Sorry this does not exactly answer your question. But I'd strongly recommend getting a simple blood test. For one thing, food journaling and elimination is fraught with problems because your body may react to food you had an hour ago or 24 hours ago. Second, going without gluten is a pain. I know this from experience. Get the blood test and rule out (or in) gluten. Trust me, you'll be glad you did.

Also before I was diagnosed with a wheat allergy, eating wheat for just one week would make me sick for months. Not any easy way to track what's making you sick then.

One word, and I hope that my child does not hear me typing it or I'll have to make one: FRITTATA. It's a great way to get in a lot of veggies and it doesn't need carbs or preservatives, and you can keep it fresh by varying the ingredients. Hopefully cheese won't be a problem so that you can eventually re-introduce that as well. Soup can be pretty safe and variable too.

I have a number of autoimmune issues and it is often reported by others that they've seen (felt) results by eliminating gluten. This is something that I would like to give a try. However, these don't have celiac disease, so this intolerance wouldn't show up on a blood test. So, while Emmi is right, passing the test doesn't mean that gluten wouldn't still be an issue.

Going off of Emmi's comment I did get the blood test done but came back with so many flags (a total of about 68 items including wheat, sugar, chicken, dairy, eggs, rice, corn and a number of herbs and veggies) that I was asked to eliminate for 6 months which meant cooking everything I ate. I am 7 months in now and am just starting to reintroduce foods in to my diet (so far I have a list of two no's and one yes-it's-okay). Despite how hard it was in the beginning to find recipes that still tasted good and weren't the same two dishes over and over, it does get easier! You'll find substitutions that work and if the diet does help then it will make a world of difference! I have no stomach issues, headaches, joint pain or insomnia since taking out everything that was flagged... though I do have to agree with Emmi that one contamination can lead to weeks of feeling sick or just off.

Recipes that should work and will freeze well might be: stews, chillis, salads, sautees.

Good luck!

I gifted a friend who was on the elimination diet while breastfeeding one of cyble pascal's books- the whole foods allergy cookbook. not everything may fit the bill for you, but she said it was very helpful: http://www.cybelepascal.com/books/

I did it and I guess I am in the minority when I say gluten is glorious and the day I reintroduced (with a beer, pasta and a side of garlic bread) was happier than the day 2 weeks earlier when I reintroduced alcohol and the day two weeks later when I reintroduced dairy.

For the first month, when I was off everything I ate eggs, roasted veggies, and lean meats.

I don't know what kind of medical information people are getting here, but the blood test I had was ONLY for wheat / gluten, not dozens of types of food. If it comes back positive, that means that your body is producing antibodies against wheat / gluten. It is an answer. This is NOT an "intolerance", it is an actual allergy. Now, if you refrain from eating gluten before you get the test, you may get inaccurate resuts. So talk to your doctor. But do not confuse intolerance with something testable and measurable like antibodies found in lab results.

By the way I seriously sympathize with people who have chronic health issues. I found out that my "fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue" were actualy severe dehydration and deficiency in magnesium and iodine. Drink lots of water, consider adding kelp to your diet. I eat eggs or fried bananas with lemon in the morning, with a smoothie. The rest of the day is soup and salad with lovely local greens and fruits. You may be starving much of the day but it could make you feel a heck of a lot better if you make tons of effort to eat a pristine diet for a while. Good luck. And don't forget to excercise even though you probably don't feel like it.

I am on a similar allergy elimination diet. I had the blood test for gluten allergy last week and am learning my results this week. I have found out since beginning the diet that I have a wheat/corn diet for certain, and already knew for years that i had an egg/dairy allergy. I just posted some photos with recipe ideas on my site feel free to check them out for inspiration http://www.bakeaholic.ca/life/i-surrender/ My favourites are turkey lettuce wraps with cranberry, turkey sausage with hasbrowns and cranberry sauce, potato/sweet potato french fries with cranberry and turkey/chicken, peach fruit cups, rice cakes with turkey lunch meat etc. Hope it helps!

Oh, and sorry to comment again, but my blood pressure was so low that my doctor insisted I add more salt to my diet. Between that, the kelp and the magnesium, I went from sleeping 14 hours a day (and being exhausted when I was "awake") to having loads of energy.

I follow a diet super similar, but we call it the Paleo diet. It's popular amongst a lot of fitness types. There are a ton of great blogs out there with recipes that are very similar to the elimination. A great example is Nom Nom Paleo, the winner of the Homie's food photography blog this year. Also try Everyday Paleo or Elana's Pantry, two other favorites of mine. Hope this helps.

I'm just about to finish an elimination diet. The first week was the hardest, then I started discovering things that work. 1. Almond milk: This was a great discovery. I'm lactose intolerant, so I was using lactose-free milk before dairy was eliminated. I've never liked soy milk, so finding almond milk was wonderful! 2. Make a turkey - it will last for a week and make lunches that much easier. 3. Protein drinks for breakfasts, lunches and snacks. If you decide on a protein drink, look at the ingredients list carefully because many of them have lots of questionable ingredients. The one I buy (from my gym) has about 5 ingredients, all of which I've heard of. :)

Oh, and @Sarah E Watson is right - look to Paleo recipes for inspiration.

My wife did an elimination diet when our daughter was born to rule out food sensitivities that surfaced while breast feeding. I'm the cook in the family so I was only allowed to use meat, potatoes, olive oil, salt, pepper, herbs, apple, carrots. We did a lot of organic. Everything was with olive oil salt and pepper. If you have quality ingredients (quality meat, good sea salt or kosher salt, fresh cracked pepper) it's pretty good. Staple meals included roasted chicken, Mashed potatoes made with olive oil and chicken stock instead of butter and milk, and salad with home made vinegrette. Chicken breast marinated in olive oil, garlic, herbs, salt and pepper. Carrots roasted at 400 again with oil salt and pepper. Risotto or rice pilaf can me made without dairy. Snack of popcorn with...you guessed it...olive oil and salt Eventually she added things back and learned what she and my daughter were sensitive to. She felt so much better too. She used to get sick after eating too much wheat or dairy. It was a challenge and not cheap, but it was worth it in the long run.

While it may include some things you can't eat, the Specific Carbohydrate Diet may give you some good ideas. There are lots of good blogs with recipes out there. My favorite recipe is their chicken soup, which I found helped when my stomach was upset. I'd make a huge batch and then keep it in the freezer for low motivation evenings.

Four words: IT DOES GET EASIER. I was restricted to only a handful of foods for a couple of years after being diagnosed with multiple food sensitivities. At first it was hard, but pretty soon, I started to feel (and look) so damn good that I actually came to *prefer* the foods I could eat rather than crave the ones I couldn't! While I feel best without wheat and dairy, everything else is fair game again. It was so worth it, if only for helping me become more friendly with my body ;).

My story and empathy aside, though, here are ten suggestions:

1. Consume sufficient amounts of fat and protein - they'll help you feel satisfied.
2. Eat regularly - don't let yourself get too hungry, because that's when you'll be tempted by "forbidden" foods.
3. Likewise, be prepared - I cannot stress this enough! Carry snacks with you at all times.
4. Quinoa is your friend!
5. So are amaranth and millet.
6. Find new ways of preparing simple foods (or simple ways of preparing new foods!) - cut your vegetables differently and/or roast them; make burgers out of gluten-free grains, vegetables, and eggs; create huge colourful salads; experiment with different non-gluten flours, etc.
7. Try smoothies. You can pack SO much goodness into them, plus, they're quick and portable! I used to eat them out of a bowl with chopped fruit mixed in, like a pudding!
8. Check out the following types of cookbooks/blogs (which often contain many allergy-friendly recipes): ethnic, vegan, raw, Paleo, and of course the rapidly-growing sector of gluten/dairy/soy/sugar-free resources.
9. Don't be afraid to try new foods and recipes! You may discover a new favourite :).
10. Last, but not least: embrace it! Have fun with the diet and see the possibilities rather than the restrictions. Don't think of how much you're missing out on - think of how good you feel!

Good luck! :)

Woah! Super pumped to see my question here! Thanks everyone for the suggestions and words of encouragement. I was just thinking that I would finally (finally!) get my sh*t together and start this Monday after finals are over this week. Its a sign! (By the way I forgot to add that eggs are also excluded, unfortunately)

Emmi & ANG- I will be getting a full blood test done on lots and lots of various foods and allergens but my NP has recommended that I do the diet for at least a month first before getting my blood drawn. The way she explained it was that when your body is dealing with so much inflammation that it sometimes makes either nothing or everything come back positive as an allergen (ANG-which might explain your results). By eating a "bland" diet prior to the blood draw she says increases the likelihood of getting accurate results.

Jodi Anderson- you're totally right about the gluten allergy/intolerance differentiation. I am trying out this elimination diet for the purpose of figuring out if there is any food basis for my horrible eczema, and am hoping that I will gain some insight with a combination of what I recognize symptom-wise and what the blood tests show. I am afraid that since my eczema is so bad and hard to gauge what helps/doesnt help, that with the elimination and reintroduction alone that I will end up somewhat lost and uncertain. Hopefully the blood test will give additional suggestions of what might be the cause of my problems.

The enchantress- Thanks SO much for your tips! I agree, I feel that the only way I can make this work is if I plan out meals and keep snacks on me for when I start getting too hungry to want to wait for food to be done cooking. Do you normally plan for the week or cook up a bunch of freezable items on the weekends to save you during those moments of no time and great hunger? I will certainly look to this as an opportunity to explore new foods and hopefully feel and look better at the same time. At this point I am sure that if I do find a root cause for my eczema that it will be easy to eliminate given the alternative!

Gilsonal- Thanks for the suggestion, sounds like something that can help me gain more insight.

SarahEWatson- thanks for the blog suggestions. Love elana's pantry I will be sure to check out those other ones you mentioned.

Tcakes- have you found that the elimination diet (hate the word diet) helped you?

Alicia@bakeaholic- let me know if you figure out a good allergy friendly recipe for some sort of muffin or loaf (I am struggling with breakfast ideas besides smoothies and oatmeal)

Oh Emmi, how did you incorporate kelp into your diet? The only way I know how is miso soup which is unfortunately banned for the time being..

Anyway, I wish I could reply to each and every one of you who took the time to give me suggestions/words of advice. This is really the encouragement I needed to kick my butt into gear. Thanks all!

Research recipes for the Specific Carbohydrate Diet. It's a grain-free, sugar-free diet. Our family is on it for our daughter's digestive issues. There are several helpful websites-Comfy Tummy and Heal~Balance~Live are two of my favorites.

If you are on an elimination diet it is a good idea to avoid legumes too.: beans, lentils, chickpeas, even green beans, and of course peanuts. Paleo variations such as the Wahls diet, from a Dr who "cured" herself of serious MS is a good template. I can vouch for it as I have been following an approximation of this myself for a good while, have a gourmet varied menu and feel great. Give Paleo+Veggie diets a try!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLjgBLwH3Wc

Monica, I've done this diet and loved it. I would stay away from nuts and beans at first, to make sure you're watching any colon or allergy issues. Lemon and lime are fine for seasoning and a great salad dressing. I avoided fish at first as well, since that is a comimon allergy. Be sure to journal EVERYTHING, it's tedious, but necessary, you'll be glad you did. The first week is hardest, but don't get discouraged, you'll look and feel great by middle of week two! Take your time when you reintroduce foods back in.

My face dish: chicken breast marinated in lime and garlic then baked. Have it with an avocado and sea salt and a baked sweet potato on the side, so yummy!

Yes, you can have eggs, I could anyway.

Speaking as a dietitian, that is a VERY restrictive diet. #1- I would march right back to your provider and ask (possibly demand) a referral to a dietitian. Registered Dietitians are train in creating meal plans that are nutritionally balance while taking into account the elimination of food components. They are also trained in counseling to help you be successful in this difficult task- elimination diets are no walk in the park for sure! They can also point you to forms and registries of people who have similar situations as yours.
#2- I'd ask for more specifics about why your doctor is eliminating those certain foods. Corn is a pretty gray area. Does your doctor mean corn- the whole vegetable, processed food with corn derivatives (corn syrup, corn meal, corn oil)?

I hope this helps and good luck to you!

Mustard is about to become your new best friend! Plain ol' French's has no preservatives or sugars and adds zest to so many things.
Also creamy sunflower dressing.
2/3 cupsSunflower seeds
3 clove Garlic
Juice from one or two lemons
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup water

I put that sh*t on everything. ;-)
And finally, find a gluten free rice cracker. I was also allowed wheat free Wasa/rye crackers. Good luck!!

Monica - has any doctor mentioned Interstitial Cystitis (IC)? I follow the IC elimination diet and it sounds a lot like yours. The main things I have eliminated are acid, caffeine, carbonation, soy, and processed foods. I think you should focus on the things you can eat, and how you can substitute foods in recipes so you are still eating your favorite recipes and enjoy your meals. I make a lot of stir fries and Indian food, along with sushi and homemade veggie burgers. I hope you start feeling better.

I too am on an elimination diet--no soy, gluten, garlic, tomatoes, etc. etc., plus I don't eat dairy or meat. Have you looked into candidiasis? I'm getting ready to cut out sugar (gulp) because I think the candida is more of a problem than my food sensitivities. And eczema is definitely a symptom of candida overgrowth (though obviously that's not the only thing). Also, a good probiotic and digestive enzymes (such as Rainbow light's) also help a lot!

I use this kelp on my salads and soups: http://www.iherb.com/Maine-Coast-Sea-Vegetables-Sea-Seasonings-Organic-Kelp-Granules-1-5-oz-43-g/34230?at=0&rcode=LIX715 ($5 off there :) they have tons of probiotics and digestive enzymes there too) I also take Iodoral, a high dose iodine supplement, at the suggestion of my doc. I've found that taking vitamin D (again, high dose: 50,000 IU twice a week) is helping my mood and energy quite a bit, as I live in the north.

Please see a Registered Dietitian! They are the most qualified to deal with your concerns.
I second FRNCHTOAST.
If your MD does not refer you to one, go to http://www.eatright.org/iframe/findrd.aspx .
An RD will help you sort fact from fiction and give you a personalized meal plan.

The link below has some good information.

https://herbdocblog.com/

Yumpomelos, oh, how interesting about inflammation and the blood test. These things are complicated and I hear it's not unusual for doctors to take 4 or 5 years before even testing for food allergies. So I think you're on the right track. Also, I had (hydraulic) excema for a while which as you probably know is also an immune reaction. I found it was caused from using anti-baterical soap as well as dry hands. Eucerin cream worked wonders! So about the kelp: I take Cornucopia brand kelp supplements with iodine. However, scientists are now saying it may be far better to limit supplements and switch to food - so ask your doctor, and we bought Ironbound Island kelp (many different kinds) and either put it in soups or salads. Best of luck with everything and by the way Glutino is one of my favorite gluten free brands but Bionature has the best pasta. And don't forget meat!! I eat it rarely but don't skimp on the B vitamins and iron or you will become anemic. (Leafy greens are good also).

I spent almost a year on an elimination diet when I was in high school. It was brutal, and it didn't end up being super helpful in the end, but it did reveal some intolerances that I would not have known about otherwise. Definitely plan out your meals, and have lots of snacks around that are okay for you to eat. Filling up on the good stuff will help you crave the prohibited foods less. Corn is wicked hard to stay away from- if you're looking for corn-syrup free versions of things like ketchup and fruit juice look for "organic" or "natural" on the label- often that means that they're free of corn syrup. (But not always- watch those labels like a hawk!) Find a good soy or nut milk substitute that you enjoy to have on hand for protein shakes and recipes. Eat lots and lots of fresh fruit and veggies- I used to eat an apple or an orange for dessert when I was craving something sweet. You can do a lot with meat and potatoes- I ate steak, french fries, and potato chips when I was really hungry. Have you heard of LaraBars? They're made of dried fruit and nuts and are great for throwing in your car or bag to snack on. My Whole Foods has several flavors- those were a good dessert substitute for me as well. I also ate tons of rice cakes, pasta, and crackers. Diamond has a line of nut crackers- pecan, walnut, almond- that are incredibly tasty and I believe gluten-free. It's fairly easy to find things that fit into your diet at a Whole Foods or other organic grocery- sometimes other stores have a good organic/natural foods selection too.

My holistic doctor gave me several supplement recommendations and a large tub of protein shake powder just to make sure I wasn't missing out on any nutrients- you might ask your doctor for a similar list. I had the protein shake with soy milk (or sometimes water) for breakfast; usually a large salad for lunch, and then chicken or beef with veggies and maybe rice for dinner. You can try a risotto with veggies and/or meat- they're infinitely variable. The elimination diet pretty much cured me of all of my food dislikes- I decided that if I could eat it, I would, and I learned to enjoy a lot of vegetables that I would not have eaten otherwise.

Hope this helps! It's a hard road ahead of you, but you can do it. And hopefully you'll feel better after discovering the foods you should stay away from- that makes it all worth it!

Emmi, way to hijack the comments. It's not about you, btw.

Back on topic, brown rice sauteed with kale and onions is a great breakfast. Sauces can be made with pureed steamed or sauteed veggies like red peppers for serving over broiled or steamed fish and chicken. roasted veggies are great staples - try potatoes, parsnips, beets and carrots with garlic salt and pepper. Quinoa makes lovely salads - add it to lettuce salads with beets marinated in some champagne vinegar, or make a tahini sauce and have it with green beans and broccoli. Bananas and toasted almonds make a wonderful snack or breakfast. Almond milk is a great dairy sub - try Almond Breeze unsweetened original.

Tinkyada makes a tasty brown rice pasta that's hard to overcook, and is lovely with some sauteed vegetables like asparagus. Cook the pasta, sautee your veggies of choice in a little olive oil, then scoop the cooked pasta out of the water and add it directly to your sautee pan. The starch in the pasta will make a creamy sauce. Some ground walnuts or hemp seeds and a little basil to finish it will give a nutty pesto like flavor.

A simple roasted chicken will last you a week. Jamie Oliver has a foolproof really basic recipe on his site. Have that the first night with roasted veg. then add it to your brown rice and kale, have it in spring roll wrappers with preshredded broccoli slaw mix and some tahini sauce for lunch, add it to quinoa salads.

There is more that you CAN eat than what you can't. Been there. You will probably feel better than you have in your life. Good luck! Message me directly if you need more recipes, have cravings, or need food substitution ideas.

Icecream you won't believe!

Freeze, then process half coconut milk, half frozen mango (or strawberries). No diary, no added sugar, no hazzle.

You can top it of with some cinnamon and voila!

Jaje- that meal sounds wonderful, I just wrote it down on my growing list of dinner ideas.

Frnchtoast & AlixRD- Thank you for your suggestions, I would love to see a dietician but unfortunately its not exactly within my budget right now. I have been researching like crazy for the past couple weeks and arming myself with lists of recipes I CAN include in my diet so that I do not, for example, end up subsisting solely on brown rice and salad. The many foods on the "elimination diet shopping list" that my NP has provided me are ones that I do enjoy and include in what I eat currently anyway, so I anticipate my eating will be well-rounded when I start the diet. Just without the bread, coffee, yogurt, etc etc..
As for the corn, it is another item that is a common allergen so I am assuming that is why it is on the list? I am not sure.

Alixrae- First off, 50,000 IU?! I recently started taking 5,000 IU of D3 daily but then cut back to every other day because I am finding conflicting evidence of what the recommended daily dose is. I live in the northwest and do not get much sun either, but I was wondering if there was a reason why you are taking the 50,000 twice a week, as opposed to a smaller dose daily? I am thinking I need to throw in a D level check on my blood draw cause I am suspecting that much higher levels can be taken safely to maintain a therapeutic range. The candidiasis is something I have definitely looked into and also suspect has a role in my skin issues, which I am hoping may clear up when I remove most sugars (I've been okayed brown rice syrup, agave, molasses, stevia, and fruit)

Laura- thanks for the sunflower dressing. I LOVE anything I can make ahead of time to drizzle on whatever. I have a green sauce that I make at least once a week. You should try it! Its one handful parsley, cilantro, 2-3 cloves of garlic, 2 poblano peppers, a little of whatever oil you have, I usually use grapeseed, salt&pepper, thrown into a food processor. Its SO GOOD. I usually do that on whatever sauteed veggies/shrimp with quinoa and basically just pour that all over. its really good, haha.

Audreyjo- they have lara bars at costco! I get mine there cause otherwise they are just too expensive bought individually. But I love them. So perfect for school/work. I like what you said about learning to like a lot of new foods. For me, its bananas. Dont know why, haven't eaten one since I was maybe 5? But the sight and smell of them freaks. me. out.

Jasminecat- thanks for the suggestions. I think its time I learned how to roast a chicken.

Davidcreel- YUM!! Im going to try that tomorrow. You may have saved my elimination diet sweet tooth.

Phew, that was a long one. But thanks again for all the suggestions!

oh one more,
virtualsie- just looked up the Wahls diet, sounds really interesting and I am thrilled to see that she has a TEDtalk. Will be watching that as soon as I get some time!

I pretty much eat this way all the time. It's eating on whole foods, things the earth produces in a clean, healthful way. Some of my staples are unsweetened almond milk for smoothies, lots of fresh fruits and vegetable, frozen bananas are a great add in for creamy smoothies (peel first, then freeze), white beans make a delicious puree to dip veggies in, make delicious salads full of your favorite vegetables, and just embrace all the delicious food that you can eat. Don't focus on what you can't have! You'll lose your cravings quickly. Just stay positive and believe that you are doing a wonderful thing for your body. Even if you don't find a hidden food intolerance to blame for your health issues... your body will thank you!

Also, I've said it before and I'll say it again... ADD ONE GREEN SMOOTHIE A DAY to your diet so you are getting a burst of nutrients. Try one pear, small banana and a few handfuls of any greens like spinach, collards, swiss chard and blend with 1 cup ice and 1 cup water or all water if you like.

"Jazminecat" - way to suggest a recipe that will make her sick. Chinese spirng rolls usually contain flour. Maybe you should look in the mirror before you gripe about someone else's comment.

Yumpomelos, I can solve your Miso soup dilemma! I too am no longer allowed soy, which sucks since I'm half Japanese, but my mom has learned through trial and error a lot of foods can be made without the use of soy.

Miso soup for instance is just as good without the miso. Just make a chicken stock (she calls it salt soup) and add a bit more salt or don't its truly up to you and add seaweed and tiny chunks of chicken breasts and some mushrooms if you can have it--just as good! Also, if you are into the dried shitaki--the juice you get from rehydrating them is also good in lieu of soy sauce.

I'm on the IC diet for life. I can't have anything with acids in it--caffeine, chocolate, tomatoes, onions, sodas, ascorbic acid, citric acid, soy, and a whole bunch of other things including preservatives. I suggest that you go through all the fast food menus because there will be days when you get the lazies or the spontaneous meal out with friends will happen. You will be surprised how pervasive soy products are in our food products and even our skin creams. I know, I certainly was.

I always keep a snack with me. In the beginning, I almost always had a pb and honey sandwich with me in my purse or the one kind of crackers I can have.

I also want to add that flaxseeds can be used as an egg substitute when baking! Bob Red Mill has the specific ratio that you need to use but all you have to do is add water. Use applesauce in lieu of milk and butter and I think you will be golden!

Hey Emmi, EGG ROLLS, contain flour. Spring rolls are uncooked, and most rice paper wrappers are gluten free. I've eaten GF for 10 years, I'm not making anyone sick.

I started an elimination diet in early January. My guidelines/restrictions sound similar to what Monica needs to follow. I did not have any bloodwork/tests done before I started. I have to say I was a little skeptical when the diet was suggested, but I was curious enough to try it. I noticed a difference after the first week, which encouraged me to continue, other experiences may vary. However, the quick success made me a little impatient to move beyond the elimination diet. My doctor suggested I stay on the elimination diet for 6-8 weeks, and after a month of improvement I wanted to move on. The difference between week 5 and 6 was pretty big for me, so I'm glad that I stuck with it. I think it gave me a better idea of how my health is affected when I started re-introducing foods.

I agree that this approach has limits, but it works. Blood tests also have limits, but can be a very useful tool. To get best results with a blood screening for wheat, I needed to eat wheat every day for a month, so chose not to have this done. Though it would be interesting to know how chemically exactly I'm allergic to wheat, I know enough to eliminate it from my diet. Either way I think that it's important to find a health care professional who is familiar with sensitivities and allergies, and who is willing to discuss everything with you. I say this because some of my results were unexpected, and some things that I observed and didn't think were significant turned out to be very important.

If you react to a food, you do have to give yourself time to recover from it before re-introducing the next item- for me it seems to be 3-5 days

I spend much more time cooking for myself. I've learned to make various stocks, and soups have become a bigger part of my menu. A simple carrot and ginger soup is one of my favorites. Roasted veggies with rosemary and thyme require some prep time, but you can make a big batch and keep extra in the fridge.

I was on an elimination diet last summer and discovered I had an intolerance to food coloring! It was difficult at first, but I ate lots and lots of salads with homemade dressings to rule out any preservatives.

Emmi, thanks for your clarification! The bit about the antibodies really hits home since I have so many autoimmune issues. I'm going to inquire with my rheumatologist about potentially having this test.