On stopping an ‘unsuccessful’ elimination diet
Quotes to note from Clarke et al. on ending an elimination diet that has given a negative result.
Quotes to note from Clarke et al. on ending an elimination diet that has given a negative result.
When dealing with foods on the list of Big 8 allergens – milk, eggs, fish, crustacean shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts, wheat and soybean – there are a lot of reasons to see a doctor and not many reasons to do an elimination diet on your own. Which of these foods actually cause reactions that don’t involve the immune system?
Even though food allergies often diminish over time, they will never cross over into a food sensitivity or intolerance. If you have previously experienced (or even suspected that you have experienced) an allergic reaction to a food, see a doctor – don’t try to test for food sensitivities on your own.
No blood test can detect food intolerance. IgG/IgG4 ELISA tests claim to detect a form of food intolerance that doesn’t actually exist. Real food intolerance can always be detected with an elimination diet and food challenges.
Up to 10% of the population will experience food intolerance in their lifetime, which translates to millions of people worldwide.
Hold off on your sensationalized television advice, Dr. Oz – when a person suspects that their health problems are caused by food, they must approach things systematically, cover all the bases, and do it for the right reasons. And that includes going gluten-free.
How do doctors and dietitians identify food sensitivities? Through an elimination diet and food challenges. You can’t get any sexier than that.