The elimination diet is not necessarily a long term lifestyle change, but can be important in diagnosing common food allergies, intolerance, and sensitivities. Common sensitivities include: gluten, nuts, caffeine, shellfish, fish, eggs, dairy, and soy. The diet involves removing specific foods for a period of a few weeks to a few months to observe how the body reacts. Food can then be reintroduced to see if the symptoms return. Keeping a food diary is very important to record and positive or negative effects.

Many people know if they have a true food allergy which causes rashes, hives, vomiting, or anaphylaxis. Suffering from food sensitivities are less severe with the symptoms showing up days after eating the food. If you are experiencing indigestion, heartburn, cramps, headaches, fatigue, or nausea, the elimination diet is something you should try.

Other physiological and physical factors should also be examined. The best part of this diet is that it will raise awareness about the effects the food have on your body. This diet does require an extensive amount of discipline and it is recommended that you have someone to keep you accountable. It is also important that you are also receiving all of the necessary vitamins and nutrients.