Wow. So I’m seeing the docs over at HealthNOW to see if they can help my fibro, and they are putting me on a food elimination diet. Basically, you quit eating all the things that are common allergens in food for a week, then gradually add them back in one at a time to see if you react.
The general thinking is that my body is clearly very, very unhappy about something, probably something in my digestive tract (I have a lot of gross symptoms not worth discussing on a blog) and food allergies would definitely explain at least some of my symptoms. Food allergies run in the family (for a good time, ask me about the weirder allergies in my immediate family. My favorites are bubblegum flavoring, wheat, citrus fruit, and oatmeal).
So, check it out:
| Allowed | Avoid |
| chicken turkey lamb cold water fish (wild salmon, halibut, mackerel) milk substitutes like rice/almond/soymilk clarified butter white or sweet potatoes rice tapioca buckwheat and gluten free products corn and rice pasta clear, vegetable-based broth homemade soups all vegetables all beans water unsweetened fruit/vegetable juice caffeine-free herbal teas (non-citrus) any bread made of gluten-free flour unsweetened fresh, frozen, or water-packed fruit canned fruit excluding citrus and strawberries fruit jam (no sugar) cold/expeller pressed unrefined oils coconut oil flax oil olive oil ghee (clarified butter) sesame seeds pumpkin seeds nut butters (not peanut) almonds walnuts macadamia nuts pecans salt, pepper, spices honey stevia (natural sweetener) rice syrup maple syrup |
beef pork processed meats like hot dogs or cold cuts eggs shellfish tofu tempeh milk cheese ice cream cream non-dairy creamer all gluten-containing products canned or creamed soups veggies creamed or in casseroles coffee decaf coffee postum citrus alcohol soda all products made from gluten-containing grains (long list) citrus fruit strawberries dried fruit margarine shortening butter all types of vinegar (including condiments and salad dressings) sugar chocolate artificial sweeteners |
Pretty scary, nu? I’ve done simpler versions of this sort of thing in the past, but never anything this comprehensive. I will really have to pay attention to what I eat. I think it’s an indicator of just how miserable my health is that I’m willing to give up all this stuff for several weeks while we figure out whether I’m allergic to any of it. I’m praying that I’m not allergic to gluten – that stuff is everywhere.
However, the bf and I are planning to go out to dinner tomorrow so I’m starting the diet Thursday. I am so not going to a nice, fancy restaurant with the bf and only having a salad with no dressing and a chicken breast or something. You know? I’m still going to be good and generally avoid all this stuff, though, until Thursday when I cut it out entirely. It’s worth the inconvenience if I can just figure out wtf is wrong with me.
Going off the caffeine is going to suck hardcore. I get headachey without my morning cup of tea or can of soda. But that’s what I get for habitually using an addictive substance, right? Wish me luck.
One Response to Allergy diet