Baking Powder reaction?

[Elsie150]

Can a person have a reaction to Baking Powder? I made Elizellen's wonderful flax bread today. Cut it into 4 slices and had one for breakfast and one at night. I have noticed that my stomach is...puffy?... Distended somewhat? I have been eating flax for awhile now so the only new thing is that Baking Powder.

Any advice?

[Elsie150]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

For more info... the flax bread had water, margarine, ground flax and 1/2 teaspoon baking powder...could that little make a difference?

[Sheshy]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

I've never heard a baking powder reaction; but the additional fiber in the flax might be causing puffiness in the tummy area!

[not2late]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

I agree with Shelly. If you gave your body more fiber than what it is used to, you can get puffy/bloated.

Flax, psyllium husk and wheat bran are the 3 fiber supplements Dr. Atkins okays for use during the weight loss phases of this diet. However, these fibers are also known as "bulk-forming" laxatives. That is, when they reach your gut, they absorb water like a sponge and expand. That expansion is what stimulates your gut to relieve itself of the constipating material. Likewise, if you don't drink enough water, these bulk-forming laxatives won't expand properly and can actually cause constipation.

Also remember too, that the fiber you eat in your veggies throughout the day contributes to your daily fiber intake. So if you overdid it with those 2 slices of flax bread, then you're gonna pay for it now.

Best thing to do is to drink your water.

[not2late]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

okay I looked at Elizellen's recipe.

Elizellen's flax bread

Microwaved Flax Bread
Serves 2 - 8 slice loaf
285.5 cals per half loaf
prep time: 4.5 mins max

Ingredients
25g (1 oz) butter
2 medium eggs (large also OK - added by Zarabelle!)
4 Tbls water
4 heaped tbsp ground flax
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Melt butter and add eggs and water, mix.
Add ground flax and baking powder and mix until smooth(ish)
Leave a minute or two to thicken up then put in to microwaveable container about 5" x 4" and nuke for 3 minutes
Turn out and cool
Makes a dense loaf, quite spongy but less so when it cools without the water and a lighter, higher loaf with the water.
Good for sandwiches, toast and grated as breadcrumbs
You could add parmesan and herbs to make a savoury loaf

"4 heaped tbsp ground flax" ---"heaped" tablespoons are generally 1 1/2 or 2 tablespoons worth of the product: the actual amount depends on who's doing the heaping. So you should measure your "heaped" tablespoon, then re-measure it properly (level tablespoon) to see how much flax you ate with those 2 slices.

[Elsie150]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

Thanks for answering Shelly and Megs!!!

I had ruled out the ground flax as I had already had it on two seperate occasions and did not get this reaction. I drink 12-18 cups a day of water but yesterday I drank 14 cups. I don't think I over did the flax as in the one piece there would have been about 1 T of flax. Recipe said to use 4 heaping T of ground and I ground my own with just under 4 T. And I had only the one slice at breakfast. It was not until I was already eating the second piece that night that I made a possible connection.

Maybe it could be a reaction to the corn startch in the baking powder?? But I am having trouble even with that as the baking powder and corn startch are such tiny amounts.

I don't know...I was just adding the flax because I had heard it was really benefical health wise and to get some fiber in my diet. May have to think of something else instead. I am going to lay off the flax for a bit as I am still bloated today then will reintroduce it and then after a bit reintroduce the flax bread and see if it is that.

It all makes me a little upset as I have been having great results for the last 2 months and am afraid of going into a stall or losing more slowly. I know that I am going to have to experiment a bit ..that is what OWL is about but I don't feel ready emotionally.

Crossing my fingers it was just an off day or something.

Thanks!

[Elizellen]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

okay I looked at Elizellen's recipe.



"4 heaped tbsp ground flax" ---"heaped" tablespoons are generally 1 1/2 or 2 tablespoons worth of the product: the actual amount depends on who's doing the heaping. So you should measure your "heaped" tablespoon, then re-measure it properly (level tablespoon) to see how much flax you ate with those 2 slices.

Good point!!
I measured out my usual 4 heaped T of ground flax and found it equalled the same weight as 6 flat T of flax seeds. (3 ounces)

So I altered my fitday entry and found these new numbers for the whole recipe.
Cals 706
fat 56 gr
Carbs 27 gr - 20 gr fibre = 7 net carbs.

When I have this I normally eat about 1/4 of the recipe.

Funny - in the old days I could polish off much more wholemeal bread than this but now just that small amount is enough. Great how Atkins retrains the stomach!!

[FunkyFabDiva]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

What is flax?

[Elsie150]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

Elizellen....nice new pic!! Is it possible for you to enter the new revised recipe in at the recipe section...maybe side dishes or requests???

Hey Funk...Flax is a seed that has many health benefits and adds fiber to your day.

[Kisseslikepearls]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

Information purposes: theoretically there could be a baking powder reaction since your stomach is an acidic enviroment and baking powder reacts when acid is present to form co2 (i think---its some sort of gas). Think how light and fluffy buttermilk pancakes are. I'm more inclined to think (and agree) with the more-than-you're-used-to theory.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

my mother is allergic to the powder filler in the baking powder ansd swells and gets the runs if she eats stuf made with it. you can make the recipe yourself using the database recipe for baking powder that doesn't have the filler in it.

Also your flax seeds could have ben contaminated with mold and you might be having a reaction that way.

[Elsie150]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

Thanks for the info. I am still inclined to believe it had something to do with the baking powder as I had tried the same flax several times before. However...I have not experimented again with either yet. Then again I hope it was just some random thing as I imagine it would be very difficult to know everything that had baking powder in it.

[2big4mysize]

Re: Baking Powder reaction?

there are several different baking powder recipes. you can use the skin test to see for sure. make a paste of it apply some to the pad of a bandaid and wear it on the inside of your are skin area. if it gets red or itchy in 3 days you are reacting if not you aren't allergic and it was something else.

Also allergic reation only occur when your body had surpassed your tolerence for a compound and it your tolerance is say 100 whatever and you ingested 99 of it then you don't react but some of the stuff will remain bound up in your system say at a level of 65 the next exposure is less then this one only 50 but with the risidual amount plus the new you are over your threshhold and poof you react. that is why you can be allergic today and not tommorrow but again next week and be baffled as to the cause.

Hope you find your trigger fast.