Allergies occur when the immune system reacts negatively to a particular substance. Since roughly 25 percent of Americans believe they have a food allergy, but only 4 to 8 percent of children and 2 percent of adults have diagnosed food allergies, proper testing is key. Allergen elimination diets can help determine whether a person has food allergies or intolerances, or if symptoms stem from a different problem. Elimination diets should be monitored by a doctor.
Function
Allergen elimination diets aim to pinpoint a person's allergies and food sensitivities or to determine whether a person even has one of these conditions in the first place. In some cases, a doctor will suggest an elimination diet as the sole allergy test or as the first of a series. In other cases an elimination diet is used to confirm a suspected food allergy or to confirm questionable results from an allergy test.
Features
A physician, dietitian or food allergy specialist usually determines which foods or ingredients to eliminate from a person's diet, based on factors such as medical history, family history and symptoms. In some cases patients keep a food journal, either before or during the elimination diet, tracking their food and beverage intake along with notes and observations, such as when and what type of symptoms set in. If symptoms disappear once certain foods are eliminated, an allergy is likely among the restricted foods. Doctors determine if and when certain foods may be reintroduced into a person's diet. In most cases, patients reintroduce the foods one by one, to see if a particular food triggers symptoms. Once an allergen has been detected, additional testing, such as a blood test, may follow.
Common Allergens
Some of the most common food allergens include cow's milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish. Approximately 90 percent of food allergies, which are most common among children, involve these foods. Additional foods that may be eliminated during an elimination diet include gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley and rye; chocolate; corn; and preservatives and food additives. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, most people who have food allergies are allergic to one or two foods and, with the exception of peanut allergy, most children outgrow their food sensitivities by the time they reach adulthood.
Preventive Diet
Expectant mothers can take dietary steps to reduce their child's chance of developing food allergies. According to the UMMC, such efforts are not guaranteed, but they are recommended in cases in which both parents have personal or family history of allergies, including allergies to non-food items, such as dust mites or mold. To adhere to the preventive diet, the mother avoids common allergenic foods during pregnancy and while nursing. These foods include those for which the allergens can pass into breast milk, such as peanuts, tree nuts, cow's milk, eggs and wheat. Breast milk is recommended over formula, though hypoallergenic formula is acceptable.
Suggestions
Since many foods restricted during an allergen elimination diet provide valuable nutrients, consuming a variety of other healthy foods during the diet can help support a person's wellness. The UMMC suggests that people adhering to an elimination diet consume plentiful amounts of antioxidant-rich foods, such as colorful fruits and vegetables. High-fiber foods, such as wheat and gluten-free whole grains, legumes and starchy vegetables are also important. Highly processed snack foods, deep-fried foods, refined carbohydrates and red meat should be kept to a minimum. If a person struggles to eat appropriate amounts of healthy foods, a multivitamin can help support nutrient intake during the course of the diet.
