The main points of the diet
- Identify responsible foods for food hypersensitivity using a defined protocol
- Reduce the severity of symptoms through rotation
The benefits of the diet
- Identify the foods that cause symptoms
- Reduce symptoms and improve quality of life
- Gradually reintroduce foods to increase tolerance
- Learn to better understand and anticipate your body's reactions to food
What is food intolerance or sensitivity?
No matter how healthy our diet is, at some point in our lives we may develop unpleasant reactions to certain foods.
This is known as food hypersensitivity.
The field of food allergies and sensitivities is very complex and constantly evolving.
Every year the science of immunology makes new discoveries that help to clarify and simplify the understanding of the health problems that result.
It should be noted that we will only briefly discuss allergic reactions of the anaphylactic type, such as allergies to pumpkin, shellfish, peppers, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, eggs, etc.
A true allergy is life-threatening and requires urgent intervention. If this happens to you, see an allergist.
The allergist will be able to find out which food is causing the reaction and prescribe the necessary treatment.
For this reason, we will only discuss food sensitivities here.
Symptoms of food intolerance or sensitivity
Observable symptoms may take time to manifest themselves to the detriment of health.
So far, food sensitivities/intolerances can partially explain certain autoimmune diseases. Here are some examples:
- Skin: atopic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema, urticaria
- Respiratory: allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever)
- Musculoskeletal: rheumatoid arthritis
- The gastrointestinal system: Crohn's disease, irritable bowel syndrome, eosinophilic oesophagitis
- Nervous system: certain types of migraine, autism (pervasive developmental disorder), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
What can cause hypersensitivity or food intolerance?
It is possible that hypersensitivity is caused by a lack of dietary variety, intestinal permeability, genetic predisposition or the presence of an atopic site (general susceptibility to allergic reactions).
This alleged link between disease and food hypersensitivity is still the subject of many scientific studies.
Dietary recommendations
This sheet presents the rotation (or elimination) diet recommended in cases of hypersensitivity or food intolerance to one or more foods.
These are called hypersensitivities and intolerances.
Food allergies should only be treated by an allergist.
Recommended foods for hypersensitivity
In the case of hypersensitivity or food intolerance, it is recommended that the diet be as varied as possible to avoid nutritional deficiencies.
It is very important to follow the rotation plan below, strictly adhering to the protocol.
This will allow you to identify the foods responsible for the unpleasant symptoms, eliminate them and find a better quality of life.
Do not hesitate to be accompanied by a qualified nutritionist to follow the programme below.
A varied diet
The concept of food diversity seems very simple, but few people actually apply it.
It is necessary to distinguish between the form and the origin of each food.
For example, bread, pasta and couscous have different shapes but the same origin: they all come from wheat.
Cheese, milk and yoghurt come in three different forms, but all come from cow's milk.
So we consume a wide variety of foods, but not necessarily many foods from different origins.
However, it is important to eat foods from a variety of origins.
So if you eat wheat cereal for breakfast, it would be better to choose another type of cereal, such as rice, millet or quinoa, for other meals and the next breakfast.
Similarly, it is advisable not to eat the same thing mechanically every morning, but to vary your diet (butter, margarine, oilseed purée, honey, etc.).
After consuming cow's milk yoghurt, it is best to focus on other dairy products for the rest of the day.
For example, goat's milk or cheese, or a soy, rice or almond drink.