No more sweet roasted corn from the side of African roads.
I’ve suspected for a while now that I have an allergy or at least a sensitivity to corn. I never wanted to admit it, because that would mean eliminating certain foods like corn tortillas, corn chips (the best with salsa), popcorn, cornbread. The list could go on. However, several years ago, I started to notice that I would get a terrible stomachache after eating a corn product. I kind of dismissed it as something else. It was a form of denial. The other day there was no denying it. I ate a bowl of popcorn, and afterwards, my stomach was a bloated, painful mess. Sigh.
The next day I looked up symptoms that you might experience when you have a corn allergy. The stomach issues did not surprise me, but the fact that you might get irritable, grumpy, and cranky did. I started making connections and realized that there might actually be something to this. I relayed the symptoms to my family. I was not prepared for their reaction when I came to the grumpy part. They emphatically shouted, “YES! That does happen!” Thanks, family.
Apparently corn allergies are hard to test, so I’m in the process of an elimination diet. That’s when I realized the potential of my homemade deodorant making me grumpy. It has corn starch in it! Corn.is.in.everything. I’ve modified my underarm smell goodness so that I can have a true elimination experience. See my modified version below…
Homemade Deodorant
1/4 cup plus 1/8 cup Starch (arrowroot, cornstarch, tapioca…tapioca is my current choice)
1/8 cup baking soda
6 tablespoons coconut oil
10 drops essential oils (I use a combination of Young Living’s Rosemary and Bergamot…you can also use Lavender or Melaleuca or any oils you like.)
Mix all together, and apply.
You can also use equal parts starch and baking soda. I find that when I do that, it gives me a rash under my arm, so I cut back the baking soda just a bit. I like this more like a lotion, but you can also put it in a deodorant tube and store in the fridge if you don’t prefer the lotion variety.
There you have it. I’m on full corn detox. When I’m the slightest bit grumpy, my family asks if I’ve had corn. Funny, guys. My honest answer is now NO!
Do any of you have a corn allergy or sensitivity? Was it hard to pinpoint?
