PERSONAL ESSAY
My Spicy Food Intolerance Is a Blessing in Disguise
It’s not all bad
Can you imagine what it’s like to live in a country where the majority of local dishes are hot and spicy, but your tolerance for such food is zero? Well, imagine no more as I would share with you my firsthand experience.
It hasn’t always been like this. I grew up eating hot and spicy food. I remember the delicious curries my mother used to cook, the spicy sambal (spicy gravy) from nasi lemak (coconut rice dish) that we had for breakfast, and my favourite chicken satay (skewers) dipped in spicy peanut sauce that we used to enjoy for supper.
When I was sixteen, I suddenly could no longer handle hot and spicy food. It seemed to happen overnight! Within minutes, I’d develop a sore throat, which often led to a secondary bacterial infection. None of them went away on their own. Antibiotics were always needed clear up the infection!
Unfortunately, this intolerance to spicy food has continued to this day. None of the doctors I’ve seen could explain this strange phenomenon, except to suggest that I might be sensitive to spices. That’s a given. But why would this sensitivity develop overnight?
Not long ago, I had an online conversation with an Italian lady who shared a similar experience. According to her doctor, it was caused by a hormonal imbalance. I’m not sure if hormones are the cause in my case, but I might discuss it with my doctor in the future.
I miss eating spicy food, but thankfully, it doesn’t really impact my social life. I’m fortunate to have understanding and accommodating friends and family. When someone cooks, they make sure I have something to eat, and when we eat out, I always get to choose the place.
The only thing that is a bit of a challenge is work events. At first, it was quite stressful for me as I had to keep explaining my condition to coworkers. Most people also don’t really pay attention to what you say and repeat the same questions multiple times.
To be honest, it’s quite exhausting to keep answering the same thing over and over again. Some also dismissed me as a picky eater. However, as I grew closer to my coworkers over the years, many of them have been quite supportive and accommodating.
During potluck gatherings, some of my coworkers would cook non-spicy food just for me. The rest of the dishes tend to be spicy since almost all traditional Malay cuisine is spicy.
A coworker would also taste the food for me during company events to ensure it’s “safe” for me. It’s such a sweet and thoughtful gesture!
I remember my former boss even ordered sushi just for me during a gathering! Some of my coworkers teased me about it because everyone else had the same food, while I had a special treat!
Overall, I am deeply appreciative and grateful for the supportive people around me. Despite this challenging problem, they make it so much more manageable.
Isn’t it such a blessing to have wonderful people around you? So, in a way, I’m grateful to have this issue because it shows how much I’m loved by those around me. That certainly matters more than any delicious food in the world.
I’d like to thank Liberty Forrest, Author for the prompt.
Recently, I enjoyed this great read from Darlene López about managing your expectations of other people.
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