while shopping, but a glance at the ingredients list on the pack will reveal that they are largely starch in composition and nutritionally nothing like an egg. However, binders such as grated apple and pectin can be incorporated into foods so that they don’t fall into crumbs. Oils can be substituted for egg yolks to make mayonnaise, but they will not have the yellow colouring of egg yolk.
Contamination in the home
Extra care is required during cleaning of utensils, cutlery, etc., to avoid contamination. In particular, forks can trap cooked egg between the prongs. Egg white has a very strong tendency to attach itself to utensils, baking sheets, etc. If very stubborn it should be scraped off with a knife. As with wheat and milk contamination the answer to egg contamination is scrupulous cleanliness and great care.
An allergy, intolerance or sensitivity to wheat, milk or eggs may manifest itself in one or more symptoms. It is difficult to be specific about what is causing the symptoms as they can also be caused by other factors. People with persistent symptoms should consult their medical practitioner and not try to diagnose and treat themselves.
Physical Symptoms
Head
Feeling dizzy or faint, headaches, migraine, heavy feeling.
Eyes
Watery, itchy, red, swollen, tired, sore, blurred vision, heavy feeling in eyelids.
Nose
Runny nose, sneezing, itching, burning, excessive mucus, blocked nose, sinusitis.
Ears
Ringing in the ears, soreness, loss of hearing, earache, burning sensations, itching.
Throat and Mouth
Soreness, sore gums, swollen tongue, mouth ulcers, loss of taste, hoarseness, cough, choking fits, itching of the roof of the mouth, bad breath.
Heart and Lungs
Chest pains, palpitations, rapid heartbeat, asthma, chest congestion, tightness across chest, shallow breathing, excessive sighing, breathlessness, catarrh.
Gastro-intestinal
Nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps, diarrhoea, constipation, swollen stomach, bloated feeling after eating, flatulence, feeling ‘full up’ long after meals, stomach pains, poor appetite, cravings for foods, dyspepsia.
Skin
Rashes, hives, inexplicable bruises, easily marked skin, eczema, excessively pale colour, dermatitis, itching, soreness, redness, sores, acne.
Other Physical Symptoms
Weakness, cramp, cold hands and feet, flushing, shivering fits, trembling, aches and pains in the joints, swelling of the limbs, aches and pains in the muscles, swelling of the face, hands, feet, ankles, constant feeling of hunger, gorging with food, oedema, obesity.
Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms
Nervousness, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, apathy, irritability, day-dreaming, confusion, restlessness, poor concentration, mood swings, aggression, unreasonable giggling or weeping, speech difficulties, couldn’t-care-less attitude, general feeling of misery, excessive sleeping, hyperactivity, insomnia.
Planning a Diet Without Wheat, Milk and Eggs
Before the miseries set in, here is a list of the foods that you can eat:
The yes list – basic wheat-free, milk-free and egg-free foods
Plain, fresh meat – all kinds
Bacon
Ham – without breadcrumb coating
Plain, fresh, frozen or canned fish (in water) – all kinds
All fresh vegetables
All fresh fruit
Rice – preferably brown
Ground rice
Maize (corn), cornflour (cornstarch)
Barley flour
Millet flour
Porridge oats
Sesame seeds
Chickpea (gram) flour
Plain, fresh nuts
Pure cooking oils, such as safflower, sunflower, extra virgin olive oil, soya and corn oils
Pure honey
Treacle, syrup and molasses
All kinds of sugars and jams
Drinks:
Tea without milk
Coffee without milk
Herb teas
Wine – red, white or rosé made from fruit
Brandies derived from fruit
Sherry
Port
Other wheat-free, milk-free and egg-free foods
N.B. Where brand names are specified this indicates that other brands of the same product may be unsuitable.
Baked beans (Heinz) in tomato sauce (check label)
Soya flour
Ground almonds
Frozen, plain fish and shellfish
Tamari-type wheat-free soy sauce
Frozen, plain meat
Curry powder (a brand which does not contain wheat flour)
Yeast extract (Marmite)
Rice bran, soya bran
Soya milk (not to everyone’s taste, but some people find it useful)
Dairy-free margarine
Split peas
Dried beans
Lentils
Soya beans
Gelatine
Many people find a new kind of diet extremely worrying, particularly if their basic knowledge of nutrition is not adequate to restructure their daily menus. To exclude wheat, milk and eggs from the food regime and