Test Your Allergy with Your Diet

The principle of the elimination diet is to exclude all foods, except hypo-allergenic foods, for at least two weeks. During this time, the only liquid allowed is spring water, filtered tap water or distilled water. The foods should be cooked in such a way that no other agents, such as butter or oil, are used. In other words, the meat should be grilled and the vegetables steamed, or eaten raw. It is absolutely essential not to use salt, herbs, condiments, garnishes or any additive, which would, in effect, introduce further foods, thus destroying the hypo-allergenic safety of the diet.

Initially it is hard on the taste buds, and those with masked food allergies will suffer from cravings for their favorite foods. However, perseverance is worthwhile, because at the end of two weeks, allergic people following this plan will generally feel better than they have felt in a long time. The reason is that the body has a chance to rid itself of all the accumulated toxins that have been overloading the system for so long. In addition, the safe foods do not leave allergy-caused toxins behind, resulting in the body being clean and free.

It is absolutely essential that nothing else be taken, or eaten, during this time. Medication should be avoided if possible, so consult your doctor first if necessary. In some cases you will feel so good after a few days, that you may be able to reduce some forms of medication, under your doctor's supervision, or even dispense with it entirely. Vitamin and mineral supplements are not necessary during this time. They will simply negate the whole exercise by introducing toxic substances in the form of fillers, flavorings and colorings.

After a few days, you will find that it is not necessary to think in terms of three meals per day. It will be easier to miss meals and, perhaps, fast for a day or two as your body ceases to crave for a11ergenic foods. Remember, it is not necessary to eat much at a11 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 two weeks, the challenging process begins. By this time, the body has eliminated accumulated toxins and allergenic matter. Thus, if an a11ergenic food is now introduced, the resultant reaction can be attributed to that food, without the fear of other foods masking the reaction. As the whole purpose of the exercise is to detect the foods that are making you ill, the first thing to do is to start introducing, on a daily basis, foods known to be a11ergenic.

Only one new food should be tried each day and this should be eaten, if possible, as a complete meal, or alternatively, eaten with food to which you are not a11ergic. It is important not to eat composite foods, because if a reaction occurs, you will not know which food has caused 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. This will be of considerable assistance later, in deciding the foods to which you are most a11ergic.

Symptoms may vary considerably. As the body is now clean, they will be easily recognizable and may develop almost immediately, or take up to twenty-four hours. Norma11y, however, they should become obvious, within the first two hours, after eating the food.

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