10/26/2001 Entry: "The Stinking Thorns?"

This saddens me to admit, but I guess I'll have to face the truth sometime: I'm beginning to suspect that I'm allergic to garlic. I'll spare you the detail, but let's just say I notice certain unpleasant effects about an hour after meals that contain it (like that delicious Creamy Garlic dressing I had on last night's salad.) My mother and sister can't eat anything with garlic in it, and I'm pretty sure my sister didn't notice anything untoward until she was around my age. But I don't know for sure. I'm going to have to either see an allergist for tests or (more likely) try experiment on my own.

Garlic is served in practically everything. It's especially hard to avoid in vegetarian food, since a lot of that 'health-nut' no-salt low-fat prepared food is spiced with onion and garlic. I know that red peppers (roasted or raw) leave me burping for hours, but I never liked those that much. However I actually enjoy the flavor of garlic a lot. I'm just not sure that it likes me. Sigh.

Replies: 7 comments

Oh man, this really sucks. I like garlic a lot, too. Not to mention it's pretty good for you, with lots of antioxidants and whatnot.

Are you, by any chance, also developing an aversion to sunlight? How about your teeth ... are any of them getting really sharp? Do you have any bite marks on your neck?

(Hmmm, maybe I shouldn't be reading Anne Rice's new book, especially during Halloween week.)

Posted by Ron @ 10/27/2001 08:45 PM PST

ron! you shouldn't be reading that book for the simple reason that is pure pulpy pap with no redeeming value. i think, in fact, her books can actually suck some of your brain out. i am now going to go back to reading this latest "harry potter." now that's literature. ;-) hee hee hee hee.

Posted by pj @ 10/28/2001 01:46 AM PST

oh man, I thought i was the only one with an allergy to garlic. I'm not as sensitive as you sound but if I get a couple of cloves in me, I shake and ache and sweat, like I've got the flu. Yep, it feels just like the flu. I've pretty much kept this to myself since I'm much more vocal about my allergic reactions to the sun. "Uh, can I have that seat in the shade? I'll can't take too much sun."

Hey, wait. Allergic to garlic and sun? Now that is queer.

Posted by aaron @ 10/28/2001 08:04 AM PST

Speaking as his roommate / chef, I cannot begin to tell you how crushed I am. It was bad enough having to omit meat from everything. But leaving out garlic! It's just horrible, I tell you, horrible!

Posted by David @ 10/28/2001 10:20 AM PST

I hadn't even thought about the Vampiric angle, Ron. I've always had that aversion to sunlight; Aaron, we'll scoot over and split the shade for you.

And indeed, for such a vampiric household, we sure cook with a lot of garlic. Wait, you're my chef? What happened to the butler, maid and housekeeper, then? :-)

Posted by Casey @ 10/28/2001 03:29 PM PST

Ummm, that would be me, me and me... of course.

Posted by David @ 10/28/2001 04:39 PM PST

Can't...breathe...laughing...too..hard... ("Magenta: A Domestic. A domestic what?")

Posted by Casey @ 10/29/2001 10:34 AM PST