This Home Cook Turned a Weird Allergy Into a YouTube Channel
Beyond the Bite is an interview-style series that shares real stories from real people navigating life with alpha-gal syndrome. From diagnosis to daily routines, each story reveals the personal side of this often misunderstood allergy.
What do you get when you mix COVID, chronic unexplained itching, and a sudden reaction to foods that once posed no threat? For Dasie Schulz, it was the long, winding road to an alpha-gal diagnosis.
From tick bites and brain fog to food mourning, Dasie’s story is packed with frustrating detours, surprising discoveries, and one seriously determined home cook. Keep reading to see how she turned a baffling diagnosis into a platform that’s helping others find flavor (and their footing) as they learn to live with an unusual tick-borne food allergy.
The information provided on this site is based on my personal experience living with alpha-gal syndrome. I consistently cite and link to expert sources, but nothing published on this site should be perceived as medical advice. Alpha-gal sensitivities vary by person. Be sure you understand your dietary restrictions, make any needed tweaks, and work with your physician as directed.
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Meet Dasie Schulz
Sage: Before we get started, tell us a little about yourself.
Dasie: Absolutely! I live in East Tennessee with my husband and our three dogs. We used to do a lot of hiking and really enjoy being in the mountains and out in nature — though unfortunately, so do ticks.
In August 2023, I was diagnosed with alpha-gal syndrome. The transition was tough at first because I reacted to so many things. Not just mammal meat, but also dairy, glycerin, lanolin, carrageenan, and more.
Being part of Alpha-gal Facebook groups helped me realize I wasn’t alone in feeling overwhelmed. Once I found my footing, I knew I wanted to support others, especially those who are new to cooking from scratch or are navigating this on a tight budget.
That’s why I started a YouTube channel, Alpha Gal Home Cook, where I share simple, budget-friendly recipes and tips for living alpha-gal-free, whether you’re just getting started or still figuring out what’s safe. You’re not alone, and it does get easier!
Symptoms and Diagnosis
Sage: Your YouTube channel is a great resource, especially for folks who may be relatively new to cooking from scratch. When, or how, did you first realize something was wrong?
Dasie: In January 2021, I battled COVID-19. Though the acute phase passed in two weeks, I never truly felt like myself again. Brain fog, relentless fatigue, headaches, and chronic pain lingered. More puzzling, I developed severe digestive distress, constant itching, and a strange itching in my hands and feet. Despite repeated doctor visits, my alpha-gal symptoms were misattributed to sinus infections, ear infections, chronic bronchitis, and undefined viruses. Frustrated and desperate, I turned to functional medicine—a decision that finally led to answers.
Sage: And what did your functional medicine practitioner discover?
Dasie: Initial testing revealed Lyme disease, C. diff, H. pylori, and gluten intolerance. I treated the first three conditions, and since I carry the HLA-DQ8 gene and continued experiencing symptoms after eating gluten, I later adopted a strict gluten-free diet.
Sage: Did treating Lyme and adopting a gluten-free diet resolve your symptoms?
Dasie: No, unexplained reactions persisted. Whey protein, something I had consumed for years, suddenly became a trigger. Eventually, a mild anaphylactic episode led me to an allergist. After a round of skin testing came back negative, my allergist ordered one final test—for alpha-gal syndrome.
The results were positive, and suddenly everything made sense. A tick bite from a hike in 2020 and another in May 2021 likely triggered my reaction. My official diagnosis arrived in August 2023, and while my allergist was knowledgeable, many of my doctors had never heard of AGS. Thankfully, they took the time to learn, and now even treat other patients with similar symptoms. Yet, to this day, I encounter medical professionals unfamiliar with the condition, requiring me to advocate for myself constantly.
Adjusting to a New Normal
Sage: Once you had a diagnosis for your condition, how did your day-to-day life change?
Dasie: The first six to nine months were the hardest. I was terrified of triggering a reaction, especially after realizing I had airborne sensitivities. Every aspect of daily life needed adjustment—cosmetics, detergents, soaps, even toilet paper. While I could still eat poultry, fish, and seafood, I had to remain cautious about potential mammalian byproducts in food production. As relieved as I was to have a diagnosis, the transition was overwhelming.
Cooking, something I had always loved, became a daunting challenge. I assumed replacing beef and pork with chicken and turkey would be simple, but food mourning is real. One of my favorite dishes had been Caprese — tomato, mozzarella, basil, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze — but mozzarella was suddenly off-limits, and there was no satisfying substitute.
Without established alpha-gal cooking channels, I started following plant-based creators. It wasn’t a perfect fit, as many recipes relied heavily on gluten, but it helped inspire me to get back in the kitchen. I began posting my creations on Instagram—not only to catalog recipes I wanted to repeat but to help others navigating the same struggles.
Helping Other Alpha Gals Find Their Footing
Sage: What did you do to help others more easily adapt to an alpha-gal diet?
Dasie: I eventually launched a YouTube channel called Alpha Gal Home Cook, as a resource for simple, delicious, AGS-friendly meals that also happen to be gluten-free. Not everyone has access to exotic “safe” foods like vegan substitutes, emu, or ostrich, and I wanted to ensure that easy, accessible recipes existed for those on this journey.
We cook no mammal in our house, but my husband doesn’t follow a gluten-free or AGSfriendly diet, he happily eats what I cook—with the occasional addition of his own bread, cheese, or condiments—and feels healthier for it.
One of my favorite go-to meals that helped me transition away from beef-based dishes was Sweet Heat Sloppy Joes. A lot of people with alpha-gal get tired of eating chicken and turkey or struggle to find ways to make them taste more familiar. This sloppy joe recipe, made with ground turkey, is an excellent alternative. It’s hearty, flavorful, and has a bold barbecue-style sweetness with a little kick.
Sage: I’ve made your sweet heat sloppy joes, and they’re very good! I substituted ground chicken (because ground turkey tastes way too game-y to me), and leaned into the smoked paprika (yum!) and chili powder.
Dasie: I’m so glad you like them!
Sage: Are there any pantry staples, brands, or tools that make AGS life easier for you?
Dasie: I’d say that a well stocked spice cabinet is the best tool anyone can have on hand. Armed with that you can turn even the most common and ordinary foods into amazing meals. You can create any flavor profile your heart desires. Chicken, for example, can be transformed into the most amazing Greek, Italian, Mexican, or Cajun…and the list goes on and on.
Advice to the Newly Diagnosed
Sage: If someone just got diagnosed today, what would you want them to know?
Dasie: If you were diagnosed with alpha-gal today, know that it gets easier. The first months are challenging, but over time, you’ll find new favorite foods, establish safe habits, and gain confidence in advocating for yourself.
Most importantly, you’re not alone. The alpha-gal community is growing, and there are people ready to share experiences, advice, and support.
