Why the Elimination Diet? - Village Naturopaths

In short, this therapeutic eating program has produced wonderful results for many of our patients over the years. It is a great starting point for those wishing to take charge of their health and it is a great program to return to for a quick re-boot (i.e. during change of seasons/after a summer of beer and BBQ).

This program is a template that allows for both a gentle “detoxification” of your system while providing an opportunity to assess for any potential food intolerances that might be contributing to your symptoms.

This program is both an assessment and a healing tool.

By doing this program you give your digestive system a break and your body’s vitality an opportunity to express itself. You may find that many of your symptoms improve simply by doing this program. After three weeks, your Naturopathic Doctor will have a much clearer picture as to which body systems might require more support, using the other naturopathic modalities (herbs, acupuncture, supplements, homeopathics, counselling). This program is a critical starting point on your healing journey. It is also a wonderful program to re-visit if you need a little bit of a re-set.

The Comprehensive Elimination Diet is a dietary program designed to clear the body of foods and chemicals that you may be allergic or sensitive to, and, at the same time, improve your body’s ability to handle and dispose of these substances.

We have called this an “Elimination Diet” because we will be asking you to remove certain foods, and food categories, from your diet. The main rationale behind the diet is that these modifications allow your body’s detoxification machinery, which may be overburdened or compromised, the opportunity to recover and begin to function efficiently again. The dietary changes help the liver and digestive system to heal, and better eliminate or “clear” harmful metabolites (loosely translated as “toxins”) that may have accumulated due to environmental exposure, foods, beverages, drugs, alcohol, or cigarette smoking. One of the main, and lasting benefits of this program is the identification of FOOD INTOLERANCES (see below).

Please note that there really is no “typical” or “normal” response to this diet. A person’s initial response to any new diet is highly variable, and this diet is no exception. This can be attributed to physiological, mental, and biochemical differences among individuals; the degree of exposure to, and type of “toxin;” and other lifestyle factors. Most often, individuals on the elimination diet report increased energy, mental alertness, decrease in muscle or joint pain, and a general sense of improved well-being. However, some people report some initial reactions to the diet, especially in the first week, as their bodies adjust to a different dietary program. Symptoms you may experience in the first week, or so, can include changes in sleep patterns, light-headedness, headaches, joint or muscle stiffness and changes in gastrointestinal function. Such symptoms rarely last for more than a few days.

In our experience, we have found this process to be generally well tolerated and extremely beneficial.

Why The Elimination Diet, Basic Summary:

It assesses for hidden food intolerances

Gut Health is the cornerstone to overall health

Building new, healthy habits is great preventative healthcare

Detoxification gives your body the opportunity to better express its healing potential

All body systems can benefit

Food Intolerances vs Allergies

When people think of food allergies, they mostly think about anaphylactic reactions (i.e. swelling of the throat when eating a peanut). When someone has an immediate allergic response (an IgE mediated response) to a food, it is rather obvious! But, there are also foods that your immune system might be responding to in a less obvious way. This is known as a delayed sensitivity immune response. This type of response is mediated by an IgG type response.

“In an IgG reaction, the IgG antibodies attach themselves to the food antigen and create an antibody-antigen complex. These complexes are normally removed by special cells called macrophages. However, if they are present in large numbers and the reactive food is still being consumed, the macrophages can’t remove them quickly enough. The food antigen-antibody complexes accumulate and are deposited in body tissues. Once in tissue, these complexes release inflammation causing chemicals, which may play a role in numerous diseases and conditions.” (RMAlab.com)

There is a growing body of evidence to support the clinical benefits of eliminating IgG reactive foods from the diet (see links below). Since IgG reactions can take up to 72 hours to develop, it can be difficult to determine which foods are contributing to a person’s symptoms. This is exactly why food RE-INTRODUCTION on the Elimination Diet is so important. It gives you the opportunity to assess for your own individual intolerances, one food at a time.

Gut is Boss, Digestion as the Foundation

Holistic, preventative health can be quite complex, but it can also be really quite simple: TREAT THE GUT and see how the body responds. The digestive system is responsible for absorption of nutrients, elimination of waste, and protection from environmental factors (viruses, bacteria, infections). If your digestive system is compromised, then your capacity to absorb nutrients is compromised, and can effect many basic physiological functions; your ability to eliminate waste from the body is compromised, resulting in a toxic burden that can wreak havoc on your cells; the function of your immune system may be compromised, lending to auto immune disease, allergies and susceptibility to infections (colds, flus etc). There is also a growing body of evidence to suggest that an imbalance of proper bacteria in the digestive system (the microbiome) can lend to obesity, chronic pain (fibromyalgia), mood disorders (depression, attention deficits), via the gut-brain connection.

This is why evaluating for, and eliminating, any individual food intolerances is so foundational. It is the first step to optimizing your health; both in the treatment and the PREVENTION of all the conditions discussed so far.

Systems and Symptoms That Can Benefit

IgG food sensitivities have been implicated in migraine headaches and irritable bowel syndrome (alternating diarrhea and constipation). Bloating and indigestion are also common food sensitivity reactions, as is fatigue. Continued consumption of reactive foods may contribute to weight gain and/or difficulty losing weight. Eczema is also commonly associated with food reactions.

In our combined 17 years of practice we have seen the identification and elimination of food intolerances help people lose weight and to improve a number of other symptoms, such as chronic pain, dysmenorrhea (menstrual pain), acne, brain fog, attention deficits and more (see links below). Any symptom with underlying INFLAMMMATION may improve due to this program.

Good luck and enjoy the process! We look forward to hearing about how the program has worked for you!

In health and happiness,

Richard and Kristina