[vc_row][vc_column][vc_custom_heading text=”Elimination Diets and Gut Health” font_container=”tag:h2|text_align:center” use_theme_fonts=”yes”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Many of us have heard of some form of an Elimination Diet. Most of us have heard of or even tried some of the more popular versions like Whole 30 or AIP. Then we ask ourselves, is this the right thing for me, should I stay on this, did it help me?
We are talking about the 5R’s for gut restoration this month, the first R is for Remove. This is where the elimination diets play an important role. I am going to list a few versions that may be used in Functional Medicine and at our practice. Since more than 70% of the immune system is in the digestive tract, eliminating certain foods decreases inflammation, which allows the gut, and ultimately the immune system to heal. Specific foods or foods eaten frequently may be related to a long list of health conditions, including digestive problems, headaches, chronic sinus drainage, low energy, depression, mood swings, eczema, skin irritations, joint aches, asthma, and weight gain are some examples. People may suffer from these symptoms for long periods of time without realizing that they can be connected to the foods they are eating. Once the gut is healed, many foods that initially caused sensitivities may be reintroduced into a meal plan without symptoms. Most of the elimination diets are at least 3 weeks with the goal to systematically re-introduce those foods eliminated to identify the potential triggers.
One of the first interventions is the Elimination Diet: It helps assess whether the most common food reactions are causing GI symptoms. This includes removing gluten, dairy, alcohol, beef, chocolate, corn, eggs, peanuts, pork, processed meats, shellfish, soy, and sugar.
A few examples of more advanced elimination diets:
- Anti Candida Food Plan-used to treat yeast/candida overgrowth, gas, bloating, or dysbiosis. This limits foods high in carbohydrates, mold, and fungi.
- Low-FODMAP Food Plan-used to treat IBS, gas, bloating, diarrhea, dysbiosis. This limits short chain carbohydrates which can be poorly absorbed and are highly fermentable in the presence of gut bacteria.
- Low Histamine Diet-used to treat mast cell reactions from allergic/inflammatory responses. This will eliminate a variety of foods high in Histamine such as fermented foods, aged foods, leftovers, pickled.
- Renew Food Plan-used for autoimmune, very intense anti-inflammatory, to reduce toxic burden. It is a stricter version of the elimination diet with no grains, starchy vegetables, and fewer allowed fruits.
- Specific Carbohydrate Diet-used for IBD, gas, bloating, enzyme deficiencies, dysbiosis. This plan eliminates complex carbohydrates, lactose, sucrose, and other man made ingredients from the digestive process to decrease inflammation and allow healing.
Here at Highlands Health & Wellness, we want to help you figure out what you need for your specific gastrointestinal issues. It can definitely be a confusing process. We will help you navigate through each step where an elimination diet may only be part of this process. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/6″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
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