What is an Elimination Diet?

What is an Elimination Diet? If you’re having allergies or digestive issues such as gas, bloating stomach pain, and more, it can be difficult to pinpoint the cause. That’s where elimination dieting comes in.

An elimination diet helps you determine what foods are giving you these symptoms so that you can remove them from your diet and start feeling better!

If you think you might have a food allergy, keep reading to learn what is an elimination diet and how it can help you identify your triggers so you can manage them accordingly.

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Elimination diet, empty plate on green background

What Is An Elimination Diet?

An elimination diet is a type of dietary intervention that is used to identify food intolerances. It involves removing potential allergens like gluten and dairy from your diet for some time and then slowly reintroducing them one at a time. This allows you to pinpoint which foods are causing your symptoms.

Elimination diets are generally used for people with conditions like food allergies, sensitivities, and intolerances.

It can also be used as a temporary dietary intervention to help relieve symptoms of digestive disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). However, working with a registered dietitian or healthcare provider is important to ensure you’re following the diet safely and meeting your nutritional needs.

Signs That You Need An Elimination Diet

There are a few signs that you may need an elimination diet.

One is if you experience gastrointestinal distress after eating certain foods. This can include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain.

Another sign is if you have skin reactions after eating certain foods. This can include hives, eczema, and swelling.

Finally, you may also experience headaches, fatigue, and brain fog after eating certain foods. If you suspect you have food sensitivity, you may be a great candidate for an elimination diet.

Different people can present with different signs of sensitivities to various foods. So be careful to ascertain which allergy presents how and pay attention during your elimination period to help you make the right choice.

Elimination Phase

The elimination phase is the first phase of the elimination diet. It involves removing certain foods from your diet to see if they are the ones causing you problems.

These involve foods you already know could be causing you problems or those that are commonly known to cause allergies. They may include:

Dairy and dairy products, including ice cream, sour cream, cheese, etc
Gluten-containing foods (including rye, barley, and wheat)
Fish and other seafood
Legumes (including beans, peas, green grams, lentils, soy products, and peas)
Soy
Eggs
Peanuts
Corn
Tree nuts
Plant-based alternatives to animal products. These foods often contain biogenic amines, phenylethylamine, tyramine, histamine, and octopamine, known to cause allergic reactions.
Foods containing corn syrup, refined sugar, and artificial flavor and colors.
seeds
Citrus fruits like grapefruits and oranges
Nightshade vegetables, including peppers, tomatoes, eggplants, paprika, cayenne pepper, and white potatoes
Spices like relish, mustard, and sauces
Beverages like coffee, alcohol, soda, black tea
Fats like margarine, butter, mayonnaise, hydrogenated oils, and spreads

During the elimination phase, all potential allergens are removed from your diet. This process can be difficult, requiring careful planning and attention to detail. However, it is important to stick to the plan in order to get accurate results.

You will need to avoid these foods for at least 2-4 weeks in order to see if there is a difference.

Reintroduction Phase

After the elimination phase (usually 3-4 weeks), the reintroduction phase begins. During this phase, you will slowly reintroduce potential allergens one at a time (usually between 2-3 days each). This phase may take up to 5-6 weeks.

If you experience any adverse reactions during this phase, it is likely that you are sensitive or allergic to that particular food.

Common signs to look out for include:

Hives and skin rashes
Bloating
Abdominal pain
Diarrhoea
Nausea and vomiting
Changes in bowel habits
Difficulty sleeping
Headaches and migraines
Joint pains
Difficulty sleeping
Fatigue

If you consume a potential allergen and experience any of the above symptoms, it’s a sign you could be allergic to that food and should avoid it in the future.

What To Eat On An Elimination Diet

When on an elimination diet, focus on whole foods that have not been listed as allergens.

These may include:

All fruits apart from citrus
Gluten-free grains like buckwheat and rice
Plant-based nut-free milk like unsweated rice milk and coconut milk
All vegetables apart from the nightshade family
Plant-based healthy fats like olive oil and avocado oil
Instead of soda, coffee, and other soft drinks, drink water and herbal teas
Fresh herbs and spices like black pepper, excluding paprika and cayenne pepper

Health Benefits Of An Elimination Diet

1. Heals leaky gut

Leaky gut is a condition in which the lining of the intestines becomes damaged, allowing bacteria and toxins to “leak” into the bloodstream. This can lead to inflammation and a whole host of other problems. An elimination diet is a great way to heal a leaky gut because it removes all of the foods that can irritate the gut lining. This includes things like gluten, dairy, sugar, and processed foods. After a period of time on an elimination diet, you should start to see a significant improvement in your gut health.

2. It helps you determine if you have food allergies

An elimination diet can help you determine if you have allergies. This type of diet involves avoiding all foods that contain potential allergens for a period of time. After the elimination period, you slowly reintroduce foods one at a time. If you experience any adverse reactions after eating a food, you’re likely allergic to it. Elimination diets can be difficult to stick to, but they can be very helpful in identifying food allergies.

3. Promotes weight loss

The most common foods that are eliminated on an elimination diet are dairy, gluten, sugar, and caffeine, which are common culprits for weight gain.

Eliminating these foods from your diet can help you lose weight by reducing your calorie intake and making it easier for your body to burn fat.

Besides, this diet promotes the consumption of more whole foods, fruits, and vegetables. This can help fill you up with fiber and nutrients that will help keep you feeling full and satisfied, promoting weight loss.

4. Fights inflammation

Inflammation is the body’s response to infection, injury, or irritation. It is a natural process that helps the body heal and protect itself from further damage. However, when inflammation occurs chronically, it can lead to a variety of problems, such as joint pain, heart disease, and diabetes.

An elimination diet can be a powerful tool in fighting inflammation. By eliminating certain foods from your diet, you can help reduce the amount of inflammation in your body.

Foods that are known to cause inflammation include sugar, dairy, gluten, and processed foods. By eliminating them, you can help reduce inflammation in your body and improve your overall health.

5. Gets rid of acne

An elimination diet can be an effective way to fight acne. By eliminating certain foods from your diet, you can help reduce inflammation and improve your skin’s overall health. Common foods eliminated on an elimination diet include dairy, gluten, sugar, and processed foods, all of which can cause or worsen acne.

6. Gets rid of depression

Depression is a serious mood disorder that can cause a wide range of symptoms, from feelings of sadness and hopelessness to fatigue and difficulty concentrating. While there are many different treatment options available, one that is often overlooked is an elimination diet.

This type of diet involves removing certain foods from your diet that may be triggering your depression symptoms.

For example, you might eliminate sugar, caffeine, alcohol, processed foods, and foods that contain artificial additives.

While it may take some time to figure out which foods are triggering your symptoms, an elimination diet can be a highly effective way to fight depression.

7. Promotes clarity and focus

An elimination diet can help improve mental focus and clarity. By eliminating certain foods from your diet, you can help reduce inflammation and other factors that can interfere with brain function. Eliminating processed foods, sugar, and dairy can help improve mental clarity. In addition, eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as healthy fats, can also help improve mental focus and clarity.

8. Improves energy

An elimination diet can help improve energy levels. This diet eliminates certain foods that may be causing or exacerbating fatigue. Common culprits include sugar, gluten, dairy, and soy. By eliminating these foods, you can help your body feel more energized. You may also want to add in certain nutrient-rich foods, such as leafy greens, to help boost energy levels.

9. Fights cravings

An elimination diet can be a helpful way to fight cravings. This type of diet involves eliminating certain foods from your diet that may be triggering cravings. For example, you may eliminate sugar, processed foods, or foods that contain gluten.

10. Improves the symptoms of ADHD

ADHD ((attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) is a condition that can be difficult to manage. Symptoms include hyperactivity, impulsivity, and difficulty paying attention. Many people with ADHD find that their symptoms improve when they eliminate certain foods from their diet. Common culprits include sugar, gluten, artificial additives, and food dyes.

In one study, children on an elimination diet were shown to improve their ADHD symptoms, and even if the diet may not cure ADHD, it can certainly help improve the symptoms.

However, elimination diets for children should be done under the supervision of a nutritionist or a dietitian

11. Prevents migraines

Migraines are a type of headache that can cause severe pain, nausea, and vomiting. Migraines are often preceded by a visual or sensory disturbance. Some people experience flashes of light, blind spots, or tingling in their hands or feet. Migraines can last for hours or even days.

There is no one definitive cause of migraines, but they seem to be triggered by a combination of factors, including stress, hormones, weather changes, and certain foods and drinks.

An elimination diet is an approach to migraine management that you can use to identify and avoid migraine triggers.

Common migraine triggers include certain foods, additives, and preservatives. Elimination diets can be difficult to follow, but they may help prevent migraines.

In one study, women and men with frequent migraines were put on an elimination diet. After six weeks, they reported reduced headache attacks from nine to six during the study period.

12. Improves eczema symptoms

Eczema is a skin condition that causes the skin to become red, itchy, and inflamed. It can affect people of all ages, but is most common in children. Eczema is not contagious, and there is no cure for it. However, there are treatments that can help to improve the symptoms.

There is some evidence to suggest that an elimination diet may help improve eczema. This type of diet involves avoiding certain foods that are known to trigger inflammation or other skin reactions. For people with eczema, common trigger foods include dairy, eggs, wheat, soy, and peanuts. By eliminating these foods from your diet, you may be able to improve your eczema symptoms.

Dangers Of An Elimination Diet

An elimination diet can be dangerous if not done correctly. Elimination diets involve removing certain foods from your diet in order to identify food sensitivities. If you eliminate too many foods, you could end up with an imbalanced diet that lacks essential nutrients.

This can lead to fatigue, weakness, and other health problems. It’s important to work with a registered dietitian or doctor when doing an elimination diet to ensure you’re still getting the nutrients you need.

Final Thoughts

An elimination diet is a type of diet that is used to help identify foods that may be causing allergies or other adverse reactions.

These diets typically involve removing all potential allergens from the diet for a period of time, then slowly reintroducing them one at a time to see if there is a reaction.

This type of diet can offer numerous health benefits, including fighting acne, preventing inflammation, protecting against depression, healing leaky gut, enhancing mental clarity, and fighting cravings.

That being said, this diet doesn’t go without side effects. If not done correctly, it can result in nutrient deficiencies, which can lead to another set of problems.

So it’s always good to work with qualified health personnel to ensure you follow the correct practices.

What is an Elimination Diet?