In this engaging discussion, Abigail Keel, an audio producer and reporter, shares her personal journey through a baffling medical mystery involving debilitating vertigo and a strict low-sodium diet. She reflects on the unexpected challenges such a dietary change brought to her relationship with food and mental health. Abigail’s story highlights the importance of balance in nutrition, emphasizing the joy of eating and the emotional struggles tied to dietary restrictions, ultimately leading her to seek a more enjoyable approach to food.
Abigail Keel's journey highlights how a strict medical diet can drastically alter one's relationship with food and mental health.
The importance of balance over strict dietary limitations is emphasized through Abigail's transformative experience in embracing food enjoyment again.
Deep dives
The Journey of Culinary Exploration
Abigail Keel describes her transformation from a picky eater to a culinary enthusiast. Growing up with strict food preferences, she was initially limited to foods like buttered noodles and hot dogs. However, a pivotal experience at a Mexican restaurant during high school introduced her to flavors such as guacamole, awakening her love for diverse foods. This gradual evolution culminated in her embracing cooking, hosting dinner parties, and discovering the joy that food could bring.
Confronting Vertigo: A Life Disrupted
Abigail's life took an unexpected turn when she began experiencing episodes of vertigo, characterized by severe dizziness and a feeling of imbalance. These episodes were so intense that they disrupted her daily activities, including work and social events. Recognizing a pattern, she connected her symptoms to potential inner ear issues, prompting her to seek medical help. After consulting with specialists and undergoing numerous tests, Abigail was diagnosed with Meniere's disease, a chronic condition affecting balance and hearing.
Navigating Dietary Restrictions
In an effort to manage her condition, Abigail's doctor recommended a low-sodium diet, specifically limiting her salt intake to 1,500 milligrams per day. Initially confident in her nutritional knowledge, Abigail soon found herself overwhelmed as she began monitoring her sodium levels meticulously. This new approach gradually overshadowed her love of food, transforming meals into a source of anxiety rather than enjoyment. As she struggled to control her sodium consumption, the pressure of maintaining this diet began to impact her mental health significantly.
Finding Balance and Acceptance
After months of strict dietary control with little improvement in her symptoms, Abigail sought guidance from a dietitian who encouraged a more balanced approach. Instead of fixating on sodium limits, she was advised to avoid excess salt while still enjoying food without the constant pressure of tracking every milligram. With this newfound perspective, Abigail traveled to Copenhagen, where she allowed herself to indulge in local cuisine without the anxiety of her dietary restrictions. Ultimately, the realization that enjoying food plays a crucial role in her life led her to a healthier mindset, focusing more on balance than perfection.
A couple years ago, Abigail Keel started having debilitating attacks of vertigo. Once she got a diagnosis, the treatment seemed simple enough: reduce your salt intake to 1500 milligrams per day. But that change upended Abigail’s life in ways she never expected, altering her relationship with food, and leading her to question the way we think about medical diets in the first place. After all that, would the treatment at least help her vertigo?
The Sporkful production team includes Dan Pashman, Emma Morgenstern, Nora Ritchie, Jared O'Connell, and Giulia Leo, with production this week by Abigail Keel. Publishing by Shantel Holder and transcription by Emily Nguyen.
Right now, Sporkful listeners can get three months free of the SiriusXM app by going to siriusxm.com/sporkful. Get all your favorite podcasts, more than 200 ad-free music channels curated by genre and era, and live sports coverage with the SiriusXM app.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode