Elimination Diet Recipes - Please, please, please help!

Penny-Wise_4

This diet is based on the following principle

You develop intolerances to foods you eat a lot of and rarely have intolerance for food the first time you eat it. Therefore eating a different set of foods to the ones you normally eat, then gradually introducing your normal foods back, you can see which ones affect you, if any.

So I have excluded all the foods I eat more than once a week, which includes rice as I eat a lot of this (& have cravings for it, which can be a sign of intolerance).

mirry

penny i must have huge intollerance to chocolate then lol.

seriously, i really hope you get the answers cos its so frustrating.

Morg , no offence taken, i love a good debate !

Chemgirl

I'm very interested in these intolerance tests so Mirry can you let me know how it goes? I was allergic to milk as a baby and although I can have milk now I think I might have an intolerance now, I get stomach cramps if I have too much cream or whole milkor chocolate. I also suffer from migraines and tiredness. I tried to eliminate it for 2 weeks to see if I get a reaction when I tried it again, I lasted 4 days, lactose is in so many things!! And I'm addicted to chocolate and I don't think I could eliminate it without knowing that it's the cause. Plus I don't like the idea of eliminating food groups unless I have to because it can be harmful, so I'd like to know for sure. As a chemist I like the idea of scientific proof.

Penny wise good luck with your elimination diet, I hope it makes you feel better. A friend of mine was allergic to gluten, she used to get the most horrendous hangovers and was ill alot, she's so much better now she found out what it was, it meant she was able to do well in her degree and have the energy to do a phd and she looks alot healthier.

nappentass

I have intolerances and over the years have found this one of the most helpful sites for information and links -
http://www.fedupwithfoodadditives.info/
Sue's also got books including cook books that may help inspire you

The book that original helped me realise I may have a problem is "The Complete Guide to Food Allergy and Intolerance by Professor Jonathan Brostoff and Linda Gamlin" which is still considered by some as a bit of a 'bible' for allergies/intolerances, that was 20 yrs ago.

FWIW - I'm much better and suffer less with intolerances by cutting out my main problem food (dairy and meat from antibiotic stuffed animals) and the mainly eating meat and vegetables - simply by ditching the processed foods and 'white foods' (sugar,wheat, rice, flours etc) I saw a huge improvement in my health, and through trial and error I can indulge in some of my previously off limit foods occasionally (provided I can cope with the consequences )
I found keeping a food diary a big help in spoting some culprits and sensitive foods/substances.

HTH
Jill

researcher

With regard to the York Labs intolerance tests - last year I paid out £250 for their test, hoping at last to know exactly what I should and shouldn't avoid. For me it was a total waste of money, foods they said I could eat freely I knew I couldn't and they only listed 4 foods I should not overeat, and non at all that I should avoid.

Don't spend your money on this - but do keep a food diary, it's probably the most helpful thing you can do - not only of what you eat and when, but how you feel, toileting and bodily functions etc. It is a long road, and best done with the help of your GP or dietitian. Also, this website is quite interesting http://www.foodreactions.org/

It's very difficult to pinpoint sensitivities, as sometimes it's environmental factors rather than the food you eat. Personally I'm no longer a fan of such extreme dietary measures, unless a situation is truly desperate. In my opinion you're better cutting out one type of food group ie dairy and seeing how you are without that - if you suffer headaches and general aches and pains for a few days it's a good indication that that the food group is one to avoid. But if after a week you notice no difference at all then it is unlikely to be part of the underlying problem. This method takes longer, but is kinder to your system and is the one favoured by most dietitians.

mirry

Ive had the results from allergy uk and 79% of people were pleased with York Labs, so that means 21% are not satisfied.

I know someone who found it helped, so It all is a bit of a risk but then again sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures.

I know when i had a sickness bug for 5 days earlier this year and never ate, all my problems went away ! My skin was so clear and smooth it was amazing so i felt that proved it was food.

jellycat40

I don't think I would enjoy the elimination diet at all.

However, my son who is 20 now had three anaphylactic shocks as a child and in spite of an elimination diet and tests, tests, tests we never did find out what he was allergic to.

Louise

researcher

I just wanted to add - remember that after a month of the diet, to introduce just 10 more foods, will take another 30 - 40 days. To be on a healthy diet will take months and months and months - I really do caution you not to go down this path.

There are many other steps you can take. Please beware or you risk making yourself ill by following this course of action.

Cat72

Hi
I too have chronic fatigue syndrome and went through a really bad patch where I couldnt eat anything apart from boiled water and veg. I lost three stone. However now I can eat much better and have sorted out what to avoid. The problem with your idea is that you are excluding to much, you need to introduce each food type over a period of a week and with soo many foods excluded it would take you forever. Also your body needs good nutrition and energy , which it would be very hard to do with such a strict diet. I take into account your point about developing allergies to food you eat a lot, as this has happend to me with dairy. I think with chronic fatigue when your body is feeling really bad it rejects most foods, it doesnt mean its intolerant of them just more sensitive that day.
I have loads of books and recipes on elimination and wll post some recipes I have. However I would stongly advise on only eliminating som nay foods at the one time. Most common for chronic fatigue is dairy products, ( this itself is hard ) then I would probably say wheat. I would exclude all meat, and then introduce only organic meat- a lot of people with ME become vegeatarians.Also would think about the fish as there are so many pollutants in fish, for a short time anyway.
I now only eat organic food , but I will post back later with details from chronic fatigue diets.I know you must be feeling desperate and at the end of your tether buy hang in there- it does get better but be sensable .

nappentass

researcher wrote:

I just wanted to add - remember that after a month of the diet, to introduce just 10 more foods, will take another 30 - 40 days. To be on a healthy diet will take months and months and months.

FWIW I think this is important to note - if you are like me you may not have a problem with food itself, you may have a problem with chemicals or substances associated with foods or other environmental sensitivity, which is where information can provide clues should eliminating food groups be inconclusive
HTH
Jill