Elimination diet

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How the diet works

The diet usually requires that many foods are eliminated except for the most basic and most non-allergenic foods. This gives the body a break as potential irritation caused from food allergies are eliminated and inflammation in the body decreases. After a few weeks (or longer) on this rigid diet, additional foods/food groups are slowly added back in. Most elimination diets require that one food type is added back at a time. After the food is included in the diet for a few weeks without reaction, another food group can be added. However, if a person finds a reaction to a food that was just added back into the diet, they have found their culprit. At that point, the person can either choose to eliminate that food from the diet or they can try to refrain from eating it for a long period of time, until the body no longer has a reaction to it. However, if there is a reaction to a food once it is introduced back into the diet, it does not mean that the learning from the elimination diet is finished. It is common to have more than one food allergy. So continuing with the diet might still be beneficial.

Foods on the Elimination diet

There are many different types of elimination diets. Most require that commonly offensive food groups are immediately eliminated. The common offenders include:

• grains- corn, wheat, rye, oats, barley (rice is usually ok, but if believed to be a suspect, eliminate that as well)
• dairy
• sugars
• alcohol
• foods containing yeast
• processed foods
• certain meats and seafoods
• coffee/teas

It is important to work with a nutritionist, allergist or a medical professional who will help guide you through this diet. An experienced professional who has done this before will also know what symptoms to look for that indicate signs of intolerance to or acceptance of a certain food group.