Hawaii/coconut

Innervision

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Jul 26, 2017
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Hi all, I'm taking the kid to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and, of course, thinking about food. My fav things to eat there are fresh pineapple and coconut shrimp. When I met with the nutritionist pre-surgery she said that DS'ers cannot digest coconut. Is that accurate or is that an RNY thing? I'm still in the weight loss phase and will be 8.75 months out when we go. It will be hot and humid so water and protein for sure. Any other suggestions?
 
Hi all, I'm taking the kid to Hawaii in a couple of weeks and, of course, thinking about food. My fav things to eat there are fresh pineapple and coconut shrimp. When I met with the nutritionist pre-surgery she said that DS'ers cannot digest coconut. Is that accurate or is that an RNY thing? I'm still in the weight loss phase and will be 8.75 months out when we go. It will be hot and humid so water and protein for sure. Any other suggestions?
Have never heard that about coconut. There are foods that are hard for the human body to fully digest. A good example is corn kernels unless you chew every damned one to mush first. And that’s any human not just WLS patients. But that doesn’t stop me from eating corn on the cob dripping in butter fresh off the grill this time of year. Then again, a third of an ear is plenty for me these days at a meal so I get three goes per ear.

Before trying a new food away from home, try it AT home.
 
I’ve never heard this either. I love coconut and have eaten it in various forms/foods since DS with nothing bad happening, but we are all different. I would try it though, little at first. Have a wonderful trip. Trips are so much more enjoyable and easier being lighter. Walking, plane rides, and packing is easier,smaller clothes take up much less suitcase space and if you do forget something, heck just run to any old store and pick something up! Hard to imagine, huh? Have fun!
 
Back in the day, when I was headed towards RNY, I was told no raw celery due to the stringiness. And I have a dear friend with RNY who can't handle asparagus even after many years for this reason. But there was never any mention of coconut, even for RNY.

With the DS, there is no reason you couldn't handle coconut, unless you are still in the healing/recovery/adjusting phase when almost anything is hard to handle. And coconut shrimp sounds like a great source of protein. Maybe try some at a local Chinese restaurant before your trip?
 
Thanks everyone for your feedback. I recall getting a list of foods from the NUT with things I would never be able to have again--coconut, popcorn, corn, celery, etc. Glad I checked with the professionals here, living with the DS. I have avoided traveling anywhere I couldn't drive due to my weight and now I am ready to expand my life. Getting excited! Thanks again. Lynn
 
No Onion.Rings.Ever.Again.

So far, that is the most toxic thing, and it's gotten slightly less awful in 15 years. I love them, but not enough to endure the toxic and painful gas I get from them. I can eat onions, and I can eat breading, but there is something catalytically explosive about the mix. In me.

I also have a next-morning issue with spinach, both fresh and creamed spinach. Another favorite, but I can eat in small amounts with caution about early morning activities the next day.

It's pretty individual - you will find out your own special situation. And even if it is a problem, you should try a favorite food again every couple of years just to see if things have changed.
 
I recall getting a list of foods from the NUT with things I would never be able to have again--coconut, popcorn, corn, celery, etc.
For me: Yes to coconut, LOVE buttered popcorn, I'm currently going thru a grilled corn oon the cob phase (break an ear into three pieces, lasts three meals), celery, I try to destring it anyway but yes.
No Onion.Rings.Ever.Again.
Adore onion rings and they don't bother me.

Reactions to foods is very individual...that's why we suggest trying at home first. And just because it causes a problem now doesn't mean it will forever. ALSO just because it doesn't cause an issue now doesn't mean it won't later. As you can see...you can't count on anything being forever.
 
I also have a next-morning issue with spinach, both fresh and creamed spinach. Another favorite, but I can eat in small amounts with caution about early morning activities the next day.

Spinach is something I loved loved loved before (spinach, pumpkin and feta salad!), but just can't eat now. The consequences just aren't worth it.
 
I haven't heard that, and have heard some epically bad advice from NUTs before, but am wondering if it may have had some origin in fact about difference in coconut oil (rather than just coconut), and gotten messed up over time or just a poor understanding?

So this is just a very wild guess, but I wonder if your NUT thought because coconut OIL is more easily absorbed (as a medium chain fatty acid, it IS more easily absorbed than long chain fatty acids, because it starts to break down in the stomach without the need for pancreatic enzyme or bile, unlike long chain triglycerides which begin that break down process later in the intestines) that you may lose your DS benefit of losing those coconut oil (mcfa) calories, unlike LCFA that we waste approximately 80% of because of bypassed intestines. Idunno. Just thinking how a nut might come up with such nutty advice.

Often, misinformation had some kernel of fact once upon a time, or maybe your NUT is just nuts, lol.
 
Update: I did try some coconut shrimp before I left and had no problems. While in Hawaii I ate a little pineapple, again no problems. The most delicious thing I had was the shrimp scampi from Giovanni's food truck on the North Shore. I only ate a few grains of the rice and couldn't eat all the shrimp in one sitting---the portions were very generous. We had a lot of fun. This has been mentioned here before, but flying was definitely a NSV of the DS. The free upgrade to an extra leg room seat in both directions--also a bonus. I appreciate all ya'll.
 

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