I’m allergic to almost everything and can only eat FIVE foods – but shopping only takes three minutes
A WOMAN who is allergic to almost everything and can only eat five foods says it only takes her three minutes to do the shopping.
Jenna Gestetner, from Los Angeles, California, suffers from an immunological condition which means she has reactions to foods that include intense cramps, bloating and nausea.
She found that eliminating foods from her diet was the only thing that helped having suffered since childhood.
Jenna is now only able to eat turkey, mahi mahi, cucumber, green beans and courgettes, as well as olive oil, lime and glucose supplements.
She was officially diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in March 2021 after she saw a specialist who carried out a series of blood and urine tests.
Mast cells play a key role in the immune system responsible for releasing the mediators that cause allergy symptoms.
Jenna said: “With MCAS, mast cells release mediators in response to things that are commonly harmless. It is rare, but more common than people think.
LIMITED DIET
“However, it affects people differently and therefore the treatment is extremely different for everyone. My limited diet is a result of years of tracking my symptoms and working out what makes me feel best.”
Having finally been diagnosed, she says it has been “freeing” because she can now put a name to the problems that have been affecting her for years.
Without know what was causing her problems she said she felt frustrated and struggled to remain positive.
Jenna added: “I was always the kid that had issues and it always sounded like an excuse. Eventually I just stopped telling people that anything was wrong.
“My parents knew about my struggles but they didn’t know all the details – when they found out when I got diagnosed, it shocked them. I am very fortunate that my family supports me and helps me get the support I need.”
A 3 MINUTE GROCERY SHOP
While she described grocery shopping as a “mixed experience” and would often become upset that she still couldn’t find anything new to try, Jenna added that it meant her shops only took around three minutes, which made it quite convenient.
Even though she can’t eat it, Jenna keeps a cabinet stocked full of snacks for her friends to enjoy when they come round, including sweets, popcorn, chips and sauces and seasonings.
Her condition also means she can’t eat out at restaurants.
Jenna said: “Over the years, I have become way more used to the way I have to eat. Food is social so I often feel left out when I am not able to eat with my friends but I have found my own ways of being included, whether that is bringing my own food or eating before I go out.”
Jenna’s long-term goal is to be able to stabilise the mast cells enough with medications so she can expand her diet but for now she will continue her limited diet and work with doctors to minimise her symptoms and reduce the impact MCAS has on her life.
Jenna is a full-time student at USC studying Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation and is very passionate about healthcare innovation.
SHARES HER LIFE ON SOCIAL MEDIA
She shares her health journey on social media sites TikTok, Instagram and YouTube @jennaxhealth and hopes that sharing her story will help raise awareness about people who live with issues that you may not see or hear about.
Jenna said: “Diet is only one part of health and health is subjective. I want to be able to make other people feel validated. There is so much online about being healthy, but what is good for one person isn’t always good for another.
“Having a chronic illness doesn’t always mean you have a medical device or life-threatening allergic reactions; people have invisible illnesses that you wouldn’t know about from an outside perspective. Those who have these challenges can still live a normal life – there are just extra things they have to consider when travelling or even leaving the house.
“It’s about living your life to the fullest within the parameters of your own health. I’m just trying to find out what healthy means for me.”
Previously, gymnast Natasha Coates, who also suffers from MCAS, revealed she has allergic reactions to her own tears, growing her hair, changes in the weather, food and digestion.
When her hair grows her scalp develops agonising blisters and burns.
When she cries the tears cause a red rash down her face and certain foods can be fine one day and almost kill her the next.