Food and Why it Could Be Causing Some of Your Symptoms
Dr. Lauren Hutson
Are you often left feeling bloated or dealing with indigestion after meals? Perhaps you’re battling more persistent issues like food allergies, autoimmune disorders, or unexplained skin conditions. These symptoms can be disruptive and often perplexing. But there might be a straightforward strategy to pinpoint the cause and craft a tailored solution.
Introducing the elimination diet – it’s not just a diet but a journey towards understanding your body better. It’s a methodical approach where you become a detective, identifying and removing specific foods or groups from your diet temporarily. The goal? To see if these foods are the hidden agents causing discomfort or adverse reactions.
This isn’t a wild guess but a strategy often suggested for those grappling with food sensitivities or allergies. It’s remarkable how a simple sensitivity can manifest as various symptoms post-meal, and yet, we might overlook it amid the complex list of ingredients in today’s processed foods.
As a practitioner, I see the elimination diet as an insightful tool for patients with mysterious, chronic symptoms possibly tied to their diet. It unfolds in phases:
Assessment: It begins with a comprehensive look at your daily diet.
Elimination: Next, you remove potential culprits – typically dairy, gluten, or corn – for a few weeks.
Observation: Keep a vigilant eye on how your body responds during this phase, perhaps maintaining a food diary.
Reintroduction: Gradually bring back these foods, one at a time, to watch for any symptom flare-ups.
Analysis: Connect the dots between the foods you reintroduce and any recurring symptoms.
Long-Term Management: Finally, devise a diet plan that avoids triggering your symptoms, paving the way for better health.
While it might seem daunting, this method has helped many draw the map to a more comfortable life. For those looking for a quicker albeit pricier route, stool tests for food and spice sensitivities are available. These tests can demystify which foods are in harmony with your body, offering a customized blueprint for optimal gut health and longevity.
Tackling chronic symptoms can be a complex puzzle, but sometimes the pieces fall into place through understanding the role of diet. So, if you’re ready to embark on this revealing journey, an elimination diet could be your path to a symptom-free life.
Meet the Author
Dr. Lauren Hutson is an experienced Primary Care Provider with degrees in Neuroscience and Biology from University of Texas at Austin. She completed her residency at Baylor Scott and White, Texas A&M, and has a strong focus on preventive care and chronic illness management. During the pandemic, she provided critical care as a Hospitalist in New Mexico, exemplifying her commitment to holistic, patient-centered care.