A reader recently asked me about rosacea outbreaks and food. I gather that rosacea is a distressing condition of reddening and change in the skin on the face. It is known to come on with different factors. The one most cited is alcohol, but there are others. I can let you know that I have not seen it in any food sensitive people. But in a way finding out what may make a difference is diet detective work too. You may even have to do it backwards such as excluding foods you may suspect such … [Read more...]
The delightful relief of having milk on a milk-free diet
If you used to enjoy yummy cheese, yoghurt, ice cream, milk on cereal or a milky dessert, and maybe milk drinks as well, it is no fun having to exclude all dairy foods. However for most people this can change. It can be such a relief just not having to be really careful that there is no milk at all in your other foods. Of course if you, or your child, is anaphylactic, or exquisitely sensitive, to milk, or you are breastfeeding a very milk-sensitive baby, complete exclusion is necessary. But in … [Read more...]
Thinking about cures for food-chemical sensitivity symptoms
For hundreds of years people put up with various symptoms that we can now greatly decrease with diet therapy. It would be life changing to have a new treatment that meant that people who had several of the usual symptoms, or families that have the range of symptoms, could eat foods that usually produce distressing symptoms. However just thinking about the range of symptoms is enough to make us realize that this is a very complex issue. Since I met my first diet responders in the late 1970s I … [Read more...]
The delightful wickedness of eating wheat on a wheat free diet
Most people think that wheat or gluten has to be completely excluded where it is thought to be a problem. This is not so except for those who are coeliacs or those who have anaphylaxis or symptoms that would land them in hospital. They should read no further. Everyone else can read about how they can get away with small amounts of foods containing wheat. They are such a pleasure. The crunch and taste of even one crisp wheat cracker, or the enjoyment of the smell and feel of very fresh crusty … [Read more...]
Food challenges if you are very sensitive
If you are very sensitive ANY change in food, in yourself, or in your environment, is a diet challenge. Some people cannot do the usual food challenges as they are so sensitive a reaction would make them very sick maybe even for day, and take up to two weeks to clear. What can they do? Fortunately the book Tolerating Troublesome Foods has over 300 foods in ascending order of riskiness beginning at risk rating 1/10 and up to 10/10. There are five aspects to consider. You have had a … [Read more...]
The Family Sensitivity History: a surprising part of planning your elimination diet
Most people think that the best way to plan your elimination diet is to use lists from a trusted source. But that is not all you can use. An important resource lies in what you can find out from your own family. You may get information that helps you decide what main foods you should reduce or minimise from the beginning. If you or your brothers or sisters, or your parents’ generation, had trouble with dairy in infancy then it makes sense that you should minimise dairy. But if no-one in the … [Read more...]
The Patient-Centred Diamond Plan
The diagram below shows my "diamond" structure for patient-centred treatment. Download as a PDF here. … [Read more...]