Symptoms of food intolerance can put pressure on relationships with both family and friends – and doing the diet can help them. Here are some reports from failsafers.

Facebook thread: What has failsafe meant for you and your family?

From tummy aches, ear infections, motor tics, sleeping issues and behavioural problems to happy and healthy boys who maintain beautiful relationships with friends and family – Jenny [1273]

Just some encouragement for those starting their journey

We found failsafe 12 years ago after a search for alternatives to ADHD drugs... our efforts truly paid off… with our daughter graduating with the highest score in her high school with some great friendships and a confidence that surprises us even today…This system saved our family and our marriage - Donna from story [1303]

ADHD success from New Zealand

We purchased your book 'Fed Up' and started to use some of your foods mentioned … we noticed a difference with our children who are ADHD … .I had felt up until a day or two into your diet we had been robbed of the normal loving caring relationship shared by mother and son … Thank you so much as it has brought our family closer – from story [017]

How learning about food intolerance changed my life

....my husband and I were constantly arguing before we changed what we ate, we had years of trouble and were seriously considering divorce. After 5 days on the program we suddenly had peace between us... both my husband and myself firmly believe that the Failsafe program actually saved our marriage - Kellie [1110]

‘every day felt like groundhog day’

… with my kids behaviour … I was a mess, at my wits’ end and barely surviving, not to mention the toll it was taking my relationship with my husband. … Basically all of the behaviours … disappeared around week 3 of the failsafe diet it was such a transformation ... we will continue to do the diet as a family because it’s honestly changed us all for the better … Danielle from story [1607]

Our marriage nearly over due to food chemicals

I hope no one has a hideous experience like this! My husband was texting me all day from work about how unhappy our marriage was, that he wants to leave and that we've had a good run and should end it now. After not telling the kids that night he was going to leave (as messaged to me that day) and a big sob alone that evening he woke the next day to say he didn't feel like that at all, thought his messages were 'weird' when he re-read them and didn't know why he said all of that. I pointed out to him that his intake of steak, shop yiros and $25 worth of beef jerky sheets in the 48hrs before Monday probably had something to do with it! He thinks so too (amines and / or nasty numbers). He usually watches what he eats but I think he was unprepared for this one! - facebook member 1.

I know I respond very badly to amines in a similar way to your husband. I get very angry and have also talked about ending our marriage during a reaction. It's like I'm possessed, now I know and understand I'm able to bite my tongue and punch a pillow or two but the fights we've had prior to realising the effects were horrid. Thankfully we've made it through - facebook member 2.

I am ashamed to say this is me on chocolate= amines. I am happy to admit this only so you know you are not alone, that my beautiful gorgeous husband suffers as you do. His way is to hear the words that are usually underneath all the rubbish… The guilt and the pain I feel when after a few days when it is all gone is unbearable so I try to stay away if we have eaten chocolate etc. I am learning to understand the difference between real issues and these amine feelings which seem so real! - facebook member 3.

Thanks all for sharing these effects. I recently had a similar experience, having had a very high salicylate meal and wine, thought I'd got away with it, but three days later hit the withdrawal symptoms and had the bloodiest row which really quite frightened me. These are dangerous chemicals! - facebook member 4 (male) [1225]

Obsessive sex drive normalises on diet

My husband is very intelligent, sensitive and kind. But for years he has had excessive sexual drive ... I won't get into all the disgusting details (because they ARE disgusting), but our marriage was really in danger … He was seriously thinking of leaving the love of his life (me) just to find someone who would be willing to have sex twice a day with him ... Out of desperation, I suggested he try the same diet our three kids were doing. What could we lose? … On day 6 of Failsafe he had the most severe "attack" ever ... After 24 hours of being in this unbearable condition, he suddenly said "I have a feeling everything will be ok"… Then on day 10 or so … he became a normal 35 year old man … and life is beautiful!!! –from story [1219] See also story [1204] on a similar theme

“Hell from eating flavour enhancer 635”

… This rash made me completely weak and debilitated, to the point where I turned down job offers and could barely even function. For a while I really did think I was going to die. My relationship suffered so much because I felt so physically unattractive, and to be honest even during sex all I could think about was the rash or the itch or both – Jennifer from story [483]

PMT

The biggest thing in my life is that my PMT has gone. I am amazed. I have had this problem for so many years. It was ruling my life and threatening my marriage … Anyway, my PMT has completely gone. I am convinced about this diet now! – from story [120]

Ginny's story 26 years on

From day one Ginny was a very unsettled baby, didn't sleep much and cried a lot … At age 2 ½ I was at the end of my tether … by this stage our marriage was starting to collapse … After 4 weeks (on diet) I had, for the first time, a normal child in the house … I wish I'd had the benefit of Sue's book 25 years ago. Diet really does work. Hang in there - it gets better and better.- Rosemary from story [100]

Sharing the positives – facebook thread

… My relationship is better thanks to minimised mental/emotional health reactions. – from Stephanie from facebook thread story [1604]

"I don't have the words to describe the difference it's made on my mental state"

The (salicylate intolerance) symptoms I experienced, mental and physical, were severe. They've left me unable to work for the past 9 years and caused the loss of many relationships ... I found your (capsaicin) trial around a month ago and started the next day ... I can feel consistent happiness for the first time in my life – Paul from story [1651]

More info

See our list of supportive, experienced dietitians - since Covid, some of the NSW dietitians who have actually worked at the RPAH clinic for many years are on our list and will do online consultations.

Introduction to food intolerance

Free failsafe booklets

    People find my books and DVD extremely helpful and dietitians say it cuts an hour off consultation time if people have read my book Fed Up

   Our free video Fed Up with Children’s Behaviour “It's a game changer. After watching the video, my husband is doing the diet with us!"

How to start failsafe eating factsheet