Today's Guest:

Felicia Sabartinelli

WEBSITE: www.feliciasabartinelli.com

TWITTER: @FSabartinelli

 

Today I talk with writer, actress and adult onset allergy suffer Felicia Sabartinelli. Felicia suddenly discovered that she had Oral Allergy Syndrome in her 20s. She has been on quite a journey discovering that ‘healthy’ foods such as raw fruit and vegetables actually cause her to have an anaphylactic reaction. Today we chat about how she discovered her allergies, how she is continuing to discover what can cause her a reaction and how she keeps a positive attitude even in the face the unknown.

What You'll Learn:

* Felicia lives and works in Colorado, USA

* She talks me through how she discovered her allergies in her mid-20s by eating grapes

* Her allergy testing told her that she had Oral Allergy Syndrome (OAS)

* Over time Felicia has found that her allergies are unpredictable and have become worse over time

* She tells me why she finds her allergies “fascinating”

* Felicia tells me how she deals with people not believing her.

* She tells me about her life changing moment: her reality check and when she started to take her allergy seriously

* We talk about how we deal with feeling embarrassed telling other people about our allergies

* We talk about the importance of educating ourselves and other people about allergies

* Felicia tells me how she manages her allergy when she’s out and about at work, restaurants etc

* She tells me about why asking questions is incredibly important for her

* I ask Felicia how she manages the scary feeling of not knowing what she’s allergic to from week to week

* We also chat about the EpiPen price hike in the USA and the problems associated with it and what possible solutions there could be

* Felicia’s 3 top tips for adults just diagnosed with allergies:

* Investigate and learn about your allergy

* Decide how you will look after yourself

* Become an advocate

 

Resources:

Articles Felicia has written about her allergy in:

Seventeen Magazine: Grab My Epipen I'm Allergic to Everything

Good Housekeeping: Grab My Epipen I'm Allergic to Everything

Dr Oz The Good Life: Felicia's Personal Story

You can also watch her story on her YouTube Channel:

 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

Today's Guest:

Alessandra Bester

WEBSITE: www.functionalfoodcompany.org

TWITTER: @nonococoauk @ib_snack

Today I talk with Alessandra Bester. Firstly, this episode is one of the most inspirational interviews I’ve done to date. Her journey has not been easy battling Coeliac Disease, IBS, chronic fatigue syndrome, cancer. She fought for her son’s life; battling his extreme food aversion, teaching him to live with autism, epilepsy and his food, environmental and chemical sensitivities. Alessandra is so humble and shows how strong you can be if you need to be.

What You'll Learn:

* Alessandra Bester is the founder of Functional Food Company.

* She tells me about her personal complicated journey to health with Coeliac Disease, allergies, IBS, fibromalagia Chronic fatigue syndrome, low FODMAP diet, cancer and more.

* Alessandra tells me about her son, who is diagnosed with autism and epilepsy.

* She has found that she has needed to learn about and how learning about his health has also shown her about her health.

* We chat about the importance of eating fresh and wholesome foods especially when it came to curing her of cancer.

* Alessandra has had to do a lot of research into healing the gut.

* Alessandra and I talk about how stress, sugar and your environment can affect your body and especially your tummy.

* I listen as Alessandra tells me the story of healing her son. Up to the age of 5-7 years old Alessandra’s son was was unable to eat, anything that went into his tummy he was reacting to. He was constantly in pain. This led him to be frightened of food, he avoided it and this led to him to become anorexic. Science didn't have the answers, so Alessandra had to take her son’s health into her own hands.

* Taking gluten and other foods out of her son’s diet (such as onions, garlic, E numbers and more), Alessandra’s son started to became alert and happy again.

* However Alessandra’s journey didn’t end there. She talks me through discovering and managing her son’s environmental and chemical allergies and sensitivities.

* We talk about people’s different responses to allergies and the changes in attitudes over the last 15 years.

* We talk about the importance of looking after our health and taking ownership and an active role in maintaining healthy and happy bodies.

* Alessandra tells me the story of how Functional Food Company started (inspired by the treats she developed to get her son to eat).

Resources:

Alessandra’s story: “Waiting for science, starving for feed!”

 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section,

Today's Guest:

Gwen Smith

WEBSITE: http://allergicliving.com

TWITTER: @AllergicLiving

 

What You'll Learn:

* Gwen is the founder and editor of Allergic Living Magazine, Canada and USA.

* Gwen suddenly and shockingly developed allergies as an adult.

* She talks me through her allergy discovery through a severe reaction to shrimp.

* She tells me about how she continued to discover more severe allergies to peanuts, soya, …through allergic reactions and allergy testing.

* We chat about when we were diagnosed back in the early 1990s, there wasn’t that much information out there.

* We discuss the differences between allergies in children and adults.

* Gwen shares how her life changed with allergies.

* We chat about the changes she had to make when food shopping, going out to restaurants, having dinner with friends and family.

* She talks about her strategies for making sure a meal at a restaurant isn’t all about allergies.

* Gwen talks me through why she started Allergic Living Magazine and it’s aim.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Allergic Living Article on Adult Allergies: When Food Allergy Strikes an Adult by Patrick Bennett

My Skillshare Courses

As mentioned at the end of the episode, along with writing some recipe books ("Gluten Free and Vegan Chocolate Treats" & "30 Days, 30 Dinners") I have started teaching allergy safe baking and cooking! To find out what you like to learn about, I've started putting them up on Skillshare.

I'd love for you to take a look, so I have created some FREE enrolment links. Simply click on the titles below and it will take you straight to the class. You will NOT need to pay anything or sign up with a card. You will be able to watch the tutorial straight away :-)

Enjoy!

P.S. I'd love to know what you thought. Leave me a review on Skillshare or a note in the comment section below of this post.

FREE Enrolment Links:

Gluten Free & Vegan Chocolate Fudge Cake: http://skl.sh/2lk24U1

Today's Guest:

Janet Hopkins and Hannah Hunter

WEBSITE: www.fodify.co.uk

TWITTER: @FodifyFoods

 

What You'll Learn:

* Janet and Hannah are dieticians specialising in FODMAPs

* I get taught what FODMAPs are and why some people need to be on a low FODMAP diet

* Hannah and Janet tell me about their success stories in clinic putting IBS sufferers on a low FODMAP diet

* Their experiences in the clinic led them to start Fodify Foods!

* We talk about the spice and herb mixes and sauces that Janet and Hannah have created and why they are great (I’ve tried them and they’re pretty great! :D Read my review and recipes here).

* Hannah and Janet talk me through how they came up with their products and how they’ve kept them FODMAP safe.

* They tell me how their patients and products are at the front of their thoughts.

 

Top 3 Tips  When Going on a Low FODMAP Diet

Hannah:

* Talk to your doctor to rule out Coeliac Disease

* Talk to a dietician

* Plan when to do your elimination

Janet:

* Make sure you have snacks available

* Make sure you have easy meal options a couple meals a week

* Make sure you have support (fellow FODMAPers, dietician, fb groups)

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Today's Guest:

 

WEBSITE: http://safereating.co.uk

TWITTER: @safereatingco

 

What You'll Learn:

* Karen talks me through her difficult journey to a Coeliac Disease as well as lactose intolerance diagnosis and needing to avoid FODMAPs. (She’s still trying to determine some other issues too.)

* Her Coeliac Disease symptoms were very hard to diagnose because there were a lot of mental changes as well as cramps and toilet issues.

* She tells me about the numerous number of tests she had to go through before finally getting a diagnosis.

* We chat about the broad range of symptoms that you can get with Coeliac Disease and why it’s so difficult to diagnose.

* Karen tells me about how having children has also affected her body.

* Her oldest child has been diagnosed with Coeliac Disease and she suspects her second child is also coeliac.

* Karen tells me about how they manage not being a completely gluten free house.

* Karen tells me the story of Safer Eating: how and why she started it.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Today's Guest:

Gemma Allen

WEBSITE: www.olliebox.co.uk

TWITTER: @OllieBox

 

What You'll Learn:

* Gemma’s son was diagnose with a cow’s milk protein allergy at 7 months and then in the following few months Oliver was diagnosed with more allergies and intolerances such as coconut and sesame.

* Gemma is a first time mum and a first time allergy mum, there is no history of allergies in their family.

* Around the time Oliver was diagnosed with allergies, Gemma was diagnosed with post-natal illness.

* She talks to me about the difficulties in finding safe snacks.

* Gemma chats with me about her experience with the doctors, GP’s, health visitors, and dieticians.

* We talk about the importance of support when you are dealing with allergies and when you are a first time mum.

Advice for Mum’s with Post-Natal Illness and an allergic child: Reach out and talk to people!

*UPDATE*

Since the interview, Ollie Box has unfortunately had to take a break from production. Ollie Box encountered some problems with manufacturers and storage. At the same time Gemma’s son Oliver had had a few reactions, so, quite rightly, he had to become the priority.

Gemma and her husband are hoping to start Ollie Box again in the future and she says she’ll let me know as soon as they do.

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Messy Play - Anstey Library, Charnwood, Leicester

Today's Guest:

My Parents, Robin and Suzie

 

What You'll Learn:

We spend this episode talking about the time I ended up in hospital with a severe allergic reaction to peanuts. My parents share their emotions, what happened, how it happened, everything we went through to prevent this allergic reaction and we reflect on what we can learn from it.

We went through all the necessary precautions, all the usual processes we would go through to educate, to safe guard against me eating nuts but this time someone did not listen, they did not believe us.

EAS015: The thing that hurts the most is that she lied to me and put one her best friend’s grandchildren’s lives at risk.Click To Tweet

We also talk about how we can learn from and move past my allergic reaction ordeal.

My parents top 3 methods to managing other people:

* “We explain the importance [of anaphylaxis] and then we act to check things.” - Dad

* Explain it’s our issue not their issue.

* If someone can’t respect the importance of allergies, then you have to decide whether you are going to be friends with them.

 

Click To Tweet and then we act to check things." username="eatallergysafe"]

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Read my blog post about my reaction here.

Allergy Course Sign Up - $20 early bird price available until January 31st only!

Today's Guest:

My Parents! Robin and Suzie

WEBSITE: www.eatallergysafe.com

TWITTER: @eatallergysafe

 

This week I will be talking to both my parents. We chat about how they had to educate family and friends, whether allergies are a disability or not and how you can raise a confident allergy kid.

 

What You'll Learn:

* How do you talk to people who have to look after you child but who may not believe you: be blunt, explain that allergies and anaphylaxis is a medical condition

* Take action where you can be present, if you can’t then you have a choice.

* I people still don’t listen then it’s time to make a decision as to who your friends are

* No environment is safe, not about policing it’s about education. About educating other people and educating me (the allergy kid)

* How do you know how much to scare someone so that they listen? Is it about scaring them?

* It’s about being matter of fact about allergies and asking people to be reasonable and about being reasonable when you ask.

* About making people understand the importance of following allergy precautions.

* We discuss the question: are allergies a disability?

* How do you an enable an allergy child to be confident?

How you know you’ve raised your allergy kid right = when they start educating you, the parent! Click To Tweet

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes or Stitcher Radio!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Today's Guest:

My Mum, Suzie

 

What You'll Learn:

Mum and I chat about starting primary school with a severe nut allergy, how we made it a normal part of our lives and how we educated ourselves and other people.

* We talk about the safe guards my parent went through to keep me safe outside of home

* Mum tells me how she approached my primary and secondary schools about my allergy

* We chat about the importance of normality in raising an allergy child

* We talk about going out to eat at restaurants

* The importance of teaching me how to speak up for myself

* We chat about how we got my family to take my allergy seriously and the strategies she used to make it so

* Mum talks about her advice for new parents and what they mean

* What if you don’t feel confident as a parent to deal with this? Mum says get in touch with an allergy organisation, find other parents in the same situation

Advice for new parents:

* Take time to think and plan

* Follow your instincts

* Fight for your child’s life as and how you think you need to

Click To Tweet was a constant process of education with every new scenario that food was involved in." username="eatallergysafe"]

 

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

Anaphylaxis Campaign

Allergy UK

Today's Guest:

My mum, Suzie Modak

 

What You'll Learn:

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year! Today I will be talking to an allergy mum, but I will be chatting with my mum. You’ll be hearing about our allergy journey and what it was like to raise a child with anaphylaxis to tree nuts and peanuts when the internet was in it’s infancy. We chatted for quite a while, so this is Part 1! :-)

* We talk about how we discovered my allergy, unfortunately through error!

* Mum shares how she started educating others about my allergy

* She talks me through her “Sleeping Beauty Theory” - (you may have heard me mention this before in interviews with Emma Amoscato and Donna Patterson.)

* We chat about how she coped with discovering I had a life threatening allergy

* Mum shares her approach to telling other people about my allergy

Episode 12: A child HAS to own their allergy because otherwise there has to be someone always around constantly looking over their shoulder and thats no way to live. Click To Tweet

THANK YOU FOR LISTENING

To get more EAS content sent directly to your device as they become available, you can subscribe on iTunes, Google Play or Stitcher!

One of our little goals we would love to achieve for is to get into the iTunes "New & Noteworthy" Section, it means we get free front page advertising on iTunes, how great for allergy awareness! But we can't do it without you. Please subscribe, rate and review on iTunes so that the people at Apple will take notice of our podcast

And lastly, if you have any questions, thoughts, or guests you want to see on the show, please contact me via the contact page.

RESOURCES:

The Parent's Guide - sign up for our March group is now open but hurry, ends February 10!