Have You Tried an Elimination Diet?

By Stepy Kamei

If you've been looking to improve your overall health, especially if you want to lose weight, I don't need to tell you that your diet plays a big part in shaping your total well-being. It's one of the most significant aspects of our lives, and it can influence our lifestyles both immediately and in a more long-term fashion based on our overall eating patterns and habits. One of the best ways to approach any diet is have your body functions operating optimally, which may be achieved by a trip to The Joint Chiropractic for a spinal adjustment. The spine houses the central nervous system, which impacts every element of our body; if we're operating at 100 percent in the spine, losing weight become that much more efficient when we apply ourselves. 

If you're experiencing some sort of health concern, it may be traced, at least partly, back to the foods you consume on a regular basis. Even if you think this doesn't apply to you, you may have a food allergy or intolerance that you don't even know about. Eliminating these foods from your diet may be the one thing you need to do to drastically improve your health and rid yourself of such issues as fatgue, rashes, and moodiness. I've seen this method work well first-hand, both for myself as well as for other people. For instance, once I cut out most junk food and fast food from my life, I noticed an increase in my energy levels and mood, not to mention I experienced fewer digestive issues such as stomach cramps and heartburn. 

Beginning An Elimination Diet

Undergoing an elimination diet can be a lengthy process, but anyone who has done it successfully will gladly tell you that the effort you put in now will be worth it later on down the line. At the very beginning, devote a journal or notepad to this new task. Write down a list of any current chronic symptoms you may be experiencing, such as fatigue, frequent headaches, skin rashes, bloating, etc. Getting these health concerns out on paper can help you see what needs to change with your health.

Starting an Elimination Diet

As you begin the process of eliminating one food group or ingredient at a time, keep using that journal. Before you eat anything, write down how you feel physically and mentally/emotionally. After you eat, record the same information. Have there been any changes at all? Over time, the information you record may begin to take on a pattern which you can use to learn which foods may be upsetting your body. 

You may be wondering which food groups you should focus on eliminating. If you have any clues as to what may be bothering you, start there. Otherwise, go one item at a time, giving each a few days to settle in your system. Cut out dairy one week, soy the next, and fast food after that. Hopefully you can devote a full week, or at least three days, to each food group or ingredient, so you can figure out what's been bothering you.