Elimination diets are used to single out foods and food groups that might be causing digestive, and often are used for digestive disorders, such as irritable bowel syndrome or ulcerative colitis. They also might be used to determine if an individual is lactose intolerant or has other food sensitivities. It is generally recommended to follow an elimination diet under the supervision of a dietitian or other health-care professional.
Step 1
Keep a diet journal. Write down all of the foods you've eaten for at least a week. List the foods as well as any resulting symptoms that have occurred. Pay attention to specific symptoms, such as fatigue, nasal congestion, headache, muscle aches, irritability, abdominal pain, gas and bloating, all of which can indicate a food sensitivity.
Step 2
Begin the avoidance phase of the elimination diet. Avoid milk, tea, coffee, soda, eggs, bacon, sausage, lunch meat, peanuts, peas, beans, corn, citrus fruit, processed foods, sugar, chocolate, food color and dyes, according to the Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome Association of America. Check food labels carefully.
Step 3
Continue the avoidance phase for two weeks without any exceptions. Keep the food diary during the entire avoidance phase and continue to note symptoms.
Step 4
Begin the challenging phase. Reintroduce eliminated foods, one food group at a time. Eat the food group for one day and wait two days to see if any symptoms develop. Note any symptoms. After three days, introduce a new food group, but eliminate the previous food group when doing so. The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine notes that when introducing a new food group, start out with a small amount in the morning and increase portions as the day progresses.
Step 5
Continue the challenge phase until all food groups have been tested and symptoms have been noted. If a food causes an allergic reaction, such as throat swelling or a severe rash, contact a health-care professional.
Step 6
Set up a long-term meal plan. Go over the food diary with a dietitian or physician to determine which foods caused adverse reactions and which did not. Develop an eating plan that includes the foods that did not cause symptoms and eliminates those that did. Make sure this plan is one that can be followed long-term. Discuss vitamin and mineral supplementation if significant food groups must be eliminated.
Things You'll Need
- Notebook
- Pen or pencil
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