Is Sunny Anderson Sick: How Chef Sunny Anderson Treats Ulcerative Colitis. She’s always loved food. That is until she was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. A job as a celebrity chef may not be the first choice for someone with ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel illness that causes Stomach pain and diarrhea. With UC as an adult, she was determined not to let her chronic illness get in the way of her dreams.
But Sunny Anderson, co-host of The Kitchen on Food Network, has always loved food, cooking, traveling, and trying dishes from around the world. And she hasn’t. From catering to presenting series like Cooking for Real and Home Made in America on Food Network, Living with UC and working in the food industry have been made easier by Sunny Anderson’s knowing how different foods affect her body. In the mid-1990s, little was known about the causes and treatment of inflammatory bowel disease. Working closely with her doctor, Anderson was able to identify items that exacerbated her symptoms and modify her cooking and eating habits to help manage them.
Her shame delayed her UC diagnosis
Anderson was 19 and living with her family in South Korea when she developed ulcerative colitis. She kept her digestive issues hidden from everyone at first, even her parents, despite severe abdominal pain and blood in her stool. “I first believed it was the time of the month or spicy food,” she says. Her parents were both in the military and the family had recently relocated to Asia, so she suspected relocation stress. “I realized something was awry when my symptoms lasted a week,” Anderson adds. But she suffered in quiet for a month before telling her doctor’s father about her problems. He recommended a gastroenterologist.
How a Star Chef Manages Ulcerative Colitis
A series of tests revealed that Anderson’s digestive issues weren’t caused by stress, her period, or anything she ate. It was ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel illness that produces abdominal pain, frequent bowel movements, and bloody or pus-filled diarrhea. Anderson was terrified when she first found out she had UC, thinking she would have to give up her passions for food, cooking, and travel. To avoid this, she devoted herself to learning everything she could about the sickness and how to treat it.
Symptoms of ulcerative colitis come and go, with flare-ups in between. The colon and rectum become inflamed during a flare-up. Anderson claims the illness impairs focus on food. “With UC, food is often the last thing on your mind, especially during a flare,” she says. “While the food did not cause or heal my IBD, I have learned which foods aggravate my symptoms.” Anderson discovered various raw fruits and vegetables that cause UC flares. She avoids leafy vegetables, corn, skinned fruits, and even red and green bell peppers since the skins hurt her. She can’t eat a big salad since her body doesn’t digest it.
In her Clarkson Potter books Sunny’s Kitchen: Easy Food for Real Life, Anderson says that her UC explains why she only has four vegetable recipes – everything else is meat and potatoes, her favorite meals. Anderson tries to change her diet when she isn’t flaring to avoid vitamin malabsorption. “I eat meals I enjoy as soon as I feel I’m over a flare-up,” she explains. Anderson has always had a tight relationship with her doctor and has been on medication. But she is feeling better now. “I’ve been in remission for several years and hope I never have to go back,” she says. “I usually say that everyone’s UC experience is unique.”
Managing Ulcerative Colitis Stress
A hectic work plus a chronic illness might be overwhelming, but Anderson has learned to adapt. “I am content. ”It’s over in five minutes,” she says. “I don’t know how I’d get anything done if I was annoyed.” She keeps up with the news to keep her worries and daily problems in perspective. “Looking outside your life will reveal that your problems could be worse,” she argues. “That, alone, makes me a truly stress-free person. Yes, briefly irritated, but stressed? Nah.” Anderson stresses rest and work-life balance. “I was raised to value life overwork. “I love my job, but I need sleep,” she explains.
5 Ways to Deal with Chronic Anxiety in Ulcerative Colitis
The Value of Discussing IBD: Anderson advises everyone newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis to educate themselves on the ailment. “I’d suggest following your doctor’s advice, getting your ulcerative colitis under control, and learning everything you can about your disease,” she advises. She also advises newly diagnosed patients to get over their disease’s humiliation. “I constantly ask where the bathroom is,” she says. In a line, I will tell someone I have UC if I need to use the restroom. Never forget that not all disabilities are visible.”
To improve awareness of ulcerative colitis, Anderson feels “We need to talk about UC because we are hidden,” she continues. “Many haven’t heard of it. Or they know someone with it but don’t know why. The more we discuss it, the more chance we have to educate. Also, people who have the symptoms but are unaware should consult a doctor to acquire a proper diagnosis and learn how to better manage their condition.”
Sunny Anderson Says She Never Makes
Cooking can be difficult, but Sunny Anderson has shown us that with the right recipe and attitude, everything is possible! Anderson began her career in 2007 on the food gadget show Gotta Get It, but since then she has demonstrated to home cooks throughout the country that we can overcome any culinary challenge (via Food Network). While Anderson has inspired us through series like The Kitchen, she also has preferences when it comes to what she cooks.
Sunny Anderson’s Untold Story
Sunny was an aviator: As a young child, Sunny was described as an “Army brat” who cooked for her parents (although sporadically, according to Amo Mama) on the website Together We Served. Sunny entered the Air Force in 1993, but instead of flying, she chose to transmit on the radio from Seoul, South Korea, to San Antonio, Texas.
She saw the globe:
Sunny’s parents were in the army and they moved frequently. Sunny’s parents, according to BSTV Entertainment, were quite supportive when she wanted to try local cuisines, which explains her passion for food. Having so many alternatives, especially when you have a strong palate, must have been inspiring.
She’s an innovator (besides recipes):
Sunny is known for her comfort food staples, so it’s no wonder she used her inventiveness to assist folks out on Superbowl Sunday, a day that undoubtedly leads to the biggest junk food intake of the year. Sunny’s innovation, the Infladium, is a cooler that inflates to look like a football stadium but is actually made to house your favorite Superbowl/Football goodies. It was only sold in the US (by Party City) in 2018.
She has rescued cats and a dog
It’s not surprising that someone who grew up in a military family would be unselfish enough to save other living beings, like animals. Among other things, PopSugar noted Sunny’s adoption of four rescue cats named “Cheddar Cheese, Truffle Tycoon, Milky Mouth, and Sea Salt.” Since their story went viral, Cheddar appears to have died, prompting Sunny to adopt another rescue dog, Ella Edam, whom she described on Instagram.
