Elimination diets are designed to improve the body’s health and treat diseases by regulating the diet, treating intestinal permeability, and improving absorption.
Intestinal permeability allows both harmful molecules that should not enter the body and nutrients that should be absorbed to pass through.
Harmful molecules are perceived as foreign by the body and can cause problems such as allergies and autoimmune diseases. This can lead to chronic diseases.
When there is malabsorption, we cannot get the nutrients we need from the foods we eat, no matter how much we eat.
Mineral and vitamin deficiencies can lead to problems such as anemia, numbness in the hands and feet, cramps, osteoporosis. This can even pave the way for cancer development.
In the treatment of autoimmune diseases caused by intestinal permeability, the primary goal is to free the body from the antigen load coming from the excessively permeable intestine. After intestinal permeability is improved, the foods that are reintroduced into the diet are slowly introduced according to the body’s readiness to prevent the recurrence of the condition.
In elimination diets for autoimmune events, the diet starts with a heavy diet at the beginning. Legumes, dairy products, gluten, rice, and potatoes are cut out. However, the decision on which foods to cut out is of course made on a person-by-person basis after a detailed history and examination.
The elimination diet is followed for about 3-6 weeks and then opened slowly. Sometimes longer periods may be required. The triggering food is found and its use is delayed, and that food is tried again after two to three weeks.
The goal is to rest the body for a while and normalize the wrong response.
Once the gut heals, autoimmune diseases begin to improve, as do memory problems, concentration problems, allergies, and pain, which we call brain fog.
It is also aimed to ensure compliance with the diet and shorten this period by adding supplements such as magnesium, omega 3, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and other B vitamins, selenium, iodine, folic acid, and glutamine as needed. Supplements are decided based on personal assessment and blood tests.
Of course, evaluating other factors such as a person’s compliance with the diet, exercise, stress management, and sleep, and supporting them if necessary, is also a part of the treatment.
Providing detoxification is also important to prevent conditions that can lead to the accumulation of heavy metals in the body.
To live a healthier life, we must first be ready for our own change and move towards change, even if it is in small steps every day.
