About The Diet

The simplest and most effective method of treating food allergies is through the avoidance of allergic foods. These reactive foods or chemicals place an extra burden on the body’s defence system such as the gut, liver, and immune system. In order to restore proper health, these systems have to be distressed by using the rotational full elimination
diet. Avoidance means not only avoiding the food in its identifiable state (e.g. eggs in an omelette) but also in its hidden state (e.g. eggs in cake).

This restriction of the offending food lasts for 12 to 16 days before the challenge phase is introduced. During the elimination phase, symptoms may be accentuated and may last for 4 to 8 days due to withdrawal.

Most symptoms, however, should disappear by the 12th day provided that the rotation diet itself does not contain any food sensitivities.

The challenge phase comprises the rotation elimination diet plus the food being tested. Each suspected food is eaten in increasing amounts for at least three days. Symptoms are recorded during this period. If no symptoms are observed the food being tested may stay in the rotation diet and the next suspected food can now be tested. However, if symptoms manifest during the challenge phase, the tested food must be avoided and at least two days of grace be given before the next food challenge is initiated.

Allowed Foods

• BEVERAGES – Allowable fruit juices (without sweeteners and additives), filtered tap water, herbal teas, mineral water, soy milk (without sweeteners and additives).
• GRAINS – Arrowroot, buckwheat, millet, oats, rice, tapioca, soy, rye.
• DESSERTS – Allowable fruits, rice pudding, sago, and tapioca pudding.
• FATS – Avocado oil, margarine (ONLY Becel, Nuttelex, or Sundew), olive oil, safflower oil, sesame oil, sunflower oil.
• FRUITS – Apricot, avocado, banana, cantaloupe, cherry, cranberry, fig, grape, kiwi-fruit, mango, melons, pawpaw, peach, pear, pineapple, plum, rhubarb, tangerine.
• VEGETABLES – Alfalfa, asparagus, avocado, beans, bean shoots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, eggplant, endive, garlic, lentils, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, pumpkin, radish, silverbeet, spinach, squash, sweet potato, swiss chard, taro, turnip, zucchini.
• MEATS – Chicken, duck, lamb, pork, rabbit, turkey.
• SOUPS – Homemade with allowable meats, vegetables, and rice.
• SWEETENERS – Pure honey or maple syrup.
• SEASONING – Carob powder, sea salt.
• MISCELLANEOUS – Cashews, sesame, and sunflower seeds**ALL VEGETABLES MUST BE WASHED AND PEELED (IF POSSIBLE) BEFORE EATING.**
  All water must either be boiled or filtered before use. Plain mineral or soda water and freshly squeezed pear juice may be used as desired.Note: If during the rotation there is a spontaneous worsening of symptoms, this may indicate a sensitivity to some food within the rotation. This food must be eliminated before the challenge phase can begin. Symptoms of reactions can be reduced by taking buffered Vitamin C and bicarbonate of soda.

Elimination Phase

• There is no specific order in which the foods should be tested; in fact, the food that is missed most should be
  tested first. It is recommended that dairy, wheat, salicylates, and natural colours be tested before other foods, as this group of foods make up the bulk of a normal diet.
• If no worsening occurs over the 3 days of testing, continue to use that food and go to the next preference. However, if a reaction does occur, abstain from that food and any other food in the same group being tested. Once the symptoms have subsided, continue with the next challenge, this usually takes two to three days.
• All foods must be tested within each group before a decision is reached on the foods causing the symptoms.
• This food rotation and challenge program should be performed during periods of low social activity as there is a possibility of sickness during the program. Furthermore, any pre-existing infection may increase the severity of
  symptoms.

Challenging Phase

• Eat pineapple between meals. Pineapple contains bromelain, an enzyme that has an anti-inflammatory
  effect. Include flavonoid-rich berries, including cherries, blueberries, and blackberries, which have an anti-inflammatory action.
• Increase your intake of antioxidant foods to counteract the effect of free radicals caused by inflammation within the
  body. Antioxidant-rich foods include blueberries, cherries, garlic, green tea, broccoli, red wine, and grapes.
• Include herbs such as ginger, garlic, chilli, and turmeric in your diet. These herbs have a strong anti-inflammatory
  effect on the body.
• Drink herbal teas, including chamomile, ginger, and green tea all of which have an anti-inflammatory effect.