When it comes to creating an elimination diet, there are a few special considerations to take into account. It is essential to consult with your healthcare provider before beginning any elimination diet, as they can provide guidance and advice on the best approach for your individual needs. It is important to note that food allergies and food intolerances or sensitivities are not the same thing. IgG and antibodies, which are part of the immune system responsible for food sensitivity, take up to 21 days to activate.
Therefore, it is necessary to avoid foods against which antibodies are suspected of being created during that period of time for best results. Elimination diets should be used as a therapeutic, diagnostic, and temporary approach. They should not be used as a primary nutritional approach for extended periods of time. The intestinal lining regenerates approximately every 2 to 4 weeks, so the 30-day elimination period is an optimal time to eliminate potential dietary stressors and support bowel healing and recovery.
If symptoms decrease during the avoidance phase, it's likely that the food or foods that were eliminated actually contributed to the symptoms. An observational study of patients with ulcerative colitis suggested that dietary practices based on avoiding food did not seem to modify the risk of relapse60, but a small experimental study conducted in South Africa found that diarrhea, rectal bleeding and the appearance of the colon during sigmoidoscopy improved significantly more in patients who received a diet that systematically eliminated foods that caused symptoms than in those who only monitored their diet. Patients with food allergies who start on allergen elimination diets should be followed up in approximately 3 months to check the effectiveness of the individual diet with respect to treatment objectives and to exclude malnutrition related to the elimination diet. When eliminating a specific food group, some common ingredients that can cause adverse reactions to foods should also be eliminated. Once the three initial phases of the elimination diet have been completed, long-term diet planning is necessary. During this period, all common allergens are completely eliminated from the diet for 2 to 3 weeks. It is important to remember that an elimination diet should be used as a temporary measure and should not be used as a primary nutritional approach for extended periods of time.
Consulting with your healthcare provider before beginning any elimination diet is essential in order to ensure you are taking the best approach for your individual needs.
