Thorough search of food allergies over the past few years has shown that some foods are comparatively safe for most people. These are known as “hypo-allergenic foods” and consist of lamb, rice, lettuce, potatoes, pears and parsley.
The principle of the elimination diet is to reject all foods, not including hypo-allergenic foods, for no less than two weeks. Throughout this time, the only liquid permitted is spring water, filtered tap water or distilled water. The foods should be cooked without such agents as butter or oil. For example, the meat should be grilled and the vegetables steamed, or eaten raw. It is extremely important not to use salt, herbs, seasonings, garnishes or any additive, which would, in effect, introduce further foods, in such a way destroying the hypo-allergenic safety of the diet.
At first it is hard on the taste buds, and people with covered food allergies will experience cravings for their favorite foods. Though, insistence is valuable, because at the end of two weeks, allergic people following this plan will commonly feel better than they have felt in a long time. The point is that the body has a chance to clear itself of all the collected toxins that have been overfilling the system for so long. Besides, the safe foods do not leave allergy-caused toxins at the back, resulting in the body being clean and free.
It is completely necessary that nothing else be taken, or eaten, during this time. You shouldn’t take any medications, so check with your doctor first if necessary. In some cases you will feel so good after a few days, that you may be able to decrease some forms of medicine, under your doctor’s management, or even give out with it completely. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not required throughout this time. They will only cancel out the whole exercise by introducing toxic substances in the form of fillers, flavorings and colorings.
In a few days, you will discover that it is not compulsory to think in terms of three meals per day. It will be simpler to skip meals and, maybe, fast for a day or two as your body stops craving for allergenic foods. Keep in mind that it is not compulsory to eat much at all during the two weeks. The basic elimination diet is simply an alternative to direct fasting for people who feel that they must eat something. The more load you can take off the body during this time, the better.
After the period of two weeks, the challenging process starts. Till this time, the body has removed collected toxins and allergenic matter. Thus, if an allergenic food is now introduced, the resulting response can be attributed to that food, without the fear of other foods hiding the reaction. As the whole aim of the exercise is to find the foods that are making you ill, the first thing to do is to start introducing, on a daily basis, foods known to be allergenic.
Only one new food should be tried each day and this should be eaten, as a complete meal, or alternatively, eaten with food to which you are not allergic. It is vital not to eat compound foods, as if a reaction happens, you will not be aware of which food has provoked it. A diary should be kept, noting the symptoms, how long after eating they occurred, how long they lasted and grading them on a scale of one to five for severity.
Symptoms may vary significantly. As the body is now unsoiled, they will be easily recognizable and may develop almost without delay, or take up to twenty-four hours. Usually, though, they should become evident, within the first two hours, after eating the food.
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