As I mentioned in my previous post, my doctor put me on an Elimination Diet. The purpose is to heal my gut, because everything starts in the gut. Healthy gut = healthy everything else. So it’s a great place to start for jumpstarting my fertility. I didn’t magically get pregnant right away, but I do feel amazing and like I said, it was a great place to start. I am just now beginning the reintroduction process so I will keep you all updated! Oh, and it doesn’t hurt that I’ve lost a few pounds too. Most of us don’t hate that š
What is the Elimination Diet?
The idea of an elimination diet is to eliminate foods that potentially could be causing inflammation, discomfort, or contributing to a long list of health problems. According to The Institute for Functional Medicine, it “removes common foods that may be causing symptoms and, with reintroduction, helps patients identify the foods that may be triggering their symptoms.”
After 3 weeks of the elimination diet, the food re-introduction process begins. This includes trying out the foods that were eliminated one at a time and observing whether that food is associated with negative symptoms. If a reaction occurs (this could be anything from a breakout to bloating or diarrhea), then it’s recommended to eliminate that food for another 3 to 6 months to allow further healing to take place in the gut.
Elimination Diet Features
There are 8 features outlined in the elimination diet that help you realize the goals and guidelines and those are:
- Reduces inflammation
- Support Healthy Microbiome
- Diary-Free, Gluten-Free
- Phytonutrients to Heal the Gut
- Reduces Toxic Burden
- No Calorie Restriction
- Promotes Body Awareness of Food
- Identifies Food triggers
What to eat/not to eat on the Elimination Diet?
Foods to avoid: Alcohol, Beef, Chocolate, Coffee, Soft drinks, Tea, Corn, Dairy Products, Eggs, Gluten-containing grains, Peanuts, Pork, Processed meats, Shellfish, Soy and Soy products, Sugar (all forms of refined sugar).
Foods to eat: Dairy Alternatives, Fish, Fruits, Game meats, Gluten-free whole grains, Healthy oils, legumes (except peanuts, soy), nuts (except peanuts), Poultry, Seeds, Vegetables
Recipes and Food Ideas
This way of eating can feel limiting and restrictive, but it’s not too bad if you’re prepared! I thought I would share some ideas that helped me a lot.
Sonoma Chicken Salad (Make sure to use an egg-free mayo such as this one)
Paleo Gyros and Tzatziki Sauce
Fiesta Avocado Salad (Minus corn, add chicken)
Mediterranean Quinoa Salad (Minus the Feta Cheese. I also added Chicken)
Also check out some of my snack ideas for food – but remember to make them dairy-free!!
*This is what was recommended to ME from MY DOCTOR, but if you feel it may help you, talk to your healthcare practitioner about it and see if it might be right for you.*
Adrienne Biehl 