Garlic & Onion: Discovering my Intolerances
It's not every day that people openly share how they messed up, but that's what I'm about to do. Because I’ll tell you how I realised that garlic and onions were like a Rasengan on my insides.
During my final year at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston in 2017, I lived with my roommates Jose, Myles, and Bernardo. Bernardo was often away, but Jose and Myles weren't as lucky, especially given what happened next.
Out of nowhere, I started experiencing intense burping episodes.
These weren't your typical burps; they felt like they were summoning something from another dimension. To the dismay of Jose and Myles, they were loud, deep, and relentless—so much so that I was even nicknamed Rick Sanchez whilst living there.
Despite this sudden belching surge, I didn't initially investigate the cause. The foods and drinks I consumed were familiar, and nothing in my diet had changed, so it wasn't very clear.
The real clue came after university when I moved back to South London, and the burping completely stopped. Even during a 15-month stint in Japan between 2020 and 2021, I experienced no symptoms.
However, upon relocating to Portugal, the troublesome burps returned with a vengeance.
During a trip to Evora in the south of Portugal with my now wife, after a meal, the burping was so constant that even she remarked on its absurdity. That night reminded me of Toge from Jujutsu Kaisen, but instead of doing damage with ear-piercing onigiri-related words, my burping would do harm.
Motivated by frustration, I began experimenting with my diet, which given enough time, eventually led to a breakthrough.
I identified garlic as the culprit. Whenever it was part of my meals, the burping ensued. Eliminating garlic stopped them. Further research revealed a common intolerance to onions among those who react to garlic. Testing this theory, I found the same pattern: onions triggered the same reaction.
Looking back, it all made sense. In 2017, for the first time, Myles and I often used a thick garlic paste for cooking. Its concentrated form likely catapulted my symptoms. The issues subsided in London, where my garlic usage was minimal, and onions were absent from my meals due to my dislike for them. In Japan, the cuisine doesn't include garlic, and different types of onions, like negi, didn't affect me. Returning to Portugal, where garlic and onions are staples, my symptoms flared up again.
This discovery made me realise that food intolerances can develop at any stage in life, and mine surfaced in 2017. Now, I avoid garlic and onions as much as possible. My wife groans at their absence in her cooking, but she prefers that to enduring my disruptive belches.
This story is a reminder that if you're experiencing bloating, belching, or other digestive issues, don't ignore them. Your body is signalling a problem. Pay attention and consider eliminating suspect foods from your diet.
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Speak soon,
Leo
