The Temptation of Takeaways
Let’s be honest some days, even the thought of boiling pasta feels like a triathlon. When fatigue hits hard or brain fog turns meal planning into a cryptic crossword, the siren call of a takeaway can feel like salvation. A friendly delivery driver at the door, hot food you didn’t have to chop, and not a single dirty pan in sight bliss.
But while a takeaway might feel like an act of self-care, it can also be a hidden troublemaker for those living with chronic conditions like Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS), dysautonomia, or post-COVID fatigue.
And we Brits really love a takeaway. According to a 2024 survey by MoneySuperMarket, the average person in the UK will spend about £51,000 on takeaways over their lifetime roughly £60 a month, or around £23 per person per week if you live in foodie hotspots like London or Glasgow. Friday night remains the nation’s favourite for ordering in (unsurprisingly), though over half of adults say they can no longer afford takeaways as often as they’d like.
Still, when your energy’s running on fumes, convenience can be priceless. The question is: how do you keep the comfort without the consequences?
When Chronic Illness Meets a Curry Menu
For those managing conditions like MCAS, Long Covid, or chronic fatigue syndrome, food choices can make or break a day. MCAS, for example, involves the overactivation of mast cells immune cells that release histamine and other chemicals at the wrong time, triggering everything from headaches and bloating to heart palpitations and crushing fatigue.
Now, imagine that happening because you ate a prawn curry that was sitting in a warm kitchen for an hour before delivery.
Common culprits that can trigger MCAS or similar sensitivities include:
- Aged or fermented foods (cheese, soy sauce, cured meats)
- Certain drinks (alcohol, energy drinks, even some teas)
- Additives and preservatives (like MSG, artificial flavourings, sulphites)
For people with dysautonomia or Long Covid, there’s also the issue of blood pressure regulation and gut motility. Greasy, salty, or sugary takeaways can worsen symptoms like dizziness, bloating, or fatigue. A 2023 study in Nutrientseven linked processed food intake to worsened post-viral inflammation and autonomic dysfunction not ideal when you’re already running on limited spoons.
The Takeaway Tango: Balancing Pleasure and Prudence
It’s not all doom and gloom no one’s suggesting you have to live on steamed courgettes and rice crackers forever. Takeaways can still be part of a balanced, chronic-illness-friendly life.
Let’s look at both sides:
The Perks:
- Convenience: Saves you from standing in the kitchen when your body’s screaming “nope.”
- Choice: From sushi to souvlaki, there’s something for everyone.
- Mood Boost: A treat can genuinely lift morale and sometimes, that’s therapy in itself.
The Pitfalls:
- Mystery Ingredients: Menus rarely tell you what oil was used or if sauces contain preservatives.
- Histamine Havoc: The longer food sits before delivery, the higher the histamine levels.
- Nutrient Drop: Takeaways are often low in fibre and antioxidants — two things your immune system actually needs for repair.
- Expensive
Think of it like a dance: you can enjoy it, but you’ve got to know the rhythm.
Smart Strategies for Safer Takeaway Choices
Here’s how to enjoy takeaways without sabotaging your health (or your gut):
- Call Ahead and Ask Questions: Most restaurants will happily tweak dishes if you explain that you have sensitivities.
- Choose Fresh Over Fried: Freshly grilled or steamed dishes are easier to digest and lower in histamine.
- Keep It Simple: The fewer sauces and mystery seasonings, the better.
- Avoid Aged Ingredients: Skip cheese, soy, or cured meats they’re histamine bombs.
- Mind the Timing: Eat freshly cooked meals as soon as they arrive. Avoid reheating tomorrow’s leftovers if histamine is a problem.
- Stay Hydrated: Water helps your body flush out any unwanted irritants.
- Record What Works: Keep a small “food and symptom” log it’ll save you future trial and error.
The Data Behind Food and Fatigue
In a 2022 study published in Frontiers in Nutrition, researchers found that ultra-processed foods the kind often used in takeaways were linked to higher levels of inflammation markers and lower energy availability. This doesn’t mean you can never have chips again, but it’s a gentle reminder that your body is already working overtime; food should help, not hinder.
Meanwhile, studies on low-histamine diets show promising improvements in fatigue, brain fog, and skin symptoms in people with MCAS or post-viral syndromes though more research is needed.
Science aside, anyone who’s experienced a “takeaway hangover” (that sluggish, puffy feeling the next day) knows it’s real.
The Bottom Line
Takeaways can be both a comfort and a curse when you live with chronic illness. They offer relief on bad days but can also worsen symptoms if you’re not careful about ingredients or freshness.
The key isn’t deprivation it’s awareness. If you plan ahead, communicate clearly, and treat takeaways as an occasional pleasure rather than a daily habit, you can still enjoy your food and protect your health.
And remember: if your symptoms seem to flare after eating certain foods, or you suspect MCAS, talk to your GP or a registered dietitian. They can help rule out other causes, run relevant tests, and create a plan that works for your body (and your budget).
So yes you can still enjoy your Friday night curry. Just maybe skip the cheese naan and mystery dipping sauce this time.
⚠️ Disclaimer
This article is for information only and does not constitute medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional before changing your diet or treatment plan, particularly if you have conditions like MCAS, dysautonomia, or Long Covid.
Long Covid Journey 