Eating Clean Didn’t Start as a Trend—It Started as Survival
There’s a version of “healthy eating” that social media loves to sell us.
Pretty glass containers.
Green smoothies.
Matching activewear.
The perfect wellness routine.
And then there’s the version nobody really talks about…
The version where eating clean doesn’t start because you want abs.
It starts because your body is begging you to listen.
For the past year and a half, I’ve been navigating a world that suddenly became… complicated. What started as “something doesn’t feel right” quickly turned into specialist appointments, emergency rooms being frequented, doctors visits so regular you would think I worked there, ingredient labels, inhalers, flare-ups, and trying to understand why my own body seemed determined to fight me.
And when I say allergies… I don’t mean “dairy doesn’t agree with me.”
I mean severe allergies to:
Dairy. Gluten. Mould (cheese).
Yeast. Fungus (mushrooms). Pollen.
Dust. Colourants. Flavourants.
Reading labels is no longer a habit.
It’s survival.
Surviving the Real World With Allergies
People often say:
“Just take an antihistamine.”
“Surely one bite won’t hurt.”
I wish it were that simple. What people don’t see is the aftermath:
The inflammation.
The fatigue.
The brain fog.
The tight chest.
The recovery.
And when you add Asthma into the mix…
It stops being inconvenient. It becomes dangerous.
Living with allergies means thinking ahead—family functions, restaurants, school events, travel, business meetings—because food is everywhere.
And in a South African Indian home, where food is love, tradition, and connection…
Saying “No thank you” can feel heavier than most people realise.
February
February was my turning point.
And honestly… It started with cheesecake.
One piece. Just delicious piece.
I told myself smugly: "Surely one piece can’t hurt that much - I will pop an antihistamine and it will be so worth it"
Let me tell you…
It was not worth it.
That one piece didn’t cost me one uncomfortable evening. It cost me most of February and a large part of March.
While everyone else moved on with life…
I was trying to breathe.
Trying to reduce inflammation.
Trying to parent.
Trying to run a business.
Trying to simply function.
That was my enough is enough moment.
I decided to rebuild.
To eat cleaner.
To get stronger.
To reduce inflammation.
To support my lungs.
To fuel my body instead of fighting it.
To make health intentional.
What Eating Clean Looks Like For Me Now
These days, my focus looks different:
• High-protein meals
• Whole, fresh foods
• My own veggie garden
• Weekend meal prep
• Baking breads and treats that are safe for me
• Reading every label
• Saying no without guilt
• Choosing strength over indulgence
Because after months of feeling like my body was working against me…
I’m finally learning how to work with it.
May: Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month
It feels fitting to share this in May—Asthma & Allergy Awareness Month.
Because for some people, allergies are seasonal.
For others—people like me—they shape every meal, every outing, every celebration, every decision.
When asthma and allergies exist together, it’s not just about discomfort.
It’s about breathing.
It’s about energy.
It’s about quality of life.
And sometimes…It’s about survival.
So if your body has been whispering…
Please listen before it starts screaming.
Sometimes health doesn’t begin with motivation.
Sometimes…
It begins with cheesecake.
Love & Light
Suvarna Gangai
Founder | The Desi Closet SA
A photo of me feeling my healthiest after years with Vaishali at her schools mother's day celebrations!
1 comment
This really resonates with me. After months of every test you can think of and excruciating pain, I did my own research and figured out on my own, that my 2 favorite foods ( spinach and almonds) were the cause of my stomach issues. My endoscopy picked up a hiatus hernia, but even the surgeon couldn’t explain the severe inflammation along my entire gut. I couldn’t take the pain anymore and decided to do my own research, which lead me to understand that high oxalate foods ( spinach and almonds) did not agree with me, these foods look like millions of needles under a microscope, and this was the cause of my gut inflammation. I did a complete reset of what I put into my body, and I have been pain free for a few months now. I no longer care about saying no to people when they try to convince me to eat things that I know I shouldn’t. I dont try to explain my food choices to anyone either. My body is my temple and I nurture it. All the best to you and congratulations for making the decision to put yourself first.