Food (in)tolerance

It took me 18 years to realize that experiencing stomachaches, indigestion or nausea after meals is not normal. Although I have long known I was gluten intolerant, it wasn’t until I adopted a paleo diet that I learned how to fully prevent my stomach from rebelling against me every time I ate frozen yogurt or black bean soup. Ever since I eliminated gluten, dairy legumes and sugar from my diet, I’ve periodically reintroduced foods to see if I can tolerate the occasional hot chocolate or hummus snack, but so far I’ve had little success. For me, limiting the foods I eat is not so much a choice as it is a necessity.

In addition to the direct improvements in my digestive health, adopting a paleo diet has benefited me in other ways. Since I eat more protein, I am more alert in the afternoon and my mood remains stable even when I’m hungry. Changing my diet forced me to learn how to cook more than just breakfast foods and smoothies. Now I can cook nearly anything I would ever want to eat, and I can survive in places where commercial food access is limited. I also no longer stress about how much I eat because I know that the foods I eat—mainly vegetables, fruits, eggs, nuts and meat—are nutritious and will keep me full.

Of course, I don’t follow my diet perfectly. When I eat out, I often weigh the social pain of explaining my food restrictions and appearing high maintenance with the potential stomach pain I know I will experience later. I avoid mentioning my dietary preferences because if I do people narrow their eyes at me as if to discern whether I have a health condition or if I am just another fad dieter who avoids gluten without knowing what it is.

I also have a tough time turning down friends who buy or cook foods for me without knowing my unique restrictions. People express love by sharing food, and I don’t always have the courage to tell someone that consuming a homemade treat will make me feel sick later. So I either decline politely or suck it up, and eat a small slice of sugar-laden gluten-free pie, or the salad with a little bit of cheese, because I’d rather suffer from the temporary stomachache than the social discomfort that results if I tell the truth.

Although I don’t stray from my diet very often, I am lucky to be able to break it without facing severe consequences. For people with more serious conditions like Celiac or Crohn’s Disease, eating gluten can be a matter of life or death. Eating a waffle may incapacitate me for several hours, but at least I don’t have to go to the hospital. Thankfully, I am privileged to be able to afford foods that nourish me and to have the luxury of time to cook or find meals that fit my special needs. Not enough people can say the same.

College is often a time when personal health is neglected. Students stay up late studying and socializing and eat meals in a hurry between meetings and classes. I do all of these things. But college is also a time for experimentation and reflection; college is an opportunity for students to control their schedules and develop healthy habits to carry them into their careers. For me, switching my diet has taught me how to cook and helped me develop a personal eating formula that will serve me for the rest of my life.

Even if you don’t have stomach problems like I do, you can figure out the food and health habits that work best for you. As humans we have the remarkable ability to adapt to situations, including those that are non-optimal. Before switching my diet, I assumed that it’s normal to feel bad all the time. It’s not. If you’re tired all the time, you can try eating more protein, eliminating caffeine and going to bed earlier for a week, and see how you feel. If you like how you feel with the changes, keep the habits—if not, resume your normal lifestyle, or try something else.

Life is more enjoyable when you feel good. Don’t be afraid to take your health into your own hands, or at least have tolerance for those who do.