An elimination diet is an eating plan designed to identify foods that might be causing an allergic reaction. Food allergies affect about 8 percent of children and 4 percent of adults in the United States, according to the Mayo Clinic website. If you suspect that you are allergic to specific foods, talk with your doctor before modifying your diet to treat any condition. An elimination diet is not adequate for diagnosing food allergies.
Background
According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, a food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakes a safe food protein as harmful and begins to defend the body by producing antibodies and histamine. Histamine is a chemical that helps keep the body free from infection, but at high levels it can cause inflammation and irritation. A food allergy can cause digestive difficulty, nasal congestion, asthma and skin rashes.
Preliminary
Before starting an elimination diet, talk to your doctor about your suspected food allergies. Many people mistake a food allergy for a food intolerance, in which the body is missing the appropriate enzymes to break down certain food proteins and sugars. The two conditions have similar symptoms, but they require different treatment. Talk to your doctor about the foods that cause you trouble and the types of symptoms you develop when you eat those foods.
Elimination
According to the website AskDrSears, the first step in planning for an elimination diet is to buy a journal and write down the foods you suspect are causing difficulty. If you don't know which foods are causing adverse reactions, remove the most common food allergens, such as wheat, soy, eggs, milk, fish and nuts. Eliminate the foods completely from your diet for one to two weeks.
Introduction
Once you eliminate all the suspected foods from your diet, introduce one each week, and keep a journal of the reactions you experience. For example, if you suspect that you're allergic to fish, avoid consuming it for about two weeks, and then add it back into your diet in small amounts. If there is no reaction, increase the amount of fish. Record the symptoms that develop, and report them to your doctor. If you develop severe symptoms, discontinue the diet and call 911.
Conclusion
Only a doctor can diagnose a food allergy. After completing the diet, discuss the results with your doctor. Your doctor might recommend that you see an allergist, who will perform various tests to confirm or rule out a food allergy.
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