Sometimes diet changes can be very helpful for building health and managing conditions. Other times diet changes that are primarily focused on eliminating problem foods get out of hand and you can end up with an ever shrinking list of safe foods and a very limited diet.
The Rebuild Food Tolerance course is a very helpful tool for ending the restrictive diet spiral. Watch or read below to learn more about it.
Rebuild Food Tolerance
In my practice I partner with Wendy Busse to provide nutrition counseling and support to patients going through her Rebuild Food Tolerance course. I want to share with you now a bit about this course and who might benefit from it.
The Role Of Diet Changes
As a dietitian I know the very important role that nutrition plays in our health. There are lots of diet changes that can have specific tangible benefits for someone’s health. For diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease, we can see clear connections between controlling certain nutrients (getting just the right amount of carbohydrates, fiber, potassium, etc) and beneficial health outcomes.
Then there are other conditions like irritable bowel syndrome and other gut issues. There are also unspecified conditions where perhaps there is a constellation of symptoms with no clear diagnosis, or a poorly understood diagnosis.
In these conditions diet can still play a role in health and symptom management, but with tricky and persistent symptoms there’s usually more at play than just diet.
This space that I’ve just described, with tricky, persistent and seemingly mysterious symptoms, is where making diet changes can turn into a slippery slope.
The Slippery Slope Of Elimination Diets
So, how can diet changes go awry? First, diet changes often focus on cutting out individual foods or whole groups of foods. And then, since diet is rarely the sole source of the symptoms in cases like this, it can be hard to tell if cutting out the foods is actually helping or not. Maybe you feel a little better, or maybe some days it seems to be working but other days not at all. So, you keep going, you wonder if maybe you should do more, you cut out a few more foods. Then maybe you notice that even “safe” foods are now starting to be triggers. And that is where all out confusion and frustration can set in.
Does any of this sound familiar? If so, then the Rebuild Food Tolerance course could be just what you need.
The good news is that you can stop this food restriction spiral by taking a step back and looking at things from a different perspective.
Mind Body Connection
Ok, so I just want to preface – I’m going to talk a little bit about the mind body connection right now, and I think for some of you that may be triggering.
Perhaps you’ve been told that your symptoms are all in your mind, that they’re not real. I absolutely hate when people are told that. Because it is most often done in a really dismissive way and with zero other help offered. It’s the kind of thing that’s said when someone can’t find a way to help you, but, for whatever reason, doesn’t just say “I wish I could help but what’s going on with you is outside of my scope of practice and understanding”. Even that is still not the best statement ever, because you were hoping they could help you, but it would be much better than hearing “it’s all in your head”.
So, back to the mind body connection. It’s true that our brains, our minds, are part of our bodies and they are involved in our physical symptoms. This can sound like bad news if it’s told in a blame-y way “it’s your own fault, just stress less and your symptoms will be better”. This can also be the best news ever. Especially for those who have been though tons of tests, medication courses, and various other interventions to help their symptoms. It is amazing to know that you can use your own brain to help lessen your physical symptoms.
Rebuild Food Tolerance
The Rebuild Food Tolerance course takes a look at multiple and mysterious food sensitivities from this lens. The first few modules help you understand this new perspective on food sensitivities. And the rest of the course walks you through different strategies to lessen your sensitivities.
The course on it’s own is fantastic and, for anyone who for whom the prospect of ending this restrictive diet spiral feels daunting, having the guidance and support of a dietitian familiar with this approach can be a game changer.
If you’re curious about the Rebuild Food Tolerance course and working with me, please reach out to me using the Appointments page. I’d love to hear from you and help you through your journey to rebuild food tolerance.
