ASK DR. LEIBERMAN

Question:

Is it possible to build up a tolerance for foods by reintroducing them in small amounts on a rotation basis?  Give us a detailed plan on how to carry this out, what to look for, etc.  Can you do more than one food at a time?

Answer:

The classical approach to the treatment of food intolerance is avoidance.  However, an alternative has been to us a rotary diet.   Following a period of avoidance most patients will develop tolerance for foods which can occur in as short a time period as 7 - 12 days.  Younger children seem to develop tolerance quicker than older children and adults.  The use of the rotary diversified diet is a technique utilized by most physicians practicing environmental medicine and allergy treatment for the purpose of promoting tolerance to foods.  The four day rotation was developed on the basis that, in most cases, a food which was ingested today would most probably be totally eliminated from the GI tract in four days.   If, however, a patient was constipated, that food may be retained for a much longer period than four days and the four day rotary diversified diet would not be as effective.   In doing the rotary diet, one can use multiple different foods which are rotated - not just one - and, as a matter of fact, it is preferable that one not eat just one food at a time as this seems to increase sensitization.  One should, instead, eat two or more foods at a particular meal.  In summary then, it would appear that simple avoidance is an effective way to regain tolerance and to rotate foods seems to be a way of maintaining tolerance.

For more information on Rotation Diets click here

Question:

Can allergies cause joint pain?  If so, could you give us an example of certain substances that have been proven to cause joint pain?  Is there any supplement that you can recommend to help ease achy joints?

Answer:

Allergies can adversely affect any part of the body including the joints.   Allergies to inhalants, pollens, chemicals, and foods can result in joint pain, although, the most common trigger is food.  Identification of the trigger can be accomplished with allergy testing and elimination diets.  Once the triggers are known, treatment with immunotherapy (allergy extract) and/or avoidance/food rotation is the most effective method of eliminating the discomfort.  Results from a three-center study found that the most common triggers are beef, pork, soy, coffee and apple.