All Common Food Sensitivities (Full) Elimination Diet vs One Food, One Week Elimination Diet

All Common Food Sensitivities (Full) Elimination Diet

vs 

One Food, One Week Elimination Diet

The goal of elimination diets is to remove common food sensitivities and then reintroduce them to see if any of these foods are causing digestive and other problems. For most, it is much easier to remove one or two of the foods people commonly have sensitivities to for a week to see if symptoms improve. For example, this might mean removing eggs for a week or removing sugar. An elimination diet that removes all common sensitivities (full) requires a much bigger change in one's eating habits and more willpower. This can be difficult though the tips and recipes on this site will hopefully make it easier. If your symptoms are severe and you have no idea what food might be causing your problems, then removing all common sensitivities may be where you should start. Otherwise, most people can start with the one food, one week approach.

All Common Food Sensitivities

In this approach, you remove all foods that people are commonly sensitive to (check out the “Common Food Sensitivities” list - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/common-food-senstivities.html). You will also remove foods that you suspect are causing your trouble, those suggested by your doctor, and possibly even foods you crave (see post on Sensitivities, Adrenaline, and Cravings - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/food-intolerance-and-cravings.html). It's a bit restrictive but may be the best option if your symptoms are severe. On this site we hope to post menu suggestions and simple recipes to help you create a safe base diet that you can use while you test and reintroduce old favorites.

One Food, One Week

If eliminating all common food sensitivities is too overwhelming and your symptoms are not severe, focus on eliminating just one or two foods for a week. Choose the food you think is most likely your sensitivity (dairy, wheat, citrus - check out the list “Common FoodSensitivities” - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/common-food-senstivities.html) and eliminate that one food for a week or two. Keep a food diary. If you feel better, you may have found your sensitivity.

After Removing a Food for a Week

Symptoms are gone = Food sensitivity found. Focus on avoiding your food sensitivity.

Symptoms improve but are not completely gone = Try a second week. Still have some symptoms? You may have found one of your food sensitivities but there may be more. Continue to avoid this food and test other possible foods until all symptoms are gone.

No change = This is not one of your food sensitivities. Reintroduce the food and test a different food.

What to do if elimination diets don't work for you?

If you have tried elimination diets (without cheating) and they have not worked for you, try the following options:

• If you have not already, discuss with your doctor other possible causes for your digestive problems (gall bladder issues, hernia, diverticulitis – see the list of “Other Possible Problems" - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/something-more-serious.html).
• If you are not already eating organic, consider eating only organic foods. Perhaps you are reacting to a pesticide, additive, or something used to clean the manufacturer's machines. See our post on "Why Organic" - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/why-organic.html.
• Try food sensitivity testing (some say this is helpful - others do not feel this is helpful).
• Try special diets that focus on alkaline foods, oxalates, gluten, blood type etc. (see list of “Special Diets Online” - https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/diets-online.html.) 
• Continue to keep a food diary and if you suspect a food remove it for a week.

Food Diary

For any elimination diet, keep a food diary and record the foods you eat and any symptoms you experience. This can be in a journal or some people use their phones. Simply snap a picture of the food you eat and date it. Record any symptoms in a calendar. Not all food sensitivities are common. Your food diary may help pinpoint uncommon sensitivities. Foods not on the common sensitivities list are not automatically safe. There are stories of people who react to apples, garlic, pepper, even peas. Look for patterns in the food you eat and your symptoms. Food sensitivities can be tough to spot. Remember, a sensitivity might show up right away- as soon as the food is eaten. It might show up a few days after the food is eaten, or it might be cumulative, showing up after the food has been eaten over a period of time. This is why it is so important to use the Coca's pulse test  (https://eliminationdiets.blogspot.com/2020/06/reintroducing-and-testing-foods.html) while reintroducing foods on an elimination diet and record the results in your food diary. Make sure not to skip the pulse test when reintroducing new foods.

A good (and quick) introduction to what an elimination diet is like by:

Dr. Nicole DiNezza, DC, NTP Infinity Holistic Healthcare Chapel Hill, NC

Start a food diary today. Use a blank journal and record the foods you eat each day and the symptoms you experience.

Also on the Site: Elimination Diet (Full or One Food, One week.), Problems Caused by Food Sensitivities, Food Sensitivity Testing, Common Food Sensitivities, Something More Serious, Food Intolerance and Cravings, Dealing with Cravings, Leaky Gut Syndrome, Transit Time, Why Organic, Hexane Free Diet, Reintroducing and Testing Foods, Healthy Digestion, What does the color, shape, and size of your poop mean?, Creating a Food and Symptom Journal, Activities for Healthy Digestion, Substitutes for Common Sensitivities, Special Diets for Specific Problems, Dehydration and Hydration, Healthy Water, Success Stores

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