A food allergy is when the immune system attacks a food protein. The immune system triggers the release of chemicals, such as histamine, causing swelling, hives, itching or a rash. Food allergies can be severe in some people, causing difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness, according to the Food Allergy Network. People with food allergies need to follow strict avoidance of the food allergen. A rotation diet may help toeliminate the need for strict food avoidance and may be recommended for people with multiple food allergies.
Significance
People with multiple food allergies may have a difficult time managing meals. Rotating foods may be the best way to manage multiple food allergies, according to the Food-Allergy website, because it limits exposure to the potential allergen. It also allows people to identify additional food allergies and continue to eat foods that may only cause mild allergic reactions.
Diet Basics
The diet rotates foods on a four day cycle. No one food is repeated until the fifth day, according to Dr. Lieberman from the Parents of Allergic Children website. For example, if wheat is eaten on day one it cannot be eaten again until day five. In addition, one food should not be eaten more than once in a single day. The rotation diet groups foods together based on biological likeness, known as a family of foods. Each family of food contains foods with similar antigens, the chemicals responsible for the allergic reaction. For example, the grass family includes wheat, oats, barley and rye and the potato family includes potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant and peppers. Foods from the same biological family can be eaten every other day, says Dr. Lieberman.
Benefits
The rotation of foods minimizes the exposure to all food antigens and allows the immune system to repair itself, according to Dr. Lieberman. The diet is also nutritionally balanced, providing a wide variety of foods optimizing nutrient intake. The wide variety of foods also prevents boredom with meals and minimizes food cravings, explains Dr. Lieberman.
Considerations
The rotation diet can be confusing and difficult to manage, according to the Food-Allergy website, but the diet gets easier with time and practice. It can also be expensive, especially when initially starting the diet. People following the rotation diet may also have difficulty eating out due to issues with identifying food families in restaurant-prepared meals.
Expert Insight
Food allergies are less common than people might think. Twenty-five percent of people think they have food allergies, but only 6 percent of children and 2 percent of adults actually have true food allergies, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians. In addition, very few people have multiple food allergies, and usually no more than four, explains the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Member Comments