Have you ever tried an elimination diet? It’s a short-term eating plan that pares down what you consume. The purpose is not to lose weight; it’s to discover whether certain foods — often, ones you eat daily — are responsible for certain medical problems.
Keep reading to learn more about what elimination diets are for and what you should know about trying one.
Goals and Benefits
Certain foods and additives are common sensitivity culprits. Foods you might avoid include dairy, eggs, wheat, peanuts, shellfish, sugar or alcohol. With elimination diets, you stop eating one or more foods, give your body time to heal and reset, then reintroduce each eliminated food one at a time.
Some people find relief from digestive issues, migraines, skin problems or fatigue after identifying a food trigger. Foods can also be linked to life-threatening allergies or autoimmune diseases. Elimination diets may require close medical supervision, and in some cases, antibody tests may be used instead of food trials.
Limitations and Risks
While an elimination diet can provide health insights and symptom relief, it takes careful planning, shopping and preparation to get valid results. Restaurant and packaged foods often contain ingredients you might not be aware of. A spring roll might be fried in peanut oil, or a caramel candy might contain dairy. And it’s hard not to eat what everyone else is eating at food-focused social events and holiday gatherings.
An eating plan that’s too restrictive could cause new problems, including nutrient deficiencies. Elimination diets can also be risky for anyone with avoidant or restrictive eating behaviors. For these reasons, it’s important to see a doctor and a nutritionist before making any major dietary changes.
Your health insurance can help you afford the care you need if an elimination diet sounds like something worth considering. Your policy may even cover medical nutrition therapy. We’re always here to help you understand your benefits, so reach out anytime.
