On social media, a woman revealed that her diet consists of only 13 foods after discovering she has 100 allergies, which stunned many.
Her revelation raises awareness through personal experience and has gained significant attention.
Jenna Gestetner, a 21-year-old from Los Angeles, California, has been forced to limit her diet to just 13 foods due to a rare condition that has resulted in over 100 different allergies.
In a video shared on Instagram, Jenna Gestetner’s journey sheds light on the challenges faced by individuals with severe food allergies.
Jenna Gestetner shares her life of allergy struggles
From a young age, Jenna experienced health issues that were often attributed to her “sensitive” nature. She suffered from sensitive skin, a delicate stomach, and frequent illnesses or injuries.
She said: “I had sensitive skin, a sensitive stomach, and got sick/injured easily.”
As she grew older, these symptoms intensified, leading to more severe reactions to certain foods.
At 18, Jenna noticed that her symptoms—pain, nausea, fatigue, and dizziness—worsened with specific foods. This prompted her to reduce her diet to less than 15 items in an effort to alleviate her symptoms and seek answers for both her physical and mental health.
Jenna Gestetner was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome
After extensive medical consultations, Jenna was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS).
According to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology, MCAS causes repeated episodes of anaphylaxis-like symptoms, including hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and severe diarrhea.
With her diagnosis, Jenna identified 13 foods that she can typically consume without adverse reactions: white fish, turkey, green beans, zucchini, cucumber, lime, dates, grapes, raspberries, pears, chia seeds, water lily seeds, and olive oil.
She must avoid major foods like rice, pasta, bread, red meat, chicken, lettuce, and apples.
She adapted her daily life and meals.
Due to her condition, Jenna has adapted her daily meals to include turkey.
Additionally, she adapted her meals to include chia seed pudding for breakfast, protein with vegetables for lunch and dinner, and fruit or water lily seeds for snacks/
She also shared her meal creations and recipes online through her account, @jennaxhealth, on Instagram.
Dining out presents additional challenges for Jenna.
She carefully checks restaurant menus before deciding where to eat.
Jenna also contacts establishments to ensure they can accommodate her dietary needs.
Despite these precautions, eating out causes her significant anxiety due to the risk of cross-contamination.
“Even then, eating out causes me a lot of anxiety because even small amounts of other foods could cause me to have a reaction.” She added.
Managing her calorie intake is crucial for Jenna because she needs to ensure she gets enough essential nutrients from her limited food options. With such a restricted diet, careful planning is necessary to maintain her health and energy levels.
She shared her experience on Instagram and received a positive response from those facing similar challenges.
Many have found her experiences validating and motivating. Jenna’s story provides support and encouragement to others who are navigating their own dietary restrictions.
One person said: So exciting! My dietitian thinks I might have it, but I’ve not been formally diagnosed. Would love to learn more about how people have been diagnosed.
A second wrote: Omggggggg this would be perfect
While a third commented: I’m so excited. I have EDS and POTS and was just diagnosed with MCAS after being rushed to ED and put in ICU. I was so grateful my ED Dr knew about the condition and investigated.
Another added: I’m actually so excited to be able to connect with you in a private space just for us.
Jenna Gestetner lives with severe food allergies and MCAS.
By sharing her journey, she aims to raise awareness and offer support to others facing similar health challenges