Living well with systemic mastocytosis (SM) means being vigilant about avoiding symptom triggers, such as foods high in histamines. When mast cells are activated, an immune response leads to symptoms that can significantly impact quality of life. Keeping a food diary will allow you to identify foods that cause symptom episodes, so you can avoid them and the negative experience of a SM symptom flare-up.
What is SM?
Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is a rare hematological disease characterized by mast cells that are overactive and accumulate in different parts of the body such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes. mastocytosis (SM) is a rare hematological disease characterized by mast cells that are overactive and accumulate in different parts of the body such as the bone marrow, liver, spleen, gastrointestinal tract and lymph nodes.
The benefits of keeping a food diary if you have SM
A dietitian will advise you on foods to avoid as part of caring for your SM, namely histamine-rich foods or histamine-releasing foods. Triggers often vary from one person to the next, which is why keeping a journal that documents your personal experiences will help in identifying which foods trigger your symptoms. An elimination diet under the guidance of your dietitian might also be an option to help identify your food triggers.
Read more about SM signs and symptoms
When you’re learning to eliminate high-risk foods from your diet, eating in the comfort of your own home may be easiest. Managing a special diet when away from home, such as at restaurants, parties, weddings, picnics or even ordering takeout, can be more complicated, as it may be harder to know all the exact ingredients that were used.
Tracking your food intake and associated symptoms will also be valuable information for your healthcare team in managing your medications.
Tips for keeping a food diary
For the best results, you’ll need to be meticulous and consistent in recording all food and drink on a daily basis — no matter how small the snack, or how busy your day gets. Recording everything will help you recognize symptom patterns sooner, and identify any foods that act as a trigger.
If you keep a digital diary, such as on your smartphone, you can take photos of menus, meals or packaging to keep a highly detailed record of your food intake.
Information to record in your food diary includes:
- Day/date
- Time of consumption
- Place of consumption
- Meal/snack portion size
- Ingredients (including herbs and spices if possible)
- Preservatives or additives (if pre-prepared)
If a symptom episode is triggered, keep track of it by noting down:
- A description of the symptom(s)
- Time of onset
- Severity of the episode (1-10)
- Duration of the episode (hours/days)
- Impact on well-being
- A suggestion of what triggered it
When a symptom episode occurs, you will be grateful for your efforts in keeping a daily record of food and drink. You can use this information to identify the trigger and adjust your diet accordingly, to avoid it next time.
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