The Benefits of an Elimination Diet
Historically, there is a pill for every problem. That seems to be the launching pad for every medical concern. What needs to be understood is this- medications are toxins; man-made compounds with side effects. Does that make sense? To place a substance in the body that can cause additional harm? Why wouldn’t the first line of treatment be something completely natural with the ability to nourish & ultimately heal the body?
Food is the most powerful medicine there is. It is used to decrease inflammation, improve gut health and improve chronic diseases. Food can also trigger inflammation and cause unwanted symptoms. Getting sick is frustrating and pain is exhausting. What is the one thing everyone wants? Relief. Improvement. Health. Energy. Of course every living being wants to be well. The best place to start that journey is- you guessed it, with food. An elimination diet helps identify what food items contribute to wellness and what feeds illness. Specific foods can be eliminated one at a time, typically dairy or gluten, the two biggest food triggers. Other elimination diets combine gluten and dairy with other food triggers such as soy, nuts, seafood, eggs, alcohol, caffeine and sugar.
Selected food items are eliminated for up to six weeks to determine how the body will react and what symptoms will reoccur once foods are slowly reintroduced into the diet one at a time. It takes about 21 days to remove food triggers from the system. During weeks 4-6 the body begins to improve it’s overall function. Energy increases, bowel habits and sleep improve, joint pain, headaches, depression, and anxiety have also been known to improve, along with other chronic diseases.
The elimination diet takes time and patience, but it is worth the effort to experience lasting, positive results. It is important to plan meals, stay hydrated and get enough rest to ensure success and avoid pitfalls. I challenge you to use food to change your life. You just might thank me for it.
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