J: S, can you tell me about the moment you first realized you had allergies?
S: My younger sibling, ‘A,’ had always struggled with weak immunity and skin issues since childhood. Because of that, A became interested in various medical tests and tried many of them. One day, A decided to take a delayed allergy test, and the results were shocking—A had far more allergies than expected. So, even though it was difficult, A eliminated those foods from their diet. And the result? Their skin improved dramatically! The constant redness and breakouts disappeared.
J: That must have been a huge change. So A recommended the test to you as well?
S: Exactly. A told me that delayed allergic reactions prevent the body from properly absorbing nutrients and instead treat certain foods as toxins. If your body only consumes foods it sees as toxins, you end up in a starvation-like state where no nutrients are absorbed properly. That’s why avoiding these foods could even help with weight loss. At the time, I was thinking about dieting, so A suggested I take the test too.
J: And that’s when you decided to take the test?
S: Yes, I ordered the same test kit online that A had used. But the delayed allergy-only test was out of stock. Instead, they offered me an upgraded version that included both immediate and delayed allergy tests, at no extra cost. I had heard that immediate allergies are rare and that even hospitals don’t usually recommend testing for them, so I wasn’t particularly interested. But since I had no choice, I agreed to take the combined test.
J: So you ended up testing for both. What was your reaction when you saw the results?
S: I was in complete shock. The delayed allergy test showed only a few problematic foods. But in the immediate allergy test, nearly everything except seafood, vegetables, fruits, and dairy showed severe allergic reactions. The most shocking part? Both rice and meat were classified as severe allergens.
J: That’s unbelievable—rice and meat are staple foods in Korean cuisine. It must have been overwhelming.
S: Exactly. I couldn’t believe it. That was the moment everything started making sense. For years, I struggled with discomfort after eating. I would feel my heart racing, start coughing uncontrollably, and even have trouble breathing. Then I remembered something from my childhood. When I was about five years old, I told my mom that eating made me feel sick. Concerned, she took me to five different hospitals. But every doctor told her that I was just being dramatic. As a result, my mom got angry with me, and I was scolded for complaining. “Everyone lives like this. Just keep going.” That’s what I was told over and over again.
J: So from that point on, you just endured it?
S: Yes. From then on, I made it a habit to endure pain and discomfort. But deep down, I always wondered, “Why is it so easy for others to run around and be active, while I struggle just to sit still?” I blamed myself, thinking I was just weak. But after seeing the test results, I finally understood—I wasn’t weak. The foods I had been eating were actually harming my body. And for the first time, I realized that all those years of suffering weren’t my fault.
J: That must have been a mix of emotions—frustration, anger, and maybe even relief?
S: Exactly. I felt frustrated and resentful towards the doctors who dismissed me, and towards my younger self, who had no choice but to believe them. But at the same time, I felt an odd sense of relief. At least now I knew the truth.
J: That’s such a powerful realization. But up until now, you haven’t strictly followed an allergy-free diet, right?
S: That’s right. I never fully committed to an allergy-free lifestyle. Instead, I just tried to reduce my intake of foods that made me feel bad. Taking medication daily worried me because of possible resistance, and eating during work made me sluggish. So I often chose to avoid eating at all during work hours.
J: What made you decide to seriously try an allergy-free diet now?
S: Honestly? Meeting you, J. Before, I thought, “There’s no way I can follow this diet 100%.” But after talking to you, I started wondering, “Maybe I could actually do this. Maybe with J, I can figure out how to make an allergy-free diet work for me.”
J: So now, you’re truly at the starting line of this journey?
S: Yes. I’m just beginning to take this seriously. There’s still a long way to go, and I don’t know exactly how things will turn out. But I’m curious to see how my body will change. J, let’s do this together and build our allergy-free life step by step!