SINGLE FOOD ELIMINATION DIET
Elimination diets consist of two phases. The first phase is to avoid the offending food, the second phase is reintroducing the food and watching for a reaction - immediate and delayed.
The single food elimination diet is an easy one to follow. Once you have identified the offending food simply feed the offending to your child on a four day rotational basis. If you child has dairy on Day 1 do not feed it to your child until Day 5. When your child has not eaten for 3 or 4 hours feed your child the offending food. This diet will enable you to see a reaction with 15 to 60 minutes of your child ingesting the food. Always remember to do this, and any diet, This diet helps parents and physicians to identify the foods that cause behavioral problems, stomach issues, skin rashes, headaches, and other medical and emotional problems. Some allergic delays can occur within 6 to 24 hours. Delayed reactions can help you recognize delayed reactions such as bedwetting, joint tightness, leg-aches, asthma, etc.
Most food reactions last from one minute to an hour or two. Remember to remove the food in all forms, and to read all foods labels for hidden suspects. If you are eliminating dairy watch for casein as well. Click here to read about the foods that you will find dairy, wheat and gluten in.
Sources
The complete Food Allergy Cookbook by Marilyn Gioannini
Is This Your Child by Dr. Doris Rapp
Web Links
Feingold Association Elimination Diet