Elimination diet can ID food sensitivities

Health problems can sometimes be related to a specific food that we eat. Food sensitivities can often be an overlooked cause of chronic health issues.

It is much easier to identify a food allergy since we usually will have an immediate reaction. But when our symptoms are delayed by hours or days, it is harder to distinguish exactly what we ate that is causing problems.

When our body reacts negatively to a protein that is in a particular food, we will have an immune reaction. This reaction causes a release of chemicals that trigger symptoms like rashes, itchy skin, tingling in our mouth, swelling and sneezing. Allergic reactions can also be more severe.

We can test for these kind of allergies, called IgE mediated immune reaction, or when our body is intolerant. But when we are merely sensitive to a particular food, the testing becomes more challenging.

Some tests are able to identify a kind of responses in our body called IgG. This measures our exposure to food proteins that didn’t quite get fully digested before they entered the blood stream.

This test supposedly looks for responses to very specific proteins that were able to get through the gut lining that normally protects us. This can happen when we have intestinal inflammation or increased permeability. Another method, called IgA, measures a response in our mucus membranes.

The problem is that these tests can produce different results and there is sometimes inconsistency between the companies offering these tests. When the recommendations come back with a lot of intolerances it makes it hard to sort through.

Also in my experience, I find that intolerances change over time, sometimes rather quickly. When we have leaky gut, foods that we eat on a daily basis can begin to cause us problems.

But this may have more to do with chronically triggering our immune system. At this point we may be reacting to almost everything we eat. This can be especially true when we have an autoimmune condition as well.

Sometimes having a test in hand showing we are sensitive to a particular food will help motivate us to back off that food. I do see value in that.

Another way to identify what we are sensitive to is simply stop eating the foods that we are concerned about for a while and see how we feel. Removing these foods from your diet will give your body a rest and allow it to recover.

Once your body has taken a break, it will likely begin to function effectively again. You can then reintroduce that food and see how you respond. This kind of testing is referred to as an elimination diet.

It often starts by eliminating the foods that most of us are sensitive to - like corn, dairy, eggs, grains, sugar, soy, processed meats, and shellfish. Even coffee and alcohol can be problematic, so these could be included.

It’s not that you are sensitive to all of these. It’s more about giving yourself time off and then reintroducing foods one at a time.

This kind of approach allows you to identify food triggers while promoting increased awareness to food. You are actually using your own body to determine what it likes. This is a highly personalized approach that reduces inflammation and promotes gut repair at the same time.

Because you are not restricting calories, weight loss is not the particular goal. Though it can hapen. It is more about repairing underlying leaky gut issues, while providing healing nutrients and reducing toxins.

This kind of approach can be initiated over and over again. As you and your body become more sensitive at recognizing the signs of food intolerances, you will be able to quickly make adjustments to your overall eating plan.

The elimination diet, while time consuming, is one of the most useful tools I have in maintaining overall optimum health and well-being. I have a great handout for you on this if you’d like.

Scott Porter, a functional medicine pharmacist, is the director of the Center for Functional Nutrition at Sandpoint Super Drug.