An elimination diet is a type of dietary restriction where you eliminate certain foods from your diet. Ask yourself these elimination diet questions to determine if you are a candidate who needs to follow an elimination diet.
This type of diet can be helpful for those suffering from food allergies or intolerances. However, there are several questions you should ask yourself before beginning an elimination diet.
Table of Contents
1. What do I hope to accomplish by eliminating these foods?
This question helps determine whether or not you’re doing this for the right reasons. If you’re trying to cure a health condition such as eczema, celiac disease, or irritable bowel syndrome, then you may want to consider an elimination diet.
However, if you’re simply trying to lose weight, then you may want instead to focus on a low-calorie diet.
2. How much time am I willing to spend preparing meals?
It takes about 20 minutes to prepare one meal using a slow cooker. If you plan to cook every single meal for the next week, then you’ll need to invest in a slow cooker.
Alternatively, you can buy frozen meals and reheat them in the microwave.
3. Do I have access to fresh produce?
Fresh fruits and vegetables are essential for a healthy diet. If you don’t have access to fresh produce, then you may want to consider buying canned or frozen produce.
4. Am I willing to eat bland foods?
When you eliminate certain foods from the diet, you may find that you crave foods that were previously forbidden. For example, people who suffer from lactose intolerance often crave milk products after they’ve eliminated dairy from their diets.
5. Will my family support me?
If you are going to eliminate certain foods from your family’s diet, then you should discuss this with them beforehand. They may not understand why you want to cut out certain foods, so you may want to explain your reasoning first.
6. Can I afford to purchase these foods?
Some foods are expensive. For example, organic apples cost $3 per pound, whereas regular apples cost $0.50 per pound.
7. Is this something I’m passionate about?
If you’re passionate about eating healthier, then you may want to try an elimination diet. However, if you’re just looking to lose weight, then it may be better to stick with a low-calorie, low-fat diet.
8. Does this fit into my lifestyle?
There are many different types of elimination diets. Some people choose to eliminate gluten, sugar, dairy, soy, eggs, nuts, and grains. Others choose to eliminate specific ingredients such as artificial sweeteners, preservatives, and colors.
9. Are there any side effects associated with this diet?
The most common side effect of an elimination diet is gas. Other possible side effects include headaches, constipation, diarrhea, fatigue, and mood swings.
10. How will I know if I’m successful?
After you complete an elimination diet, you’ll be able to tell if you’re successful based on your symptoms. If you feel better, then you may want to continue following the diet. Otherwise, you may want to reintroduce the foods back into your diet.
In conclusion, the first step toward achieving your goal of leading a healthy life is to evaluate your diet.
The answers to the above questions will help you determine whether or not you’re already doing the right things for a healthy life. If you aren’t convinced with some of your own answers, reconsider an elimination diet.