The Daily Observer London Desk: Reporter- John Furner
A 20-year-old student in Los Angeles has revealed she is unable to indulge in the city’s kale-ridden food menu — because of an immune condition.
Jenna Gestetner, 20, was diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) in March 2021 after months of stomach cramps, bloating and nausea after eating.
She claims she is now restricted to just glucose water and eight foods: Turkey, fish, zucchini, cucumber, green beans, olive oil, salt, and limes.
Ms Gestetner says she is ‘disappointed’ and ‘upset’ that she can’t go to restaurants with friends — but the good news is grocery shopping takes just three minutes.
Jenna Gestetner, 20, a student in Los Angeles, can only eat eight foods because she suffers from the immune condition Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)
She has had multiple allergic reactions over the years, including intense stomach cramps and nausea. She is pictured above in hospital undergoing tests which later confirmed the disease
MCAS is triggered by mast cells in the body, a type of white blood cell that is found throughout the body, including in the skin, lungs, intestines, and near blood vessels.
Patients with the condition see their cells misfire and start to attack innocuous substances that are mistaken for toxins.
Symptoms of the condition include hives, swelling, low blood pressure, difficulty breathing, and severe diarrhea after being exposed to an allergen.
Treatment initially focuses on antihistamines and aspirin to calm the immediate symptoms of an allergy.
But doctors will then work with patients to establish what is causing the allergic reaction and what they can and can’t consume.
The cause for the condition is unknown, but doctors say it is not likely to be related to any other disease or any clear cause.
Ms Gestetner says she needs to eat six meals a day because of her restrictive diet to ensure she gets enough nutrients
