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Elimination Diet

For people with food sensitivities that don't show up on regular allergy testing like blood work or scratch tests, but still have symptoms of body aches, unstable weight, irritable bowel, chronic candida, chronic fatigue syndrome, fybromyalgia, etc., an elimination diet might be the key to discovery.

Basically, you "eliminate" everything from your diet except "safe" foods that are commonly accepted as non-allergenic. Almost all processed foods these days carry some form of sugar, corn syrup, wheat or other gluten-containing grain, some form of dairy, tree nuts, or even egg product. So you are basically limited to eating brown rice, a particular set of vegetables and fruit, and a lot of fish and chicken. Preferably organic, because toxins from pesticides and fertilizers can also trigger reactions. Nothing should be from a box or a can.

The idea is to completely remove all these potential trigger substances, then when your body has been cleansed of them, you start the "challenge" phase - add back one type of food at a time - say, milk - and see how your body reacts. If after a few days you have no reaction, you can say you don't have a problem with that one and add back something else.

I'm currently on Day 4 of my program. There are several out there, but the basics are the same. Mine is combined with a detoxifying program as well as the essential elimination pattern. I haven't really noticed a difference yet, other than some minor weight loss. But I have purposely introduced some different vegetables into my diet that I've never tried before, just to make it interesting, and have found some that I really love. Who knew that a diet intended to eliminate foods would lead me to add new foods? And how did I go my whole life without tasting butternut squash? It's delicious! I'm looking forward to the challenge phase to see if I have something that has been a problem that I didn't know about.

Diet Elimination

I have heard about this diet. I think that if you can stick with it, you will feel a change. I am sure you will feel much better as you are not putting all that processed crap into your body. I know that this diet is very hard because there are so many things that one must give up but in the end it is all worth it.

Elimination Diet Health & Special Psychology

Today is day 8. I managed to make it through the week relatively uneventfully. I reintroduced tomatoes last night at dinner, and I almost immediately spiked a headache! That's crazy! I've always loved tomatoes, and it didn't occur to me that I might have a sensitivity to them.

From what I understand they are part of the "nightshade" family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants, as well as about 90 others, some of which are deadly like belladonna and tobacco. Apparently, they all have some toxicity for humans and other mammals.

Headache, stomach upset, and joint aches were the immediate and very noticeable effects. Wow. Guess I'll be avoiding that in future!

Tomorrow will be milk. Wish me luck!

P.S. I also lost 7.5 pounds in a week

Edited: FarSeer on 16th Jan, 2012 - 3:53am

Diet Elimination

Keep it up! If this is for your health more than just losing some baggage then you'll be able to stick with it better at least that's what works for me.

Diet Elimination

Thanks, FunMom! I'm definitely in it for the health benefits.

I've since tested milk/yogurt/cheese with no trouble, but sour cream was bad! No more of that, ever.

I tested wheat one day, and didn't notice anything other than a slight runny nose, but that may have been because it was raining and cold that day? So that made me happy that I don't have a gluten sensitivity.

And you know I had to test chocolate. Unfortunately for me, it upset my stomach and affected my sleep. Very odd. I woke the next morning feeling very ... I don't know how to describe it - just "off."

And just as a way to verify that it's bad for you, I also tested white refined sugar and corn syrup-type sugars. Those made me jittery, made my heart pound, and made me feel kind of nauseous. So sugar is out, too. And caffeine.

I'm not even sure what to test next. So much torture! I think I'll just stick to my "clean" eating for a few weeks and get some rest

Elimination Diet

Good job in succeeding with your elimination goals. Once you find out all the foods you're compatible with you should make a diet that is tasty and exciting for you so that you can stick with it. Don't ever feel like you're punishing yourself with food or you will start eating the bad stuff again. Good luck!