A rotary diversified diet, or rotation diet, is often recommended for people who suffer from one or more food allergies. A rotation diet may also help prevent the development of allergies to new foods.
Effects
Dr. Yoon Nofsinger explains that about 50 percent of patients who are allergic to air inhalants also suffer from food allergies. Common symptoms of food allergy include bloating, gas, nasal congestion, runny nose, swelling of the hands and feet, hives, dizziness, plate or throat itching, headache or hyperactivity.
Considerations
If you suspect you may be allergic to certain foods, a good way to start is to keep a food diary for at least two weeks. This will enable you to list your meals and your allergy symptoms and check back to see if there is a pattern of dietary links. Foods that are eaten on a daily basis are more likely to cause an allergic reaction than those that are eaten less frequently. Foods that frequently cause allergic reactions are milk, eggs, citrus fruits, tomatoes, yeast, potatoes, chocolate, nuts, corn, wheat, beef and pork.
Significance
If you suffer from allergies, you may want to consider trying the rotary diversified diet. According to Dr. Nofsinger, it is essential for allergy sufferers to adopt a diet that will help reduce allergy symptoms and prevent the development of new sensitivities.
Features
The rotary diversified diet has a number of fixed rules. This first rule states that you should not eat the same food item more than once in four days. The second rule states that foods in the same family -- such as oranges and grapefruit -- may be eaten in the same meal but then rotated four days later. The third rule states that foods in the same family may not be eaten at different meals during the same day. Rule four states that all foods in the same family must be passed before they can be placed in the diet. Foods in the same family may be combined in a single meal but each must have been tested individually to ensure that neither causes an allergic reaction. Each ingredient used in a meal should be considered as a possible allergen.
Expert Insight
According to Taylor et al. in a 2004 study published in "Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine," the rotary diversified diet was shown to be beneficial for improving gastrointestinal disorders and environmental illnesses such as allergies, and exposure to pollutants, and unclean drinking water.
