Thursday, April 20, 2006
Fear of Food
I'm happy to say I've surmounted a few challenges in my life—travelled to interesting places, climbed a few mountains, started my own business, worked in a foreign country alone—all things I thought were pretty difficult at the time. But they all seem chicken feed in comparison to the challenge I find myself faced with lately—an allergy diet.
Let me tell you about it. For quite a few years I've been plagued with various stomach problems. No need for details. But I was beginning to wonder if stomach cramps were just something I'd have to learn to live with, when a friend recommended an allergy specialist. Not just any allergy specialist, but one experienced and qualified enough to not only decifer my allergies through a series of blood tests, but to prescribe a course of treatment that would fix them.
Well, a couple of appointments later I have learnt I have the classic symptoms, and I'm allergic to a number of foods. And here they are kids—wheat, grains, dairy, nuts, soya and nitrites (processed meats). And, I hasten to add, this is a mild allergy problem. You could also be allergic, should you be so unlucky, to eggs, yeast, fruits, sulphites (things like onion and garlic), msg and glutamates; not to mention any number of inhalants from the lawn to mould to the family dog.
Apparently, it's a symptom of modern life. In the case of foods, there are so many chemicals in everything, and so many foods used in other foods (look at a few labels and be shocked at how many things contain wheat), that our systems are going haywire.
For me, unaccustomed as I am to denying myself much of anything in the food department, it has been a hell of a shock, which I'm only just starting to adjust to after two weeks of truly monumental whinging. I've found myself always thinking about food, having to plan all my meals again, searching out foods I'm allowed to eat and rejoicing when anything passes the test (Smith's Crisps are only potato, oil and salt. Hallelujah!) Living without beer, however, is hell.
There are some advantages to this whole life upset. I'm learning to cook again, and we save a lot money on takeaway. My palate is becoming re-educated to enjoy the most basic foods again—ye olde meat and three veg back on the plate instead of Indian curries, Thai food, gourmet pizzas. And I'm learning the many virtues of herbs.
The real good news is, with luck and strict discipline, the diet will only last thirteen weeks. If all goes well an allergy vaccine I'm taking will build up an immunity and I'll be able to reintroduce all those things that we all take for granted. Not to mention live a life free of stomach cramps. But I'm telling you now though, when finally I get the all-clear, I know the first thing I'll be tucking into with gusto.
A big bowl of the chocolatiest, nuttiest ice-cream I can find.