Elimination Diet

[Hiawatha]

I recently had an endoscopy that showed about 100 hpf. I've been on a gluten/dairy free diet for years that vastly improved my symptoms but on occasion, I would still feel some tightness in my throat.

One thing that seems to bring on more symptoms is environmental allergies. I often experience worse symptoms in allergy season (even though I'm currently receiving allergy shots).

What I am inclined to do is pursue an elimination diet to see if I can identify another food that's causing reactivity. I'm wondering if it is possible to eliminate two foods prior to a repeat endoscopy. If there's improvement, I know I'd still have to add one of these foods back to identify the cause (or to see if it is both of them). I'd like to minimize the number of endoscopies of course but I don't know if that's possible. I'm already gluten and dairy free and I don't foresee adding either of these back to my diet.

I also have an appointment with a functional medicine doctor (MD) to assess gut biome, deficiencies, etc., that may also be adding to my allergic sensitivity.

[Hiawatha]

I realize this topic may not fit this forum since I'm writing about Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE). Please feel free to delete this post if it doesn't fit here. EoE requires a repeat endoscopy to assess allergic response (eosinophil count). I am non-Celiac Gluten Sensitive and sensitive to dairy.

[Scott Adams]

I don't know much about Eosinophilic Esophagitis, but shortly after my celiac disease diagnosis I kept a food diary on an Excel spreadsheet (you could use Google Sheets) to track what I ate, and what my reactions were, if any. This allowed me to identify foods that caused me IBS-like symptoms, and in my case I had to eliminate chicken eggs, dairy, tomatoes, and corn, at least for a while (I was able to add them back to my diet after being gluten-free a few years, once my villi healed).

To begin an elimination diet, it makes sense to start with the top most common food allergens, as identified by regulatory agencies like the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and health organizations like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and eliminate them one at a time for 2-3 weeks, then add the item back and record any symptoms or issues you might have. It might make sense to start this process in this order:

1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Peanuts
4. Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
5. Soy
6. Fish
7. Shellfish (such as shrimp, crab, lobster)
8. Sesame seeds
9. Mustard

 

[CatherineWang]

Since you're already gluten and dairy-free, you may want to focus on eliminating other common allergens or trigger foods, such as soy, eggs, nuts, or certain grains. Your healthcare provider can help you determine which foods to eliminate based on your symptoms and potential sensitivities. Keep a detailed journal of your symptoms, including any changes you notice during the elimination phase. This will help you track your progress and identify patterns related to specific foods or environmental factors.
After a period of elimination, gradually reintroduce one food at a time, observing how your body reacts. Note any symptoms that occur and compare them to your baseline. This process will help you identify which foods may be triggering your symptoms.

[Teresaburris1963]

  On 3/5/2024 at 7:30 PM, Scott Adams said:

I don't know much about Eosinophilic Esophagitis, but shortly after my celiac disease diagnosis I kept a food diary on an Excel spreadsheet (you could use Google Sheets) to track what I ate, and what my reactions were, if any. This allowed me to identify foods that caused me IBS-like symptoms, and in my case I had to eliminate chicken eggs, dairy, tomatoes, and corn, at least for a while (I was able to add them back to my diet after being gluten-free a few years, once my villi healed).

To begin an elimination diet, it makes sense to start with the top most common food allergens, as identified by regulatory agencies like the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and health organizations like the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and eliminate them one at a time for 2-3 weeks, then add the item back and record any symptoms or issues you might have. It might make sense to start this process in this order:

1. Milk
2. Eggs
3. Peanuts
4. Tree nuts (such as almonds, cashews, walnuts)
5. Soy
6. Fish
7. Shellfish (such as shrimp, crab, lobster)
8. Sesame seeds
9. Mustard

 

Expand Quote  

I am trying to find what makes me hive and rash up. It is about to drive me insane. I am trying to lose wt also. I am eating quite of bit of eggs and milk and i also eat nuts so i am going to do ur list to see if it helps . Ill try anything at this point.  I am so tired from not sleeping bc of the itching i have to sleep with ice paks on my arms. So thank u for this list. 

[Scott Adams]

If you have DH you will likely also want to avoid iodine, which is common in seafoods and dairy products, as it can exacerbate symptoms in some people. This article may also be helpful: