Paleo Diet and Paleolithic Diet Questions & Answers

Question

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I tried two brands of canned coconut milk. One contained coconut milk, water, and guar gum. The other other contained ONLY coconut milk and water. I had the same reaction to both, which is that I felt extremely nauseous for a while and got really hot/sweaty feeling. Also (and this this could also be a coincidence) the day after the first can I developed a cystic pimple on my forehead and 20 minutes after drinking the second can I developed a cystic pimple on my forehead.

I can drink diluted So Delicious without feeling ill despite it having a ton of other crap ingredients, and I can drink the lite diluted Trader Joe's brand without feeling ill.

What about the 100% super thick kind might be making me feel sick?

flag	asked May 24 2012 at 18:42 Shawn 1,485●7●26

Coconut oil can be stimulative to the thyroid gland....maybe your dose is too big. – Terry May 24 2012 at 19:25

Kelly · Answer 1 · 2012-05-24 18:47:04Z UTC

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how much are you drinking? too much fat can make you nauseated as well....so I'm guessing you are drinking quite a bit?

answered May 24 2012 at 18:47

Kelly
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The entire can, which is 4 servings. Maybe too much fat? – Shawn May 24 2012 at 23:07

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I agree, it could be the fat. Is your diet usually high in fat or lower in fat? When my husband and I switched to paleo we were still eating low fat (out of habit) and if we ate something that was high in fat (thinking that it was fine because it was paleo) then we both felt really sick from the fat. But once we realized that we weren't eating enough fat in our usual diet, and changed that, it wasn't an issue anymore. But a whole can is a lot of fat! That could totally make you feel sick. And the other brands you were ok with have fat removed. – Amanda May 25 2012 at 1:12

I agree, it's too much fat all at once. Check the label, Trader's Joes is reduced calorie i.e. watered down. – Kitzu May 25 2012 at 4:36

a whole can, yep that will do it!! especially if you aren't use to it. Cut it back and take some time to work up to consuming that amount if you really need to, the gall bladder doesnt always work well with all that fat at once, result: nausea and often dirreaha, count your blessings it wasnt both! – Kelly May 25 2012 at 10:59

Jessica G · Answer 2 · 2012-05-24 20:00:30Z UTC

If you're up to experimenting, try making your own and see if you have the same reaction: pour 1 part boiling water over 1 part shredded coconut in a blender, let it sit for 20 mins, blend, and strain, pushing the liquid out of the pulp w/ a wooden spoon (if you end up getting into making your own milk, there are "nut milk bags" to help with this step).

I've read here and there that canned coconut milk can contain guar gum even if it's not on the label.

erikaj · Answer 3 · 2012-05-24 19:16:53Z UTC

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Maybe you should get an allergy test done with your doctor?

answered May 24 2012 at 19:16

erikaj
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I've taken several. The usual blood testing, whatever it's called, and I also took the ELISA ACT test. Nothing related to coconuts came up in those tests. – Shawn May 24 2012 at 23:08

VB · Answer 4 · 2012-05-24 18:47:18Z UTC

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I have tried Aroy-D and Santa Maria. Both contain some kind of preservatives. Plus they were in a tin can.

Both made me sick. Not sure why.

answered May 24 2012 at 18:47

VB
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If you have a Trader Joe's near you, they carry (or can order) coconut milk in a carton that is pretty good. – MathGirl72 May 24 2012 at 20:33

Bee · Answer 5 · 2012-05-24 19:33:05Z UTC

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http://chriskresser.com/3-reasons-why-coconut-milk-may-not-be-your-friend read that - it could be the can not the coconut.

answered May 24 2012 at 19:33

Bee
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Meesha · Answer 6 · 2012-06-08 22:17:05Z UTC

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Haha! I just drank an entire can of coconut milk and feel ill; a little nauseous, stomach doesn't feel right, I'm sleepy and a little weak. Never again! I suspect it's too much fat all at once. Maybe just too much coconut all at once!

answered Jun 8 at 22:17

Meesha
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	That sucks! I guess I'm not alone. Have you tried it again in a lower quantity to see if it bothers you? – Shawn Jun 9 at 14:27
	only sips. also in cooking. I've been fine. But I have been kind of staying away from it since. I can still feel it in my mouth. ick. – Meesha Jul 12 at 15:05

Yrenia · Answer 7 · 2012-06-19 21:05:59Z UTC

I've never had much of a problem with coconut milk until just two weeks ago and then today, which led me to this thread. I read in the US Army Survival Manual FM 21-76 that caution must be taken to avoid ingesting too much coconut milk due to its laxative effects. This could be what's going on with both you and me. Mind you, I only use organic coconut milk with only coconut milk and water as the posted ingredients.

Nora · Answer 8 · 2012-06-19 22:11:42Z UTC

Coconut does cause die-off if you have any yeast/bacteria problems.

Beyond that - any un-organic canned coconut milk contains sulfites, and a lot of us here are pretty sensitive! Preservatives/guar gum may also be the culprit.

I get the whole fat coconut milk from Whole Foods or Native Forest and haven't had problems since.

ana · Answer 9 · 2012-08-13 19:47:50Z UTC

I had the exact same symptoms, minus the pimple, from drinking the SO Delicious Coconut milk. It's organic and comes in a carton, so I doubt it would be anything else. I only had about a quarter cup of it, not even a full serving in my black coffee. I feel better now that it's out, but felt totally hot, sweaty and gross.

coffeeandcream · Answer 10 · 2012-08-14 00:42:38Z UTC

Coconut milk is full of fructans, which we do not digest. So regardless of whether you are fodmap intolerant or not, a large amount of coconut milk will have a laxative effect and I can imagine a nauseating effect as well, because of the peristaltic stimulation. That might explain it if you can tolerate the fat.

http://adietitiangonepaleo.wordpress.com/2011/05/17/interlude/

craig · Answer 11 · 2012-11-16 15:46:38Z UTC

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youre all missing the point.. coconut water/milk, etc. is famous for killing candida - its a yeast killer. Youre having a dieoff reaction to it

answered Nov 16 at 15:46

craig
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shabbychick · Answer 12 · 2012-11-18 15:34:17Z UTC

i agree with craig! i think it is killing off all the bad stuff in our bodies. i eat the "cream" of the can coconut milk every day to up my fat. i feel wonderful. you can even whip it! here is the link. http://momgonepaleo.com/coconut-milk-whipped-cream/

it <3 this stuff!!!

garshmada · Answer 13 · 2012-11-18 16:38:40Z UTC

coconut is primarily made from MCT - medium chain triglycerides. when digested, they are shunted directly to the liver which is where they are metabolized. its plausible too much at once can overload the liver, kinda like too much alcohol. take a look at your symptoms, which are the same as being drunk: "I felt extremely nauseous for a while...".

Why would canned coconut milk make me sick?

13 Answers