Do you also feel like certain foods are bad for you? Let's talk about this! (Elimination Diet)

Sometimes after eating something, you suddenly feel nauseous, feel something strange in your stomach, or feel very uncomfortable, right? We often think, 'Oh... this is normal.' But, perhaps the food you eat without realizing it is the cause of this problem. Today we are talking about a very important method that you can use to find out which foods are bad for you and do not suit your body.

What is this Elimination Diet?

Simply put, an 'Elimination Diet' is a special eating plan that is used to find out which foods are harmful to your body and cause allergies. This is not a diet to lose weight at all . Here we are not counting calories or trying to lose weight.

The main reason to use this method is if you and your doctor suspect that a food may be the cause of some of your symptoms (for example, skin rashes, stomach upset). Proteins in things like peanuts, eggs, and cow's milk can cause allergies in some people.

In particular, if you have severe allergies, or have had a sudden, severe allergic reaction like anaphylaxis in the past, do not try this method. If you are a person like that, you should immediately get a blood test or skin test to find out exactly what the offending food is.

How does this system work?

There are two main phases to this 'Elimination Diet'.

1. Elimination /Avoidance Phase: During this phase, you completely avoid eating all foods that you suspect are bad for you for a period of time.

2. Reintroduction/Challenge Phase: The discontinued foods are reintroduced one by one, very carefully.

Let's look at these two stages in a little more detail.

First step: eliminating suspect foods

This is the first step. You should completely stop eating foods that you think are bad for you for about 2 to 4 weeks. When buying food from the store, you should read the label carefully . If you are eating at a restaurant, you should ask how the food is prepared and what is in it.

It is very important to keep a 'food diary' during this time. Write down everything you eat and drink. Also, note how you felt after eating that food. You should stay in this phase until your symptoms have gone for at least 5 days. Only then can you move on to the next phase.

In addition, some food additives can also cause allergies. For example, artificial colors, preservatives, and flavor enhancers such as Monosodium glutamate (MSG).

Second stage: Re-adding food

Once your allergy symptoms have completely disappeared, you should start to reintroduce the foods you had previously eliminated back into your diet one by one . Imagine that you have stopped eating dairy products. Now you are going to add only milk back into your diet for three days. A little on the first day, a little more on the second day, and about the same amount on the third day.

During these three days, watch carefully to see if you experience the same symptoms (itchy skin, stomach ache) again. Write everything down in your food diary. If there are no problems, you can try another suspect food (e.g. eggs) in the same way for the next three days. By doing this, you will be able to catch the real 'thief' who is causing the problem.

Are there main types of elimination diets?

Yes, depending on your condition, your doctor can create a plan that suits you. There are several main types.

1. Simple Diet: This involves eliminating only one or two foods (e.g. wheat and dairy) that are thought to cause the most allergies.

2. Moderate Intensity Diet: This involves cutting out several food groups at once. For example:

• Alcohol
• Chocolate
• Coffee, tea, soft drinks
• Dairy products and eggs
• Nuts
• Wheat

3. Strict, Few-Foods Diet: This is the strictest diet. You are only allowed to eat a very limited number of foods. Since this is not very nutritious, it should never be done without the supervision of a doctor.

No matter which method you follow, don't forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day .

Foods that can help reduce allergies

There are some foods that can actually help reduce your allergy symptoms, but talk to your doctor before trying them.

• Hot liquids: Drinking something like chicken soup or hot tea can loosen the mucus in your airways and help it clear.
• Fish: Some studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids found in oily fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel may help reduce the risk of allergies.
• Yogurt: Some research has shown that the beneficial bacteria in yogurt, called probiotics, can help reduce allergy symptoms caused by pollen.
• Honey: This is a popular home remedy for allergies. Although it has not been scientifically proven to have any great benefits, it is safe to try. But remember, honey is completely prohibited for babies under one year old.