Elimination Diet... How?

[jayhawkmom]

When I was in my early 20's - I had allergy testing done. I was put on an elimination diet to rule out food intolerances. I was given a very specific list of foods I could eat. The list was very short, and included rice krispies (which I would not eat now!), nondairy creamer, grape juice, italian bread, a certain brand of potato chips, and handful of other things.... none of which seemed very healthy.

How does one successfully go about a *healthful* elimination diet?? I do not seem to have any food allergies (at least, according to RAST testing), but I do have numerous environmental offenders. I'm gluten-free now...and I'm still getting sick, constantly.

Would an elimination diet be a good place to start? My fear is I'll keep all the "wrong" foods and eliminate the good stuff, and never get anywhere in my search for better health. How do you know what stays, what goes, and for how long???

Can anyone help???

[dlp252]

When I was in my early 20's - I had allergy testing done. I was put on an elimination diet to rule out food intolerances. I was given a very specific list of foods I could eat. The list was very short, and included rice krispies (which I would not eat now!), nondairy creamer, grape juice, italian bread, a certain brand of potato chips, and handful of other things.... none of which seemed very healthy.

How does one successfully go about a *healthful* elimination diet?? I do not seem to have any food allergies (at least, according to RAST testing), but I do have numerous environmental offenders. I'm gluten-free now...and I'm still getting sick, constantly.

Would an elimination diet be a good place to start? My fear is I'll keep all the "wrong" foods and eliminate the good stuff, and never get anywhere in my search for better health. How do you know what stays, what goes, and for how long???

Can anyone help???

There are probably lots of variations on the elimination diet...I just started one last week that I got from my doctor. I'm basically eating what they consider hypoallergenic foods.

So for instance, chicken, turkey, lamb and some cold-water fish (which I'm limiting on my own because of possible mercury toxicity).

I can have any vegetable except corn, and very limited on startchy veggies like potatoes.

A little bit of rice is allowed...very limited though.

I can have all beans except soy.

I can have any fruit except for citrus, strawberries and dried fruits.

For beverages only spring water and herbal teas.

The only sweeteners I can have are stevia and/or a little fruit juice.

I can't have diet or regular sodas, no artificial sweeteners, no corn, soy, beef, pork, etc.

I stay on it for 11 days, then will add 1 food back. I can eat that food for the day I add it back, but not for the next two days afterwards...that's to check for reactions. Then if no reaction, I can add another food with the same pattern. She also suggests adding in things like soy and corn last just because of the gluten issue and the fact that a lot of people that have gluten intolerance also have problem with these two biggies.

I can type up the whole list if you want (but probably not until tomorow). I have to say that I thought I would miss sugar, but haven't really craved it like I thought I would. I'm on day 8 today, and I think my first food added will be BEEF, lol.

[Corkdarrr]

I've been on an elimination/detoxification diet for almost a month now and it's helped tremendously. It is prescribed by my kinesiologist, so I've had plenty of guidance.

Basically you cut almost everything out:

gluten

dairy

soy

corn

nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant)

eggs

peanuts

caffeine

alcohol

sugar

pork

beef

shellfish

processed foods in general

legumes (I chose to cut these out because I eat so many black beans, but it is not required)

you can drink water, tea, and 100% fruit juices

For the first week you can eat anything that's not on the list above. Fruits, veggies, brown rice, chicken, fish and turkey. This entire diet is supplemented by a protein "shake" which I just mix with orange juice. AFter much experimentation, there's no way for it to NOT taste like crap.

The second week you cut out all proteins. So no meats and no beans. I also chose to fast the entire second week and only drink my protein shake thing (3x day), to give my liver and digestive system a very nice vacation. Fasting wasn't nearly as difficult as I thought it would be, either. And I really did feel great.

The third week is just like the first week. Reintroducing proteins. And then after that you begin to reintroduce things one at a time, for three days each. If you eat it several times a day for three days straight and have no problems, you can move on to the next item.

I am just beginning to reintroduce and it seems that I might have a problem with soy. Interesting. As my dr said, by the time I'm done with this I will know my body SO well. It's been worth it for me because I was still having problems even after going gluten-free. not only that, but my willpower has astounded me.

Here is the website for the product literature: Just type in MediClear in the search box and all the options you get will be product literature.

Open Original Shared Link

It is only available through licensed retailers, but I found a website based in Canada that sells it for a great price, if you're interested.

Hope this helps, and feel free to ask if you have any other questions. I know a lot about this stuff just now!

Courtney

[dlp252]

For the first week you can eat anything that's not on the list above. Fruits, veggies, brown rice, chicken, fish and turkey. This entire diet is supplemented by a protein "shake" which I just mix with orange juice. AFter much experimentation, there's no way for it to NOT taste like crap.

Sounds like the one I got from my doctor, lol. It is called UltraClear. Yuck, lol. Today I got it a little more tolerable by using only 1 scoop with a little frozen mango, ice cubes, almond butter and stevia, and whirling it up in my magic bullet, lol. Otherwise it's pretty yucky tasting.

[Corkdarrr]

Sounds like the one I got from my doctor, lol. It is called UltraClear. Yuck, lol. Today I got it a little more tolerable by using only 1 scoop with a little frozen mango, ice cubes, almond butter and stevia, and whirling it up in my magic bullet, lol. Otherwise it's pretty yucky tasting.

It's pretty much the same thing. UltraClear Sustain - they tried to put me on that when I was in my early teens. No go.

Now I'm older and willingly went on the diet, and I used MediClear instead. They're pretty well interchangable as far as i'm concerned.

Constant stirring constant stirring...otherwise it might settle!

Yay, someone's heard of it!!

[jayhawkmom]

Thank you! I so appreciate the responses. I'm going to hold off a bit, because I'm now being tested for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and I very well may have to have allergy testing done, again. I've been tested for environmental stuff several times, but not food.

This is so much fun. (note my sarcasm)

[dlp252]

Thank you! I so appreciate the responses. I'm going to hold off a bit, because I'm now being tested for Eosinophilic Esophagitis, and I very well may have to have allergy testing done, again. I've been tested for environmental stuff several times, but not food.

This is so much fun. (note my sarcasm)

Yep, fun, lol. I was tested for environmental allergies just over a year ago, and food allergies in the last couple of months...the food allergy test (skin scratch) showed a reaction only to oats. Which means I have to do it the hard way, lol.

[jayhawkmom]

I have a feeling I will be in for the hard way as well.

I actually had a HORRIBLE reaction to shellfish - shrimp in particular. And, the RAST test came back totally negative. My allergist didn't want to risk a skin test, even after a negative RAST, but I have a feeling this is the type of thing I'm in for. =(

[plantime]

I bought the Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type book, and I'm using its guidelines for my elimination diet. I managed to stick to it one whole day so far.

[dlp252]

I bought the Eat Right 4 Your Blood Type book, and I'm using its guidelines for my elimination diet. I managed to stick to it one whole day so far.

I'm finding it was MUCH easier to stick to than I thought it would be...I was eating MASSES of candy bars up to the day before I started it, and thought for sure I would struggle with cravings, but so far haven't. I've been hungrier than normal though even though I am eating plenty of calories (almost 2000 each day). I'm on day 12!