What is the Elimination Diet
The Elimination Diet is a diagnostic eating plan, during which foods are excluded, then added back in intervals of time. It is designed to identify foods that cause adverse effects, such as food allergies and food intolerances. Food allergies are caused by severe immune system reactions that cause a range of symptoms. They can be serious and even life-threatening. Food intolerances, on the other hand, may appear a few days after exposure, their symptoms are usually less serious and limited to digestive or skin problems, mood dysregulation, and headaches. Here is how to do the Elimination Diet: For three weeks, exclude all foods that contain these allergens:
Foods to eat:
After 3 weeks of complete elimination, start adding each item from the list in 2-day intervals, in that order. Journal each day and note the way your body feels. Note psychological and mood changes too. You will be amazed with how much this exercise may reveal to you. As a general rule of thumb, eliminate or greatly reduce:
The Takeaway The Elimination Diet is not a perfect diagnostic tool. Nothing is in the realm of allergies and sensitivities. The blood tests miss all foods that haven’t been consumed recently. They have to detect antibodies, so if none are present at the moment, none will be detected. That doesn’t mean, however, that an allergy is not present given the exposure. The IgG blood test measures immune response to help provide guidance on what types of foods should be monitored the most during an elimination diet. DNA allergy tests test for predispositions, not what is, and the skin tests are too limited and disregard sensitivities. Skin tests are best for diagnosing allergies to airborne irritants, such as pollen, pet dander and dust mites. The Elimination Diet is recommended as an essential tool, in conjunction with any allergy or sensitivity test. |
About the Author
Evelina Sodt, PhD is a nationally registered provider of health education services. She is a practitioner, a consultant, and the author of over a dozen books, including Healing Pain, Anxiety, and Inflammation Without Drugs: The Science Behind Natural Medicine. Dr. Ev practices virtually via remote education. She lives in Northern NJ with her husband, daughter, and a cat named Kingston. To schedule, reach out to this email address. Legal Disclaimer: The statements on these pages are not evaluated by the FDA and are for informational purposes only. Nothing on this page intends to treat, diagnose or prevent disease. If you suspect that you have a disease or a condition of any type, please see your primary care physician without delay. Consult your physician before taking supplements or changing your diet. |