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HelenB
06-10-2006, 01:35 PM
I live in Japan at the moment.

I came home to the UK for 6 weeks over the summer and, after 4 days, suffered from tremendous digestive problems. The local casualty and my parents' doctor could not find the cause and decided to call it IBS. I was sent home with a fact sheet! For the next fortnight I ate very little other than rice and salmon and all was well. However, it seemed that everytime I tried to introduce something new to my diet I became ill again. As a last resort I went to see a food allergy tester at the local holistic centre. She used kinesiology and told me I was intolerant to beef, yeast and dairy products, in particular whey. Since I have removed these from my diet I cannot believe how much better I am feeling.

Living in Japan with food intolerances is a challenge. They have plenty of soya products which are great but my Japanese is not good enough (particularly my reading skills) to decifer ingredient lists so I am learning the hard way by making mistakes! MSG (contains yeast) is a particular problem. However, my whole family is benefiting as I now home cook most meals from basic ingredients as then at least I know the meal is 'safe'.

Eating out is fraught with difficulities but I have discovered a local soya cafe which is a lifesaver! I can even have cake there. Also my husband's work colleagues now come on business trips with suitcases full of Hobnobs so I cannot complain.

The website has already given me lots of useful information. I am so glad I found you all!

goose
06-10-2006, 01:59 PM
:bwelcome: To the site Helen, glad the site has been helpful for you, we do try our best:lol2: . It must be very difficult living in another country, god it's difficult to begin with in this country being dairy free, but does get easier.

Hope you stick around and share some experiences with us.:D

Copper
06-10-2006, 02:06 PM
Welcome Helen. I agree with Goose it is hard enough here on a restricted diet never mind abroad. You have my sympathy and admiration. I hope that you make less mistakes soon.

Hobnobs - mmm yes I like those too. We just have to keep a watch out for a change in their recipe. New improved anything is usually bad news for us.

rebecca c
06-10-2006, 03:54 PM
Hi Helen, I admire you too its hard enough in the UK trying to sus out what the ingredients are. Its going to be great having a Japanese expert on our site though so keep posting.:)

paranoidangel
06-10-2006, 08:30 PM
Hi Helen. All the problems you have with eating over there are the same as I find over here, only without the language problems, so you have my sympathy.

Mmm, hobnobs, I remember those. I'm also gluten & wheat intolerant, so I can't eat those, sadly. But it's great your husband's work colleagues are so good to you!

happycat
06-10-2006, 08:36 PM
Hi helen, welcome to the site. Glad to hear you feel alot better on a dairy free diet.

The Other Half is off to Japan for a conference next week, he is looking forward to it.

Lan
06-10-2006, 09:20 PM
Hi Helen,

Glad to hear you are feeling better on a dairy free diet and welcome to the site. If you have any questions, please feel free to let us know.

Lan :lol2::lol2::lol2::lol2:

matt
07-10-2006, 03:52 AM
welcome to the nuthouse!!!

glad to her that you are coping and have found solutions to some of the problems.

we'll be glad to help if we can!

yvie
07-10-2006, 01:40 PM
Hi and welcome from us too.
I import sweet william chocolate and other dairy free treats from Cruelty free shop in Australia.... (http://crueltyfreeshop.com.au/ )

that may be worth a look if you struggle to find them in Japan.

Yvie