Food Nomad: Navigating the Emotional Journey of Autoimmune Disease with Imei Hsu (Ep 94)

Episode 94: Food Nomad — Navigating the Emotional Journey of Autoimmune Disease with Imei HsuFor many people, changing the way they eat because of autoimmune disease can feel like losing more than food. It can affect family traditions, cultural connection, travel, restaurants, and the simple feeling of belonging around a shared table.In this episode of the Autoimmune Wellness Podcast, Mickey Trescott is joined by Bernice Imei Hsu, registered nurse, licensed mental health counselor, National Board-Certified Health and Wellness Coach, and AIP Certified Coach, to explore the emotional and cultural journey of living with dietary restrictions.Five years after writing her Autoimmune Wellness article, "Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen," Imei reflects on what she has learned about healing, reintroductions, adapting traditional foods, and becoming what she calls a "Food Nomad." Together, Mickey and Imei discuss why healing isn't simply about getting foods back. It's also about finding new ways to reconnect with culture, relationships, travel, and joy.In this episode, you'll learn:What Imei means by becoming a "Food Nomad"Why dietary restrictions can affect identity, culture, and belongingWhy adapting cultural recipes can take years of experimentationHow reintroducing foods like soy helped Imei reconnect with family traditionsWhat Imei learned from experimenting with gluten-free sourdough and other foodsWhy healing and food tolerance can continue evolving long after the elimination phaseWays to navigate family gatherings when you can't eat traditional foodsHow to give yourself permission to adapt traditions instead of perfectly recreating themWhat it means to become the "keeper of the food flame"Why grief around food and cultural traditions is a normal part of the autoimmune journeyHow to hold onto hope when you're still early in elimination or reintroductionsResources:Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen – Imei's original 2021 article on Autoimmune WellnessImei Hsu on Instagram: @everydaywithimeiEpisode Timeline:00:00 – Food, identity, belonging, and autoimmune disease02:34 – Introducing Bernice Imei Hsu03:39 – What it means to be a "Food Nomad"06:17 – Revisiting "Bringing Culture Back to the Kitchen"13:21 – The long game of healing and food reintroductions18:19 – Gluten-free sourdough baking experiments25:58 – Bringing culture back into the kitchen31:48 – Food, belonging, and navigating relationships37:55 – Giving yourself permission to adapt tradition42:09 – Becoming the "keeper of the food flame"46:12 – Encouragement for anyone grieving foods or traditions48:24 – Wrap-up and where to follow Imei