"If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper

What if your 'healthy' diet was secretly poisoning you?

For decades, Donna ate kale, bone broth, and fermented foods—only to discover these 'superfoods' were flooding her body with histamines and leaving her bloated like a balloon by noon.

In this episode, Donna pulls back the curtain on Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS)—the invisible illness that turned her immune system against everyday foods. She reveals how doctors misdiagnosed her chronic bloating as "just stress" for 15 years, why high-histamine "health foods" worsened her symptoms, and the shocking link between MCAS, lipedema, and chronic fatigue.

Join in to discover the 3 most surprising high-histamine foods (you’re probably eating them daily) and how Donna finally silenced her body’s false alarm system.

Connect with Donna:

Website: https://www.donnapiper.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnapiper

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lipedema_donna

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedonnapiper

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thedonnapiper

Episode Highlights:

01:55 What is MCAS?

07:28 Symptoms and Triggers of MCAS

14:59 Diagnosis and Treatment

16:01 The Link Between MCAS and Other Conditions

19:36 Practical Tips and Resources for Managing MCAS

Resources:

🔗Links

SIGHI: https://www.histaminintoleranz.ch/downloads/SIGHI-Leaflet_HistamineEliminationDiet.pdf

Leslyn Keith: https://www.leslynkeith.com/lipedema.html

Dr. Emily Iker: https://lymphedemacenter.com/

Histamine Intolerance Food List: https://a.co/d/irix6O3

X:

Ever feel “fine” on the outside but exhausted inside? Discover the truth about MCAS, bloating, and invisible illness as Donna offers practical tips for daily relief and self-advocacy.

#DearBodyImListeningPodcast #MCAS #HealthTips #SelfAdvocacy #Bloating #Histamines #ChronicSymptoms

Quotes:

00:56 "If you've ever been told it's all in your head, well, your body is not lying and neither are you." —Donna Piper

05:58 "I had definitely no idea that my mast cells were such a part of the immune system, and they were in full revolt." —Donna Piper

07:56 "Not everyone behaves the same way and reacts the same way. You have to trial and error, so I think it's exhausting." —Donna Piper

12:30 "MCAS can make you feel like you're allergic to everything." —Donna Piper

13:34 "The more your food stays out... the more histamines it has." —Donna Piper

16:47 "MCAS is not linear, and unfortunately, it doesn't come with a clear food plan." —Donna Piper

18:27 "I had put my stock in some doctors saying this is what you need to do to feel better, and I kept on feeling worse, and I never got the right diagnosis. So I'm more agitated and irritated that doctors aren't trained to look for this, and that could have saved me, like, 10s of 1000s of dollars and 10s of years of this pain." —Donna Piper

18:56 "It is not fun to have days where you don't feel like doing anything. It does take a toll, even though it's a gradual toll typically, but how you start to live your life is a lot different." —Donna Piper

19:27 "It's hard to explain to someone really what you're going through, unless they either understand you because they've gone through it, or they're a medical provider that has more knowledge about it and sees patients with it." —Donna Piper

Meet Your Host:

Donna Piper is a Relationship Coach, Trauma Expert, and Akashic Records Healer dedicated to empowering successful single women to transform their love lives and attract fulfilling partnerships without sacrificing their professional ambitions.

With a holistic approach blending therapeutic coaching, trauma-informed techniques, and Akashic Records wisdom, she guides clients to release limiting beliefs, heal emotional blocks, and cultivate unshakable self-trust. Her work focuses on aligning mind, body, and spirit to create lasting change—helping clients refine communication, deepen self-worth, and build the foundation for healthy, loving relationships.

Donna’s sessions are a safe haven for those ready to break cycles, embrace vulnerability, and design a love life that harmonizes with their thriving careers. For women committed to both personal and professional fulfillment, she offers tailored strategies to unlock their full potential and step into the relationship of their dreams.