How to Pinpoint & Solve Chronic Inflammation Using the Elimination Diet

Do you have joint pain, eczema, psoriasis, brain fog, stomach issues, mood swings, headaches, or any other chronic issues? These should not be ignored. They are signs that your body is fighting off a foreign invader. You may not think that chronic knee pain or headaches could be linked to your food, but think again. If you don't avoid foods or products that your body considers toxic it will cause constant inflammation leading to long-term health issues. Let's start by talking about what inflammation is.

Inflammation comes in two forms, acute and chronic. Acute inflammation is not bad. It is our body's natural way of healing. Think about it like this, when you cut your finger or hit your knee on the side of the bed these create signs that show your body's healing process. With the cut, it will become red, swollen, and eventually scab over. Your knee will get bruised, swollen, and red. Acute inflammation is a good thing because it allows our body to heal.

Chronic inflammation, on the other hand, is when your body constantly has to fight. As an example, when you eat sugar or simple carbs, your insulin spikes. If you continuously eat sugar and simple carbs, your pancreas is working overtime to produce insulin and balance your glucose. Over time, this chronic inflammation can lead to diabetes and other metabolic conditions. This is just one example, but you get the gist.

So knowing this, how do you know what foods you could be allergic to or sensitive to? To find food allergies, have your doctor do an IgE test to measure antibodies in your blood and show which foods you need to avoid. What if you don't have a full-blown allergy? How can you determine which foods could still be causing some of your chronic issues? Below I will lay out some steps for you to take to pinpoint a food sensitivity.

The Big Eight

Let's talk about The Big Eight. These are the most common food allergies or sensitivities. They account for approximately 90% of all allergens in the US.

1. Eggs

2. Wheat

3. Shellfish

4. Peanuts

5. Milk

6. Tree nuts

7. Soy

8. Fish.

Step 1

Think about the above items. How much do you eat them? Do you remember any symptoms the last time you ate them? Choose 1 of the items and completely eliminate it for a minimum of 3 weeks. It takes 3 weeks for antibodies to start to decrease. Watch out for sneaky ways these items make their way into your food. When eating out, make sure to let them know you are not eating that certain food. Check labels to make sure the item is not "processed in a facility with tree nuts" for example, if you're staying away from tree nuts.

Step 2

After waiting at least 3 weeks, reintroduce the food into your diet. Eat this food at least once a day for a week. Take note of how you feel and the symptoms you experience. Sometimes the symptoms will be small such as brain fog or fatigue. Other times, you could experience big symptoms like stomach issues or migraines. Make sure you take note of all changes.

Step 3

If you're not sure if that particular food was an issue, try again. Go off the food for at least 3 weeks and once you introduce it again take note of how you feel. If you feel fine, move on to another item. If you have symptoms, it may be best to avoid them as they are causing some type of inflammation in your body.

If you've already tried eliminating all of the Big Eight foods and still are not sure where your symptoms are coming from, here are the next group of foods that are common for food sensitivities.

• Gluten

• Dairy

• Alcohol

• Sugar

• Caffeine

• Corn

• Citrus Fruits

• Legumes

• Hydrogenated Oils

• Processed Foods

If you ask me, I would tell you to give up at least hydrogenated oils and processed foods at a minimum. Hydrogenated oils, also known as trans fats or partially hydrogenated oils, are found in lots of processed and baked foods. They are also used in lots of restaurants for frying because they can be reheated over and over again and are cheap. These oils cause heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

I would also advise severely limiting your alcohol and sugar intake. I've already harped on sugar above, but it's really one of the main causes of almost every disease. Americans eat way too much sugar in their diets. As for alcohol, I'm sure I don't have to tell you that alcohol is not a health food. It causes sleep disruptions, dehydrates you, interferes with your body's ability to produce HGH, and has recently been linked to cancer. To read more specifics about sugar and alcohol, check out my post here.

Elimination diets have helped so many people pinpoint issues from ADHD to IBS. If you're ready to start this today, check out this one-pager under printouts, that you can print or download to take with you on the go.