Had a bit of a panic set in over the past few days .. around Friday night, whenever I ate or drank anything, even water, I had this strange sour metallic taste in my mouth. It only amplified on Saturday. Today, as I write this, Sunday, I have some moderate issues. It's present. It's annoying.
According to the normal series of websites I check, I could be pregnant. Probably not.
Could be liver failure! ...Boy I hope not.
Maybe a flu. A fever.. Heart issues..
None seem to be adding him, I just feel perfectly fine.
I think--could be wrong if I croak in a few days--that I have pine mouth.
I never heard of pine mouth until, well.. this morning. I have been ferociously researching what a sour taste after eating ANYTHING could equal.
Days of panic! Racking my brain! What is wrong with me..?! And then!
I thought..
Thursday around 1pm I ate a salad at work. I thought hard about what was on it.. found the website of where I got it, and saw a photo. On top? Pine nuts. Lots of them.
After coming across a number of web links pointing me into the direction least expected, I wanted to share with you this bit of info:
The adverse reaction to eating pine nuts can develop suddenly and inexplicably within 12 to 48 hours after consuming the nuts, which are the edible seeds of the pine tree. It can happen out of the blue, even to people who have eaten pine nuts previously with no adverse reaction. It does not seem to matter whether the pine nuts are raw or roasted. It does not seem to matter whether three nuts are consumed, or a handful. It does not seem to matter where the nuts come from. The syndrome does not involve mold or bacteria. It is not an allergy.
It is a mystery.
A real mystery. And it is bothering me to a great point.
The Food and Drug Administration is aware of the problem. On March 14, 2011, the agency posted a page on “'Pine Mouth’ and the Consumption of Pine Nuts.”
Pine mouth, the FDA reported, “lasts on average between a few days and two weeks.”
The bad news: “It is exacerbated by consumption of any other food during this period and significantly decreases appetite and enjoyment of food. The symptoms decrease over time with no apparent adverse clinical side effects.”
One species in particular, Pinus armandii, a white pine from China, has been linked to “pine mouth.”
I cannot say this is a great suffering. But it really, really sucks. I love pesto. Love pine nuts. Never had an issue...
And I think (I pray actually) that I just got a bad batch and in a few days taste buds will be back to normal.
So if YOU are having the same thing? ....Pine Mouth could be an issue. Or... you're going to either have a baby, die from liver failure, have a heart attack, or be dehydrated beyond repair. WEB-MD it up.