Hi, I’m Christina and this is my story.

I’m a bit of a unique case. Yes, I have Celiac disease. But you might be surprised to find that it doesn’t end there. I think I’ve collected the ultimate set of allergies—gluten, dairy, nuts, pollen, and even ground roots. It’s like my immune system decided to go all-in on the ‘Let’s be different’ game! But jokes aside, navigating life with this vast array of allergies has made me a walking dictionary on what not to eat and what to avoid. Yes, I carry around an EpiPen wherever I go, but no, I don’t use it as much as you’d think, HAHA.

Iin a way, these allergies have become a part of my identity. They’ve made me more attentive, more understanding, and definitely more creative in finding alternatives. I can’t count how many times I’ve had to come up with inventive ways to enjoy a meal without triggering my allergies. From experimenting with allergy-friendly recipes to becoming a connoisseur of safe food joints, I’ve become an accidental guru in this niche.

Now, that’s not at all to say that there aren’t any significant challenges to living my life. I’m almost always facing some restrictions on what I can touch, smell, or ingest wherever I go. But, it’s all about adaptation, whether you have a gluten, nut, dairy, or pollen allergy — or in my case, all of the above. 🙂

— Christina Y., California, USA