My Gluten-Free Story: From Health Issues to DeGlutenista Nutrition

From Hair & Beauty to Nutrition Science

I wasn’t always in nutrition. I was far from running a gluten-free food blog. But here is my whole story. For over 30 years, I worked in the beauty industry, helping people feel pretty and confident about their looks. However, as time passed, my focus shifted inward—toward the foods we eat, how they affect us, and how true beauty begins inside our bodies.

This sparked a curiosity that became a calling. I returned to university and am now in my final year of a BSc (Hons) in Human Nutrition at the University of Chester in the UK. Soon, I’ll offer personalised nutrition consultations — focusing on gut health, food sensitivities, and restoring balance with real, joyful food.

Dani at Chester University September 2022

Who am I:

I grew up in Bulgaria and spent most of my life there, but I moved to the stunning Cheshire countryside in the UK and live with my other half. He is my helping hand and continuing supporter, always believing in me more than I believe in myself.

I’m extremely proud of my daughter, who is an artist, graduated, and lives in Germany. She and my mum in Bulgaria are the other people who continue to support me no matter what I’m doing. In fact, I count myself fortunate!

I have worked in hairdressing in the beauty industry for over 30 years. This is a highly gratifying job. Isn’t it wonderful to have this superpower to bring a smile to clients’ faces after they look in the mirror? And this is more than a reward—it is a blessing.

Over the years, I have established numerous long-standing relationships with clients and friends that have endured for decades and remain strong. I was blessed with honest loyalty and gave it to them in return.

However, at some point, I caught myself analysing my clients’ lifestyles while discussing a hair-related condition—hair loss, dandruff, or dehydrated hair. This prompted me to investigate the condition and determine its cause. Then, I realised how vital a lifestyle is, particularly regarding nutrition. This encouraged me to pursue another education and change my career path to Human Nutrition.

A Personal Health Crisis Became My Turning Point

My journey into healthy cooking wasn’t by choice at first. About ten years ago, I discovered I was intolerant to gluten and lactose. For years, I had been struggling with IBS symptoms, pain, and exhaustion. Nothing helped—until an elimination diet revealed gluten and lactose as the culprits.

It wasn’t easy at the beginning. I lost weight from stress, panicked over hidden gluten, and felt overwhelmed. But little by little, I shifted my mindset. Instead of focusing on what I couldn’t eat, I learned to celebrate what I could. Cooking, once a chore, became a passion and a source of healing.

My Food Philosophy

Even though I had a minimal range of products, my diet became much more varied than before, and surprisingly, it wasn’t difficult for me at all. ‘What will I eat?’ no longer stressed me out.

In short, my eating habits have transformed dramatically in recent years. It’s all about mindset, and now I enjoy cooking because of my restrictions. It has transformed from a chore into a continuous recipe discovery and development process.

My motto is that everything that happens to us is here to teach us something—in my case, to get rid of ultra-processed food, such as cookies and bread, and to feed my body with whole, homemade, natural food.

In addition, everything you’ll find here is focused on high-quality, organic ingredients with minimal processing. I believe healthy eating should be fun and tasty, and that’s why you’ll see a lot of delicious desserts—some of my no-bake sweets with just 5 or 6 ingredients and some made from leftovers. For over a decade, my mission has been to simplify healthy eating, making it accessible and naturally delicious.

Launching DeGlutenista Nutrition

My experience inspired me to develop DeGlutenistaNutrition, a website that helps you discover how food can be delicious and appealing despite dietary restrictions. I want to encourage and inspire you to cook various wholesome, healthy meals using natural, seasonal, and mostly local products.

Since then, I’ve been on a journey to create healthier, less processed versions of my favourite foods— I also avoid refined white sugar because it can be sneaky and harmful, and I love using natural, wholesome alternatives.

I started my blog in 2023 while studying Human at uni. Initially, it was about sharing my gluten-free recipes, but it has since become an extension of who I am today. In addition to recipes and insights into nutrition, my blog has evolved into a platform for sharing my journey to reclaim my health. I hope to inspire and connect with others still searching for a way, and share similar interests and goals in my blog.

My mission as DeGlutenista?

The name reflects my current life. Every meal recipe is ‘deglutinated’ in my way, avoiding or using gluten-free substitutions.

I am also living my best gluten-free lifestyle without restriction or shame now. I believe that food intolerances shouldn’t mean boring meals or social anxiety.

This blog is where I blend science, soul, and flavour to support people who want:
–Easy, tried-and-tested gluten-free recipes
–Naturally sweet bakes with no nasties
–Gut-friendly meals that nourish and satisfy
-A holistic, no-pressure approach to wellness
–Real talk from someone who’s walking the same path

There are no fad diets or calorie-counting here. Instead, you’ll find real food, balance, colours, flavours, aromas and joy. Because food is so much more than just fuel — it’s connection, culture, healing, and pleasure.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by labels, symptoms, or just sick of being “that person” at dinner, take a breath. You’re not alone. I’m here with recipes, laughs, and practical support that doesn’t make you feel like you need a degree in nutrition (I’m working on that bit for both of us 😉).

Today, DeGlutenista is a food blog that offers wholesome, everyday recipes, all of which are ultimately gluten-free, catering to the health-conscious and mindful eater.

And Other Interesting Facts About Me:

Reading!

I’m an avid reader. I love reading, and there is no day in my life without reading. It could be a highly scientific book, a book with science fiction or recommended from a random person online.

Any good book is welcome, I like reading them on my Kindle or old fashioned book. And I like to review books as much as I like reading others’ reviews. You can read mine in My Favourite Books.