Could two weeks of following an elimination diet uncover hidden food sensitivities or allergies?Living Green Magazinesuggests that if you’ve been feeling sluggish or combating intestinal problems, underlying food issues could be holding you back. They suggest two to four weeks of an elimination diet to see which foods may be the culprit.
You may assume that all food allergies cause severe, immediately noticeable symptoms, but this is not always the case. Many people may be gluten intolerant, lactose intolerant, or have other food sensitivities that have never been diagnosed.
What is an Elimination Diet?
An elimination diet is used to determine whether certain foods are causing or exacerbating your symptoms. Removing major food groups from your diet for two weeks can be challenging, but it can give you important clues about how your body reacts to the foods you normally eat.
What foods should you eliminate first? Often, you may already have an idea of which foods trigger your reaction. For example, if you always feel ill after drinking milk, you may be lactose intolerant or have a milk allergy. The suspected foods must be omitted consistently from your diet for at least two weeks. After this phase, the foods may be slowly added back into your diet, one at a time, with any resulting symptoms noted.
During this reintroduction phase, it is important to pay attention to your body’s reaction, which serves to identify the food as a trigger for your health challenges. Removing the food long-term can prevent these symptoms from returning.