Food allergy vs. Luckily, that part is done for you. This will help you and your healthcare professional figure out which food or foods you should try to eliminate. There are different types of elimination diets. Want helpful nutrition and wellness tips, delivered straight to your inbox? Avoiding eating it and using it as an ingredient should spare you from symptoms. For elimination diet guidelines, check out this helpful handout from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. Typical to allergens like shellfish and peanuts, this allergic response causes a massive release of histamines in the body, leading to swelling of the lungs and throat. After eliminating everything that’s a potential trigger for you, begin the challenge phase of reintroducing one food group at a time. It can be very helpful to keep a food symptoms diary during this time.
Do you have a food intolerance? The answer to those nagging problems might be on your plate. Learning how to do an elimination diet may be the key to uncovering underlying food sensitivities. An elimination diet is an easy way to identify food intolerances. There are different types of elimination diets. For example, some people feel better after eliminating gluten and dairy for a few weeks, while others might follow a stricter FODMAP elimination diet to manage symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome IBS. Talk to your doctor before you try an elimination diet. In general, you want to completely avoid common foods known to cause sensitivities, then reintroduce the eliminated foods into your diet one at a time.
You can figure out what is causing your discomfort right at home! Or, if you want to go through ALL the food groups, including the common ones above, you can additionally use this list below. This may take longer, but it is more thorough. This includes milk, creams, butter, cheese, yogurts, etc. It is also good to avoid most pre-packaged and processed foods and focus on the foods from the list in step 1. If you have trouble creating a balanced meal plan, please consult a registered dietitian. Step 1 is the elimination phase. You want to eliminate all your chosen foods that you suspect might be a trigger to your symptoms. Or, include all foods from both lists and only eat foods from the list below. Step 2 is the reintroduction phase.