When you undergo testing for Celiac disease, elimination diets are also common to see if it makes any noticeable improvement or difference, especially in the case of a negative test result. While testing can be helpful for diagnosing many people who are gluten intolerant, these testing results are not always accurate, and so just because a test is negative does it mean you may not be sensitive to gluten and wheat products.
Celiac disease is a condition where one is intolerant of a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye known as gluten. Antibodies are made against this protein, and they begin attacking the villi in the small intestine, causing stomach pain and gastrointestinal discomfort and symptoms. In some circumstances, there are also many neurological effects from Celiac disease which can include brain fog, headaches, tingling or numbness, anxiety and other issues. In the case of gluten ataxia, antibodies produced to fight the gluten actually begin attacking brain cells, sometimes causing severe damage to those who do not have their condition diagnosed and do not follow a gluten free diet.
There are many reasons to consider an elimination diet, even if it does not seem if gluten is bothering you. Unfortunately, many people who give up gluten soon find they are sensitive to other foods as well, which can sometimes give them a muddled view of what foods are triggers and which are safe to eat. While there are a number of blood tests which can be done, it is not always accurate, since many proteins in foods have similar structures – so for example a test may reveal you are allergic to bananas, when actually you are not allergic to bananas but instead potatoes.
The best thing to do when following an elimination diet is to track exactly what you eat and what symptoms you notice. For this, we’ve got a great Free Printable Elimination Diet Diary which can help you notice any patterns.
You should generally follow the elimination diet which your doctor recommends, however we understand that many people are also on their own when it comes to diagnosing food intolerances, since a lot of doctors think you are insane or over reacting. In most cases, following a very basic and simple one week diet can help you notice patterns and trends, but it can be difficult at the same time, especially when you are used to going out to eat or visiting relatives at parties and such.
A basic one week diet should include only fruit for breakfast (such as bananas or apples), though a hot rice cereal (such as Cream of Rice) would also be okay. For lunch and dinner, plain vegetables or meats would be okay to eat. (Salt/spices are usually okay, but stay away from any sauces and condiments). When following an elimination diet, you will want to make sure you eliminate the top allergens, which are wheat (gluten), milk, soy, nuts, corn, yeast, and eggs. Prepare for it to be a very boring week as far as food you eat goes!
The good news is, after one week you can start gradually introducing a new food and waiting 2 days before intoducing another. So, after a whole week of your boring rice, vegetable, fruit, meat diet, you can bring back corn, wait a few days, then try milk, wait a few days, then try soy, wait a few days, have some nuts, wait a few days, have an egg. The only one that you need to wait longer than two weeks for is wheat, because this can take several months, since your body needs to heal itself. One should ideally stay on a strict gluten free diet for at least 30 days, if not 60 days, before trying to eat something with wheat in it to see if a reaction occurs.
Now, here’s where it gets tricky – how do you know if you’re actually reacting to a food or not?
Some foods will give you an immediate reaction. For example, if I eat wheat, within an hour I will have hives on my legs. Some people will feel severe stomach pain, or be running to the bathroom. Everyone reacts differently. Some people will have a headache, others dry skin, some will feel sleepy. This is why it’s so very important to record every single thing you eat (and drink!) to see what effect it has on you. Don’t forget to remember spices or seasonings or sweeteners you use. (Many people are sensitive to sorbitol, a sweetener used in most sugar substitutes).
Elimination diets to diagnose celiac disease aren’t necessarily easy – especially if you are trying to determine if you may have multiple food allergies, however the fortunate news is eventually you will start feeling better and enjoying food in a whole new different and exciting way!
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