The Gut Disorder That Turns Healthy Food Into a Trigger

<p>In this episode of Take Back My Brain, Laurie Hammer talks with Tess Hilmo, founder of Consider This Nutrition, about her journey through Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) — a condition that made her progressively reactive to foods she&#39;d never had trouble with before, eventually forcing her to leave her teaching career. Tess unpacks what MCAS is, why it&#39;s on the rise post-COVID, and how a strict low-histamine diet, while helpful for symptom control, made her world smaller and smaller. The conversation shifts to her real turning point: the &quot;30 Plants a Week&quot; movement, a science-backed approach to rebuilding gut microbiome diversity through variety rather than restriction. Tess shares practical hacks — from multicolor produce to her homemade &quot;microbiome granola&quot; — for hitting 30 plant points a week without overhauling every meal. She also discusses the additional tools that supported her healing, including red light therapy, nicotine patch therapy, and microdosed tirzepatide, and the origin story of her low-histamine, high-fiber protein bar company, born out of a moment of frustration on an anniversary trip with her husband.</p><p>- - - - -</p><p><strong>About the Guest:</strong></p><p><strong>Tess Hilmo</strong> is the founder of Consider This Nutrition, a company creating clean, low-histamine, high-fiber protein bars for the chronic illness and MCAS community. After being diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, she turned to the science of gut microbiome diversity to expand her diet rather than restrict it, and now shares her journey to help others navigate chronic illness and food sensitivities.</p><p>- - - - -</p><p><strong>Connect with our Guest:</strong></p><p><strong>Linkedin:</strong> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-hilmo-447258290/">https://www.linkedin.com/in/tess-hilmo-447258290/</a></p><p><strong>Website:</strong> <a href="https://www.considerthisnutrition.com/">https://www.considerthisnutrition.com/</a><strong></strong></p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/considerthisnutrition/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/considerthisnutrition/?hl=en</a></p><p>- - - - - </p><p><strong>Connect with Laurie Hammer:</strong></p><p><strong>Facebook:</strong> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/laurie.hammer.7/">⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/takebackmybrain/#⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠</a> </p><p><strong>Instagram:</strong> ⁠<a href="https://www.instagram.com/takeb