Food allergies are common all over the world. A study published in Social Science and Medicine in 2008 indicated that about 2-20% of the global population is sensitive to certain foods and experiences symptoms on the consumption of such foods, without realising what they’re going through. Suffering from long-term food allergies can cause metabolic syndrome and digestive disorders, which in turn can lead to chronic health issues like irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, wheat allergy or celiac disease.
To diagnose and treat these allergies right at the beginning, dieticians and allergy specialists recommend elimination diets to figure out exactly which foods from your diet are causing the allergy. Elimination diets are the standard tests doctors use to identify all types of food intolerances, sensitivities and allergies that are triggered by food items you may have included in your regular diet.
It is important to remember that elimination diets are used to identify the sources of allergies and are therefore short-term diets. These elimination diets are not long-term prescriptions for weight loss or any other aspect of health and should only be undertaken under the strict guidance of a trained nutritionist, gastroenterologist or similarly specialised medical professional. Here’s everything you need to know about elimination diets.
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