The Elimination Diet

The Elimination Diet can be used to help diagnose a food allergy or intolerance. Foods that we are allergic, or intolerant to, can be responsible for a wide range of health conditions and symptoms. Traditional Chinese Medicine texts, going back some three and a half thousand years, describe the importance of eating a varied diet, and that if too much of the same food is eaten every day it could cause health problems. Today, in our modern Western diet, we typically see the same small range of foods eaten every day. It’s not unusual to eat a wheat based breakfast cereal with milk for pizza followed by ice cream for dinner. Is it any surprise that wheat and diary are two of the most common foods people are intolerant to?

The Elimination Diet is a way of finding if the any of the foods you are eating are responsible any health issues you may have. The first step is to only eat foods that are known to be least problematical. One of the most common approaches to this stage is the “Caveman” diet, or, what is now more commonly called the Paleo Diet. Over a period of about 30 days your diet will be based on what our ancestors ate tens of thousands of years ago, when we were hunter-gatherers: fresh meats and fish, vegetables, but not the nightshade family (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers and aubergines, or egg plants), or the brassica family (cabbage, broccoli, mustards), both families of vegetables are known to cause problems for some people. Nuts and seeds in moderation are fine. After a month or so eating this way most people will start to see some positive changes in their health, but it is not uncommon for the first two weeks or so to experience a “reaction” as the body starts to get use to a different diet.

The next stage in the Elimination Diet is to slowly start reintroducing some of the foods that can be problematic for some people. Over the next 2 months or so you can start to include vegetables from the nightshade family, and the brassica family, but do this one food at a time, and keep a diary, so you can look back and see if any return of symptoms is related to the reintroduction of a particular food.

If this stage of the Elimination Diet has been completed successfully, you can now start to try introducing the main culprits in the world of food intolerances and allergies; wheat, diary, eggs, soya and yeast. You’ve lasted this long, don’t blow it in one meal! Introduce each of these foods one week at a time, and keep a diary. Of course, you may find by now that you are looking and feeling so much better that you might decide to keep these foods out of your diet for good.

{ 50 comments… read them below or add one }

shump December 2, 2011 at 2:53 am

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kowsking December 2, 2011 at 11:25 am

sniff sniff!

heske eva December 2, 2011 at 11:41 am

a lot more What is the elimination You Da One

azizampozz December 5, 2011 at 8:02 pm

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kriener lever December 6, 2011 at 3:13 pm

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alia ramaschull December 7, 2011 at 2:34 am

they make us steal it in america,they crush all expired food.,thousands of tons daily.

miglian tson December 7, 2011 at 3:00 am

I recant my “acting” comment…I love it..a bit silly but good humor ! Y’all get an A+ for job well done .

netterriau liebeek December 7, 2011 at 3:16 am

The Neolithic revolution occurred a number of times over the course of human prehistory. It involved the switch from nomadic hunting and gathering to an agricultural lifestyle, with all the economic, technological, societal, and architectural switches that went along with it. With agriculture came food processing and a softer, more homogenous diet than the one enjoyed by hunter-gatherers. 
Hunter-gatherers tend to have longer, narrower lower mandibles, or jawbones, than agriculturalists. It has generally been assumed that the difference in chewing style accounts for the differently shaped mandibles, but this has never been tested. Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel at the University of Kent has now done so; her results are published in this week’s issue of PNAS.

Read the comments on this post

honi kaphain December 8, 2011 at 2:14 am

User msoltan did, too. Because msoltan does not mention its origin, the viewers of his clip comment “Chinese eat cats” or something. not good. (I licked a wrong comment. Sorry)

raud December 8, 2011 at 6:13 am

Traditional Chinese Medicine And AIDS -

rey December 9, 2011 at 3:37 am

really enjoyed your blog as trying to balance a paleo diet with a decent running schedule. I know this post is old, but wondering if you carb load before and after training runs, and if so, with what. It seems that some people can run well on a strict paleo diet, and others need to break the rules a little before and after runs only. Any insight will be greatly appreciated. Cheers!]]>

pohler chachi December 9, 2011 at 11:44 am

P.S. I must add that not completely off dairy. I am at home, but when I eat out, I will indulge in the dairy the mayor of Extraordinary after all!

varker December 9, 2011 at 6:19 pm

Kyle, you’re the next Raffi, with a food-allergy niche!

bulle December 10, 2011 at 5:10 am

Yep, its pathetic. many people put doctors on a pedestal but to be honest, I think alot of them are absolutely clueless. Great job on you though for putting your health in your own hands.

tarkin December 11, 2011 at 5:49 am

Now let’s see, is Cognac of the Caveman diet if it is aged in Caves for 4 years?

advans yosuma December 12, 2011 at 4:05 am

whatever causes any and all un-wellness or health issues is gone

micchild December 14, 2011 at 10:41 am

Oh Look, Wild Snorlax!

woebishula December 14, 2011 at 4:40 pm

I have a problem with dieting. I eat tons of junk food and stayed the same weight. Now im eating healthy I have put on a stone. Do you have any advice please. Great video.

hander mcnean December 14, 2011 at 5:39 pm

What is the elimination diet:

passanoli December 17, 2011 at 7:57 am

Food Allergy Survival Guide: Surviving and Thriving with Food Allergies and Sensitivities (9781570671630): Vesanto Me

melinski lou December 17, 2011 at 1:26 pm

I got an idea, how about everybody stfu and enjoy the music..no sense in arguing ppl

seid December 19, 2011 at 4:10 am

Your dog looks fantastic!!!!!! I own his litter mate in Connecticut. I was wondering if you could help me out. My dog has gotten some kind of allergy and has been treated for staph and it seem to go away so thinking its probably a food allergy. If you get a chance I would love to talk to you about diet etc… Please email me your contact info at />
regards,
Bill

ler December 24, 2011 at 3:23 am

(Norwegian Institute of Public Health) A mouse model to investigate allergy to fenugreek has been developed by Norwegian researchers. The model can also be used to study cross-reactivity to peanut, soy and lupine, major food allergens with public health relevance.

doubschwed December 24, 2011 at 8:14 am

New Health Issues Faced as We Age

juan keving December 29, 2011 at 4:29 am

probably done it to much and fucked his throat up therefore not being able to do it anymore

zaine whelmeyer December 31, 2011 at 5:44 am

Should We Have Stayed Hunter-Gatherers? -

guie mar January 2, 2012 at 7:50 pm

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siti January 3, 2012 at 3:14 am

Great movie! I have twin sons with severe peanut allergies. This movie would be wonderful to show at their preschool. It’s so cute and informative!

salke January 4, 2012 at 9:05 am

Findyourbestbook: The Paleo Diet Cookbook: More than 150 recipes for Paleo

keow ann January 5, 2012 at 2:57 am

isnt this Canada…they talk a little different, ay?

sanjon January 10, 2012 at 4:03 am

You know..if everyone paid attention to school and health issues as much as they do to reality shows, the world would be so much different.

tats dicarmita January 14, 2012 at 1:10 pm

read some about the caveman diet and I know how seriously to take your commitment to this lifestyle (not in a negative way…) but please dont end up being of those folks who eats raw meat and nothing else, please, please? Because noticed this trend where people out low-carb, and then move to the caveman diet, and then move to caveman-raw, and then to intermittent fasting, and, well – I just want you to be careful. All for the biking and walking to the grocery, though!]]>

gatsiterbe kye January 19, 2012 at 6:05 pm

I totally jizzed my pants when Tomoyo came out lol

yonnienham January 23, 2012 at 1:20 am

Food Allergy and Food Intolerance Week (23rd – 29th January 2012) -

ernerim vivinenber January 25, 2012 at 5:11 am

I agree about the health issues. Thank you so much for watching.

poley January 27, 2012 at 5:57 pm

Funny how since The Worshipful Company of Apothecaries has their inquisition inoculations sent to Africa that we see a massive depopulation of the continent. Funny how all these target tribes etc have these vaccines and then have low rates if at all. Wake up and smell the coffee or is it paid through the Apothecaries/Barber system to troll and attack truth sayers who threaten your sorcery business of death? Screw Codex Alimentarus you vermin U.N. Agenda

modell bie January 29, 2012 at 6:45 am

yes! You are so right. The Jetsons used Skype. And is on the caveman diet

bresse January 29, 2012 at 8:57 am

The 21st Century Caveman Diet

pqj January 29, 2012 at 10:48 am

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subossensh darat February 1, 2012 at 11:47 pm

Social networks & cooperation in hunter-gatherers et al, Nature 481, 497–501 (26 Jan 2012)

kim February 13, 2012 at 11:13 pm

He is talking about TCM or Traditional Chinese Medicine – not politics.

clafi martz February 15, 2012 at 11:20 pm

Oh, no, agreed! It’s just about taking care of each other. And not pretending like we are still hunter/gatherers v.

muenedo dulle February 22, 2012 at 5:12 am

Great. Swine flu.

Natural selection at its best.

ragert March 1, 2012 at 6:10 am

[New post] Social networks and cooperation in hunter-gatherers

maru March 1, 2012 at 6:27 pm

The kids are adorable George!! You are a lucky man!!

craeningto marcharuk March 12, 2012 at 5:04 pm

EVEN THOUGH I AM NO ADDICT I DO HAVE A NEUROLOGICAL CONDITION AND IF IT WERE NOT FOR INFORMATION THAT IS CONTAINED AND RESEARCHED ON THIS VIDEO I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN EDUCATED ON THE THINGS I SHOULD BE EATING THAT I MAY BE LACKING. I AGREE WITH THE EMOTIONAL OF IT BUT WE ALL HAVE OUR OPINIONS, I THINK BEING VEGAN , VEGETARIAN OR MEAT EATER IS A PERSONAL CHOICE AND THANKS TO THIS VIDEO WHICH TEACHES US THAT WE HAVE OTHER CHOICES.

mietze March 22, 2012 at 6:00 pm

So proud of you! Keep it up! Did you buy those shoes in 2006 when we met up at the Road Runner Store in San Diego after my Traditional Chinese Medicine conference? still wearing the running I bought that day! But probably time for some new shoes – go to a specialty running store and have them fit you for the shoes you need. Do not just pick out a pair at the Foot Locker!

biason March 26, 2012 at 3:46 am

RT His health conditions weren’t that good so cube allowed him to leave. But he could join back if he wanted ^_^
Cr:Cubicbeatz

morechi April 13, 2012 at 4:15 pm

Lose Weight with a Paleo Diet -

nporther haeko April 18, 2012 at 12:13 pm

A recent New York Times tells us that what many people call food allergies are actually simple intolerances, and that allergies are being dangerously overdiagnosed. What is a true food allergy, and what can be done to fix them besides banning peanuts from schools and avoiding foods that make us itchy? Allergies are caused by an inappropriate immune response to common things in the environment. Usually the offending allergen is a protein that comes from plants or animals like pollen or dander. Instead of the immune system recognizing that these proteins are harmless, it instead activates a crazy inflammatory response, causing the symptoms we recognize: itchy, runny nose, sneezing, rashes, and in some extreme cases, anaphylaxis. This immune response is activated when antibodies bind to and recognize the globby 3D shapes of offending proteins, either proteins on the surface of dangerous pathogens or harmless allergens. Because 3D protein shapes can be similar even when proteins…

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