Elimination Diet Protocol.

What it is

An elimination diet helps you find foods that may be behind your symptoms. You remove common triggers, such as gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, corn and sometimes nightshades, for 3 to 4 weeks, then bring them back one at a time while you track how you feel.

It can reveal sensitivities and intolerances that standard allergy tests miss, and many people learn that a food they eat every day affects their digestion, skin, energy or headaches. A dietitian or practitioner helps you plan balanced meals, spot hidden sources and read the results.

What happens at a visit

1. An intake on your symptoms and eating history.
2. A personal plan for which foods to remove.
3. Meal plans and recipes for the elimination phase.
4. 3 to 4 weeks without those foods, tracking your symptoms.
5. Reintroducing foods one at a time.
6. Noting any reactions as each food returns.
7. A summary of the foods that suit you and the ones that don't.

Who it is for

• People with ongoing digestive issues, such as IBS or bloating
• People with unexplained fatigue or brain fog
• People with skin conditions such as eczema, acne or rashes
• People with autoimmune conditions who want to look at diet
• People whose symptoms haven't improved with other care
• Anyone who wants to tailor their diet to their own tolerance

Evidence and safety

Removing foods and then reintroducing them is a widely used, reliable way to find food intolerances, and research supports this kind of approach for IBS. Evidence for skin conditions and other symptoms is more mixed. With support it is low risk, but plan meals so you still get enough nutrients. Children, pregnant people and anyone with a history of disordered eating should work with a clinician, and never reintroduce a food that caused a serious allergic reaction without your allergist.

How Gabriel helps