Elimination Diet - what you should know about food allergies

What you should know about food allergies and...
THE ELIMINATION DIET

The Elimination Diet is an important diagnostic TOOL for finding food allergies. In many cases today, allergic symptoms such as postnasal drip, sinus problems, frequent ear infections and allergic rhinitis may be the result of a person's allergic response to foods, just as readily as the environmental allergens.

An allergy-free diet has two important components: 1 - identify the specific food allergen(s) in the diet, and 2 - attempt to monitor and maintain minimal allergic symptoms on a day-by-day basis.

To begin the diet: Eliminate one food group at a time (usually starting with dairy).

Before starting the elimination diet be physically and psychologically prepared. It may not be easy to complete the two weeks necessary determine food sensitivities.
Follow the diet for at least two to three weeks to become symptom-free. Why? Because foods that we eat today may still be in our system one week from now, but not necessarily two weeks. Two weeks is usually sufficient time to "get out" the possible allergic food from our body. Allergies are very non specific and we are not sure if a little or a lot of a certain food can produce symptoms. Getting the food totally out of the body is the best means of detecting the allergen.
It is extremely important to remember that ingesting a slight amount of the allergic food during those two weeks can produce symptoms, so don't cheat on it saying "a little taste won't hurt," or "a little milk or cream in my coffee won't hurt." If you forget and accidentally ingest some of the food being tested, continue with the diet.
After two weeks are through, feel your body's natural response and evaluate the results. Do you FEEL a difference. (Possibly: open nostrils in the morning, less phlegm, more energy, better bowel movements, easier breathing, less wheezing)
After identifying the offending food, try eliminating it from you diet. If you cannot eliminate the food completely (like dairy) then introduce the allergic food slowly back into the diet (a little bit at a time). See how your body responds. Perhaps a little of the food (i.e. Yogurt, butter, or skim milk on cereal) may be all right, but a huge amount of the allergen (i.e. pizza, ice cream, and excessive cheese and milk intake) will once again produce the symptoms that occurred before the test was successfully completed.
If there is NO DIFFERENCE after the first food is tested, NO alleviation of symptoms...continue with the next food on the allergy list or one that you feel is more common in your diet. Then do the same steps 1 through 6.
Create a food diary. Try to write down everything eaten throughout the day. Also, use the diary to record the appearance of symptoms and the time(s) they occur. If one food group does not alleviate symptoms, food choices from the diary may help you choose another group to eliminate next.

In conclusion, YOUR body will TALK to you. It will respond negatively to allergic foods and positively to the elimination of those foods. Listen to your body and control your dietary habits for a healthier, happier, more symptom-free life. Quite possibly the oral and/or inhalant medications that you are using for allergic symptoms will be needed less. This is an admirable goal, but definitely see your doctor before reducing dosage or eliminating prescribed drugs.

The most common food allergens
in order of frequency and commonality

Cow's milk and dairy products (including cheese, ice cream, yogurt, butter, sour cream)
Wheat and wheat gluten (including breads, crackers, cereals, wheat pastas)
Eggs (mainly yolks, not egg whites)
Nuts (including peanuts, cashews, sunflower seeds, walnuts, mixed nuts)
Sugar (both sugarcane and beet sugar)
Sulfites
Shellfish and other seafood
Citrus fruits (especially oranges, grapefruits, strawberries)
Coloring agents (soft drinks and cola, mayonnaise, puddings, candies)
Chocolate
Tomatoes (rarely lentils and peas)