Rotating the foods in your diet can help you control known food allergies and identify hidden allergies. A rotation diet involves following a four-day schedule in which you eat biologically related foods on only one of the four days. Rotation diets are typically used in conjunction with elimination diets that prohibit intake of the "big eight" allergens: peanut, tree nuts, eggs, soy, wheat, cow's milk, fish and shellfish.
Step 1
Develop a menu and schedule listing foods you are allowed to eat on each of the four days. Exclude any of the "big eight" allergens and any other suspected allergens from your menu. For each of the four days, you will need at least one source of protein, one fruit, one vegetable, one fat and one grain.
Step 2
Start with a simple menu to quickly identify allergies, but you can also include spices and other ingredients if desired. Do not repeat any food or ingredient when creating your menu for the other three days.
Step 3
Purchase the foods necessary for your rotation diet. Because the diet is limiting, you will need to buy various types of oils, spices and other items necessary for cooking. For example, if you normally use olive oil to sauté or brown your meats, you must purchase an alternative oil to use for at least three of the four days of your diet rotation.
Step 4
Pay careful attention to hidden ingredients in the foods and products you purchase. For example, corn is an ingredient in many foods, but you should only eat corn and corn products on one day of your diet.
Step 5
Keep track of what foods you eat, when you eat them, and any symptoms you experience. You can note this information in a standard notebook, or make a spreadsheet on your computer. This information will be useful if you have trouble linking allergic symptoms to specific foods.
Step 6
Avoid eating out during your diet as much as possible. While some foods are easily ordered plain in most restaurants, such as beef and white potatoes, it is difficult to be certain disallowed oils or other ingredients are not used during preparation or cooking of your meal.
Step 7
Gradually introduce new foods into your rotation diet if you experience no symptoms of allergies for at least six weeks. If there has been no change in your symptoms while following the diet, you can attempt to eliminate additional foods a few at a time. A lack of response to the diet may also indicate a condition other than allergies is to blame for your symptoms.
Step 8
Consult your doctor or a nutritionist before beginning a rotation diet if you suffer from any pre-existing medical condition, such as heart disease or diabetes. A nutritionist can also assist in developing a menu that provides you with the necessary amount of essential vitamins and minerals.
Tips and Warnings
- The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network estimates that one in 25 Americans suffers from one or more food allergies.
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