaction or a developing metabolic syndrome.  For a review of the different disease manifestations of the metabolic syndrome, please refer to this series as it goes to various systems like the gastrointestinal system, lungs, and genitourinary system, gout, coagulation problems, and bad teeth. It looks like a lot but that series is far from complete.

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Note: If your reaction is an acute allergic reaction, then DO NOT eat that food anymore. That is different. The subsequent responses to food allergies are usually more severe than the previous and can be fatal.

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