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Surviving food allergies in India can be hard when there is so little awareness of the very real consequences they can have.
We Indians love drama! India is a country where serious terms are thrown around just for the heck of it. Feeling low is termed as “depression” (when it is actually a specific mental illness) and intense dislike for certain items is termed an “allergy”.
Food allergies are practically unheard of, and that is an unfortunate reality.
I have been struggling with an allergy to nuts for a while now. As a complete foodie, it has been an upward battle. Come festival time, and the hazard is increased further.
It is often frustrating that people do not take such food allergies seriously. “Oh, allergies are so ‘in’ these days”. “Are you allergic to this? Come on, have a bite, you might actually like it”. A “bite” that might result in an anaphylactic shock, and can prove fatal.
Food allergies are rare, no doubt. But they are not caused by eating way too much processed food. Or not getting enough Vitamin D. The white blood cells are just a bit too overprotective.
So how does one survive nut allergy in a country like India where a celebration means a generous dose of nuts and dry fruits? And where no occasion is complete without mithai?
To begin with, I am quite ruthless when it comes to refusing food served if the host is unsure of the contents. Some do take offense. But more often than not, informing the host in advance ensures I have a choice of nut free food.
I find dining out much easier. Most restaurants are accommodating. I am labeled the “nut-wali lady” (the nut lady) by most take-away joints. Jokes apart, most restaurants are accommodating and a conversation with the chef is a big help. Among other restaurants, I regularly dine in at Barbeque Nation where the staff ensures that the food served is completely nut free.
Festival time is mithai time. I did some digging around and found a few I can actually eat. Jalebis, Rasgullas, and Haldiram’s Gulab Jamuns (bless you, Haldiram’s). It is not really that bad, is it?
It is high time there is an awareness about food allergies in India when it comes to packaged foods. They might not be particularly healthy, but one is allowed an occasional cheat food, right?
The Indian food industry has finally woken up to the fact that people might be allergic to some of the ingredients used. But there is still a long way to go.
When I was diagnosed with the allergy, I decided to not let it define me. I wasn’t one to stay cooped up inside the house. It takes a few lifestyle changes. And being very, very adamant.
But I am getting there, living life to the fullest (with an antihistamine in my bag… just in case).
I am an entrepreneur, a design professional, an avid reader, and a complete foodie. Books and cooking are my relaxation mantra. read more...
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UP Boards Topper Prachi Nigam was trolled on social media for her facial hair; our obsession with appearance is harsh on young minds.
Prachi Nigam’s photo has been doing the rounds on social media for the right reasons. Well, scratch that- I wish the above statement were true. This 15-year-old girl should ideally be revelling in her spectacular achievement of scoring a whopping 98.05% and topping her tenth-grade boards. But oddly enough, along with her marks, it’s something else that garners more attention – her facial hair.
While the trolls are driving themselves giddy by mocking this girl who hasn’t even completed her school yet, the ones who are taking her side are going one step ahead – they are sharing her photoshopped pictures, sans the facial hair, looking nothing less than a celebrity with captions saying – “Prachi Nigam, ten years later”.
Doctors have already diagnosed her with PCOD in their comments, based on photographic evidence. While we have names for people shamed for their weight – body shaming, for their skin colour- racism, for their age- age shaming, for being a female- sexism, this category of shaming where one faces criticism for their appearance has no name. With that, it also has zero shame attached to it.
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