The New Year is a time for new beginnings and possibilities. Many people write new years resolutions to help get these thoughts on paper to make them a reality. Let this year be the year to take control of your health and figure out a way to feel better. If this resolution fits your list, the Elimination Diet may be the perfect start.
The Elimination Diet consists of taking out common foods in the diet for a period of time and then carefully reintroducing each food while being very mindful of how one feels during both the elimination and reintroduction phases. It also focuses on eating a whole foods diet and taking out the packaged and processed foods, the crap. Foods that we eat everyday determine how we feel. Food can make us feel great or make us feel unwell, both physically and mentally. These symptoms can run the gamut, from acne, bloating, heartburn, headaches, sinus issues, weight gain, joint pain, and fatigue, to depression, mood swings, anxiety, and brain fog. People may suffer from symptoms for years without realizing they can be connected to the food they are eating. Your body could be fighting a battle every time you eat. It isn’t until the food is removed that the connection between symptoms and food can be made. Some food sensitivity reactions can occur within a few hours and others can happen up to a few days after the food has been eaten, making it tricky to make that connection. The Elimination Diet helps identify foods that irritate our system and trigger symptoms. Symptoms that have not responded to conventional medical treatment may just improve or resolve with the Elimination Diet.
Food reactions of any kind - a sensitivity, an allergy, or an intolerance - can cause low-grade inflammation in the gut, causing the intestinal wall to become permeable, also known as a “leaky gut”. This breakdown of the gut wall allows for substances such as undigested food particles, bacteria, yeast, and chemicals to enter the bloodstream, causing the immune system to jump into action upon seeing these foreign invaders and ultimately cause more inflammation. Taking away problem foods decreases the immune response and the inflammation.
The Elimination Diet takes some work, but with a little planning and determination, it can be done with relative ease. Since planning and prepping for the diet are key, it is best to start the Elimination Diet during a routine period in your schedule. I wouldn’t start the Elimination Diet when there are holidays and parties on the horizon, or when you know you will be traveling. Shopping and preparing some snacks and meals ahead of time really helps one stick to the diet and prevent grabbing that candy bar when you are starving and need to reach for something. The first few days of the Elimination Diet are the hardest and some people can experience withdrawal symptoms from foods, such as headaches, low energy, irritability, and food cravings. However, these symptoms usually pass after about a week and you begin to notice you are feeling pretty good.
If you are sick and tired of feeling sick and tired and ready to tackle your new year’s resolution of taking care of your health - try the Elimination Diet.