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The elimination diet

Anonymous

This is even more restrictive than Whole30 from what I can tell. I'll post the list of off-limits foods when I get the chance.

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rachylou

Veteran

Oh, I have to see (!)

Anonymous

Okay, here's the lowdown:

(Please note: These foods have to be completely eliminated from my diet. Even small amounts can trigger symptoms.)

Foods to eliminate completely:
1. Dairy (milk, half-and-half, cream, all cheeses, butter, yogurt, ice cream, sour cream kefir, buttermilk)
2. All gluten-containing grains (wheat, spelt, rye, barley, and rolled oats) - Doctor said GF rolled oats are fine, as well as steel-cut oats.
3. Corn (fresh or frozen or canned corn, cornstarch, corn oil, cornmeal, corn syrup, corn chips, popcorn, corn tortillas, corn grits, dextrose
4. Eggs (the yolks and the whites, and anything containing eggs)
5. Caffeinated beverages (coffee, black tea, soda) - I'm a black tea drinker, so this is gonna be tough, especially since the Gabapentin makes me tired.
6. Soy products (soybeans, tofu, soy milk, soy sauce, miso, tempeh, texturized vegetable protein TVP, Bragg's liquid aminos, tamari)
7. Peanuts, pistachios, cashews and these nut butters. The doctor said she's not worried about pistachios and cashews in my case, so I can eat those.
8. All citrus fruits (oranges, grapefruits, lemons, limes, tangerines, strawberries)
9. All dried fruits
10. Sugar (white sugar, brown sugar, sugar in the raw, demarara, turbinado, all natural, organic evaporated cane juice, sucanat, powdered sugar). She said stevia, honey and pure maple syrup are okay in moderation.
11. All alcoholic beverages.
12. Nightshades (tomatoes, peppers, white potatoes, eggplant). I asked her about yuca, and she said that's fine. It's not a member of the nightshade family.

The Nitty Gritty List

Grains to avoid: all gluten containing grains, as listed above, and any food containing these grains

Vegetables to avoid: tomatoes, corn, mushrooms, peppers, white potatoes, eggplant

Fruits to avoid: citrus fruits, dried fruit, strawberries

Legumes to avoid: soy, as listed above

Nuts and seeds to avoid: peanuts, pistachios (ok for me), cashews (okay for me), sesame seeds + all commercially roasted nuts and seeds

Animal protein to avoid: corn-fed beef, pork, sausage, luncheon meats, shellfish, farm-raised salmon, dairy products, eggs

Condiments and sweeteners to avoid: lemon pepper, mayonnaise, ketchup, vegetable oils not listed in the "include" list (included are olive, flax & coconut oils; all herbs, and all spices), spice mixes containing citrus or sugar, margarines, shortening, corn syrup, fructose, glucose, sucrose, maltose, malitol, maltodextrin, MSG, Splenda, saccharine, aspartame

Beverages to avoid: caffeinated beverages, alcohol, dairy (milk & other dairy products), soy milk, & all fruit drinks with added sugar, color, etc.

Thistle

Veteran

Wow, this is rough. I hear you and can empathize based on what I have had to give up for DD. It is hard, but doable. It really helps to have a game plan, though, know how you are going to get through it and what you are going to eat.

Anonymous

Thanks for the commiseration, Thistle. Can you recommend a good website or 2 for recipes?

carter

Veteran

Yep. That's a long list. Way more restrictive than a Whole 30. What about alliums (onions/garlic/etc)? They're usually on the hit list for elimination as well.

I'm sorry your husband's not more supportive at the moment (as you mentioned in the other thread). That will make it harder on you, but you can deal with it with some planning. I eat Primal minus eggs and dairy (allergies). Although, I'm in the middle of my second Whole 30 now. My husband eats mostly Primal (except when he goes off the reservation at lunch or cocktail hour;-)). My son eats everything. I find it fairly easy to make a base meal of protein and 1-2 veggies, then pop a potato in the oven or boil some pasta to add to my son's dish.

My best advice is to have a couple fast fall back meals (ffbm's?) and snacks for yourself. I always have an avocado, cans of wild caught tuna in EVOO, organic lettuce, organic sliced apples (Costco), frozen wild caught salmon (Costco), grass fed/finished ground beef, a green veggie, sweet potatoes/butternut squash, organic coconut oil, EVOO and a really good aged balsamic on hand. If my husband and son want something that just can't be made to work for me, with the above ingredients, I can make something that looks and tastes way better than what they're having.

Keep us posted on your progress!

Anonymous

Onions, leeks and garlic are on the list of veggies to include.

I had to ask about yuca, and I assume it isn't listed anywhere because it's not a tuber that people here in the U.S. eat. My guess, too, is that the ND doesn't have any Latino clients.

We don't eat much red meat, but we eat grass-fed when we do. I'm going to call Publix to find out it they sell pastured chicken. My guess is that they do.

My DH & I are going on a 7-day cruise in a couple of weeks, so this diet won't start until after we get back. I'm just planning what I'm gonna eat right now.

DonnaF

Veteran

This is rough! I think I would be a walking zombie without coffee. It looks like brown and white rice are okay? And vinegars? So many sushi varieties would be okay unless you like to dip it into soy sauce. Almond milk instead of milk or cream?

I have a rheumy appointment next week, but he'll probably say it can't be harmful since it is only for 30 days. . .

Anonymous

It's the total absence of caffeine that has me worried, lol. I'm gonna be wanting to snooze.

Brown and white rice are okay. We eat a lot of parboiled rice, so that's fine. Beverages included are: filtered water (at lest 8-9 glasses - I already drink more than that), 100% fruit juices, herbal teas (rooibos, mint, chamomile, licorice root, dandelion, nettle, passionflower, etc. Herbal teas containing citrus must be avoided), rice milk, nut milks, hemp milk, coconut water and coconut milk. I assume all vinegars are fine. I have several different kinds in my pantry.

DonnaF

Veteran

I just checked the Whole30 list. It allows caffeine but not rice. Eggs are okay. I find these differences interesting as I think back to how one introduces foods to babies. IIRC, rice and oatmeal are among the first foods, but eggs come quite a bit later.

abc

Veteran

I started a thread a few weeks ago re the same diet. Check that thread for some suggestions. I also started a board on Pinterest for AIP. If you are on Pinterest you can find a lot there.

Anonymous

I got rid of my AIP cookbooks because I can't abide organ meats. My mom used to try to get me to eat organ meats when I was growing up, and it's the most repulsive stuff I've ever put in my mouth. So eating liver and such is not ever gonna happen. Ugh!

And wouldn't the ban on eggs and the inclusion of beans (except soy) take this diet out of the Paleo category?

abc

Veteran

I don't do organ meats either but I understand AIP allows much more than that.

Anonymous

You may have a point, abc, but I decided that since I have several health issues to address--chronic pain being the main, overriding one--it's best for me to consult a professional than to do this type of thing on my own. I do have problems, but there's also a lot of things right with me, like my blood pressure and my Vitamin levels that nurses and doctors remark are really good compared to most people. I don't want to embark on a diet that might jeopardize those things. I just want to manage pain and feel better overall. If there's a hidden food sensitivity (or perhaps more than one food), it's best to find out now before any further damage is done. This is something I feel compelled to do. The last frontier, so to speak. I've already gone to several specialists, and no one has helped me. Yes, I have some medicine to keep me going, but that's about all it does. I still feel achy all the time, and it's difficult to think about anything else. I'm an outgoing, cheerful person because I choose to be, but that doesn't make it all go away, and I would hate to spend the rest of my life wondering if there was anything else I could have done for myself but didn't do. I'm willing to change my diet forever if that's what it takes to feel better. There are just so many diets out there, as well as information and misinformation, that it's impossible to know what to do without help.

abc

Veteran

Bettycrocker I agree. Fortunately I don't suffer pain like you do. You have more motivation than I do. And probably discipline too. I actually am excited that your naturopath suggested the elimination diet. I recently inquired with a doctor re the same for me and he just wrote me off saying there is no link between my disease and AI. But reading online it seems there's a lot of examples where it is. I think we could be crossing into uncharted waters here with auto immune disease. I might even ask for a referral to your naturopath. One reason I haven't started is like you I want someone overseeing this self experiment and I can't seem to find anyone.

Anonymous

My PCP said that several of her patients have benefited from an elimination diet, and I'm glad she's on board and supportive. I'm curious about the reintroduction part of it. According to the handout, I'm supposed to reintroduce each food one at a time. What am I supposed to do when I get to something like sugar? Drink a big glass of sugary water? How do I do that? I'm sure she'll answer the question when I ask her (I'm supposed to go see her when I'm 9-12 days into the elimination phase), but my curiosity has the best of me and I'm itching to know. And shellfish? I rarely eat shellfish as it is, and I'm supposed to reintroduce it by eating a lot of it? That would prove to be difficult. I'd rather just do without shrimp (the only shellfish I eat) and stuff containing shellfish, and leave it at that. Thoughts, anyone?

In response to the naturopath's curiosity about me possibly being estrogen dominant, my PCP said I may want to go off the pill. I've been taking a very low dose one for about 5 years now due to bothersome menstrual issues. I've been thoroughly checked, and the underlying cause has not been determined. Still, I'm now 54 and it's probably high time I get off and stay off, come what may.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Hmm, that is a long list! Can you have feta (sheep/goat's milk)? Coconut milk?

I think lots of roasted vegetables are in order - I love to put a big pan of vegetables all cut in similar shapes on a roasting pan and slow roast them with some olive oil for about an hour. I can eat just those for a meal. The other day I made asparagus, onion, carrots, squash and a few others and wished I had doubled the amount so I had more for later! If you can eat mushrooms, you can make a great pasta dish of roasted mushrooms, onions, garlic, a little parsley, and your choice of protein,

Jicama, carrot slaw with cilantro is good (I usually do add lime but you could do it without).

You can make a great fish/seafood marinade and salad dressing or vegetable sauce (asian flavors) using maple syrup, ginger root, garlic, cilantro, toasted sesame oil and a non-soy replacement for tamari found here ( or try dulse flakes maybe in place of the tamari for a similarly salty flavore?)
http://www.food.com/recipe/non.....ing-207036

Can you have peppers that aren't nightshades? If so, you can make a lot of thai style recipes with coconut milk with chicken or fish. I make a chicken "soup" that is basically chicken broth, poached chicken, mushrooms, lemongrass, cilantro, coconut milk and chili or other hot peppers.

Just some more ideas!

Anonymous

Coconut milk is in, thank goodness. I have to avoid mushrooms, citrus, and all dairy, which I assume would include milk from any animal. Shellfish is also to be avoided. This is a really intense elimination diet! On the plus side, there are plenty of "included" things that I already eat, and since I already cook most of the things I eat and use only whole or minimally processed foods, I think I'll get through this. I don't know how my body will react, though. Hopefully I'll feel better when all is said and done.

I still don't understand her instructions about reintroducing each food in its purest form. What am I supposed to do with sugar? Also, each reintroduced food is supposed to be eaten at breakfast from what I can tell. God help me when I have to eat shrimp for breakfast. Let's just say I have a lot of questions to ask her.

Nebraskim

Veteran

That is indeed deeply restrictive. I guess I might try to focus on what's ON the list and go from there. I removed all wheat/gluten products four years ago and yes, it's hard to avoid. But that entire list would be daunting to tackle. Good luck. I hope this helps you identify your culprits and move forward. One thing on vinegars: no MALT vinegar as it's fermented from barley (which includes gluten). Others are usually OK.

Anonymous

Thanks. If I think about what I can't have, I'll go nuts. It's easier on my psyche to focus on the included things. Lots of things are permitted, and I think the people who have the most trouble with elimination diets are the ones who are very reluctant to change the way they eat and/or don't make the connection between food and health. I'm determined to do everything I can to manage my pain. If that means eating differently, then so be it. There's nothing to lose by trying.

DonnaF

Veteran

For sugar, how about adding it to something tart like raspberries or rhubarb?

SandyG

Veteran

It's a restrive diet but you'll have lots of unlimited foods to eat. It will be an adventure and you'll learn so much about your individual metabolism and how food affects you (I love fennel tea).

The way it works best for me is to prep several snack foods in advance, so I'm never hungry or wondering or lost in the refrigerator. Good luck and let us know how you are doing I hope you're pleased with your results!!!

Anonymous

Thanks, everyone. I'm really glad I have time to plan what to eat. My biggest concern is breakfast, really.

Oh, and my DH told me he's sick and tired of chicken (so am I, to be honest) and prefers to eat beef and pork. At least grass-fed beef is permitted, but I worry about eating too much red meat. Then again, we don't eat much meat in the first place. It's more like a condiment. He likes cod and shrimp, and although I won't be able to eat shrimp during this diet, I will be able to eat cod. So cod and beef it is, I suppose.

We have one thing going for us, though. Two of our DDs are vegetarian, and one stays at her BF's house most of the time, so I really only have to buy enough meat for just the two of us. This should offset the higher cost of buying seafood and beef.

Faith

Sorry to be getting to this late, bettycrocker! This looks almost exactly like the elimination diet I did. I ate very repetitively, mostly chicken, salmon, greens, and rice. I'm not much of a breakfast eater in any case, but I occasionally made a kind of rice pudding with some milk alternative (rice? probably?), nutmeg, and the tiniest bit of agave syrup, which was permitted on my diet. The caffeine thing was difficult, but so worthwhile to me, as it turned out to be a major nerve-pain trigger, which I discovered accidentally, even prior to the testing phase, by consuming some (not so) decaffeinated tea and coffee. I found that, although I had some glimmers of improvement in the second week of the diet (enough to dread giving up whatever), it was in the third week that I really felt transformed. All my commiseration and best of luck to you!

Faith

I've just gone back and read the entire thread. Hemp milk! that's what I used to make the rice pudding! As for the re-introduction, I basically took it in order of what I feared having to eliminate. So, first, dairy. That one was easy. See what your ND says, but my instructions were to consume the category being tested multiple times over, I think, one or two days, so definitely not just breakfast. I drank several glasses of milk over the course of the day. The next category I tried were nightshades, I believe, again, pretty easy just to add back. The next was gluten. In order to avoid the sugar issue (good luck finding commercial bread without it), I made a loaf of homemade no-kneed bread. I ate about half of it over the course of the day. I don't recall precisely what I did about sugar. I don't really have a sweet tooth, so I actually didn't reintroduce it as part of the testing. My doctor advised me that I might as well leave it out permanently. When I did eat something sweet again, it would probably have been a gluten-free bar, like a kind bar. That would have worked during the formal testing too, I think, as the other ingredients, nuts, etc., were probably ok. Another approach might be to test dairy first, and then use ice cream to test the sugar if dairy was ok. Or, use rice-milk based ice cream. If you're really looking for "pure" sugar, I think the idea to put it on fruit is a good one. I hope those are helpful suggestions.

Anonymous

Here are the details of the reintroduction phase (#7 is the kicker):

1. Introduce foods one at a time. You can begin with any food you choose. Choose the purest form of the "challenge" food. For example, do not use bread to test wheat. Use cream of wheat or pure wheat flakes instead. This will be discussed in detail before you begin your challenge phase.

2. Eat a relatively large amount of the "challenge" food for breakfast, along with any other foods from that permitted list.

3. Monitor symptoms (rash, GI upset, headaches, etc.). If you do not react poorly to that food, challenge it again for lunch or for dinner, again, eating a large portion.

4. At any point when you start to react to a food, stop eating it and place that food on your "allergic" list.

5. The day after a challenge day should always be a "wait and observe" day. While most reactions to foods will occur within an hour, some delayed reactions may occur as much as 24 hours later.

6. If you have reacted to a challenge food, it is imperative that you wait until your symptoms resolve completely before challenging the next food item. Likewise, if you wake up with an unusual symptom or you have a cold or other "bug," you must wait until you are completely better to continue the challenge phase.

7. Important: Even if you have no reaction to a challenge food after the challenge day and the wait day, you still need to keep that food out of your diet until all "avoid" foods have been challenged.