Nutrition 103: Special Diet Terms
At this point we have all heard the term “food as medicine”. That concept can be applied to simple things such as taking extra vitamin C when we have a cold, sipping on hot lemon water to support digestion, or implementing specific herbs to support the liver. We can also take a more therapeutic approach and use “food as medicine” to completely overhaul the diet to support specific health issues. There are many different therapeutic diets and it can be overwhelming to determine what they are and who they are targeted to help. I have put together a list of some of the more common therapeutic diets and the intention behind implementing them.
Gluten free, Casein free (GFCF)
What it is: Gluten is a family of proteins that are found in grains such as wheat, rye, spelt, and barley. The two main proteins are glutenin and gliadin, with gliadin being the protein that typically causes adverse health reactions. Casein is a complete protein that is found in dairy products. All mammals produce casein as a component in their milk for their offspring. Casein contains all essential amino acids, and due to its structure, is a slow-digesting protein. Casein can contribute to adverse health reactions in those with a dairy sensitivity.
Who it’s for: A gluten free, casein free diet can be supportive for those with any gluten or dairy allergy, intolerance, or sensitivity. Because of the high reactivity that both gluten and dairy can have for some, this diet can also be beneficial for those with symptoms of or diagnosed autism and digestive dysfunction (such as IBS).
Gluten free, Casein free, Soy free
What it is: Gluten is a family of proteins that are found in grains such as wheat, rye, spelt, and barley. The two main proteins are glutenin and gliadin, with gliadin being the protein that typically causes adverse health reactions. Casein is a complete protein that is found in dairy products. All mammals produce casein as a component in their milk for their offspring. Casein contains all essential amino acids, and due to its structure, is a slow-digesting protein. Casein can contribute to adverse health reactions in those with a dairy sensitivity. Soy is a meat-free protein source. Soybeans contain all essential amino acids making it a complete protein source. Soy contains a high concentration of phytoestrogens that are similar in function to human estrogen. These can bind to estrogen receptors in the human body and can cause weak or anti-estrogenic activity. Soy also has a similar protein structure as gluten and casein, so it can cause similar issues. Lastly, soy is one of the most genetically modified crops and should be avoided.
Who it’s for: A gluten free, casein free, soy free can help reduce ADHD symptoms, autism symptoms, anxiety and depression, stomachaches, diarrhea and constipation, congestion and sleep apnea, headaches, and picky eating. This therapeutic diet can also support those with Celiac disease, Down syndrome, and those with any sensitivity or intolerance to gluten and dairy.
Ketogenic (Keto) Diet
What it is: The ketogenic (Keto) diet emphasizes a high fat, low carbohydrate way of eating. The primary energy source for the body is fat, not carbohydrates. The ketogenic diet focuses on consuming healthy fat, protein, and vegetables, while restricting most carbohydrates such as starches, grains, honey, fruit, and beans.
Who it’s for: The keto diet was originally implemented to reduce seizures in children with epilepsy. A therapeutic ketogenic diet has many neurological benefits, such as reducing inflammation in the brain. Research has shown the ketogenic diet to be beneficial in improving autism symptoms. In addition, those with metabolic conditions, neurological disorders, and seizures can see benefits from a ketogenic diet.
Weston A. Price Diet
What is it: Weston A. Price was a dentist who researched the connection between nutrition and health in indigenous cultures around the world. He used their dental health as an indicator of the effects nutrition had on their overall health. Because of the effects he observed of modern nutrition on dental health (cavities, jaw structure, nasal shape), he developed a set of dietary principles that support a return to a traditional, cultural way of eating. These principle incorporate pasture-raised and grass-fed animal foods and fats, unsaturated and saturated fats, raw milk and other dairy products, soaked and sprouted grains, nuts, and seeds, bone broths, fermented foods, and avoid processed foods, additives, refined flour, processed flour and oils, and soy products.
Who it’s for: The principles of the Weston A. Price diet would be beneficial for just about everyone to implement. In particular children and adults with ADHD, autism, and other neurological disorders will benefit from the Weston A. Price diet due to its anti-inflammatory properties and avoidance of processed foods and additives.
Low Oxalate Diet
What is it: Oxalates are protective molecules found in plants that have a number of functions, such as protection from bugs eating them. In the human body oxalates bind to calcium, magnesium, zinc, and iron. This can create oxalate calcium kidney stones. Oxalates can cause oxidative stress in the body, impair cellular energy, disrupt the microbiome, and deplete minerals and vitamins. The effects of this can cause a variety of symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, loss of muscle tone, gas and bloating, burning feet, frequent urination, urinary pain, brain fog, anxiety and depression, moodiness, blood sugar dysfunction, thyroid disruption, and kidney stones. High oxalate issues can show up on certain laboratory markers. A low oxalate diet should be implemented slowly and over time. Foods high in oxalates include spinach, swiss chard, beet greens, beets, sweet potatoes, potatoes, rhubarb, nuts, some seeds, legumes, certain grains, some fruits, and chocolate.
Who it’s for: Oxalates have been linked to autism, autoimmune disorders, and chronic disease. Children and adults with various immune, neurological, and digestive issues can benefit from a low oxalate diet.
Low FODMAP Diet
What it is: FODMAPs are different fermentable carbohydrates. When implementing a Low FODMAP diet all are initially restricted and later incorporated individually to determine tolerance. These fermentable carbohydrates feed both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria. The bacteria ferment the carbohydrates and this creates gas. These carbohydrates are also osmotic meaning they draw water into the colon and can cause diarrhea for some. Restricted foods include certain fruits with high fructose like apples, pears and mango, high fructose corn syrup, lactose-containing dairy products, fructans such as onions, garlic, inulin, and wheat, galacto-oligosaccharide rich foods including beans and legumes, as well as foods with polyols like avocados and prunes.
Who it’s for: Most reactions to FODMAPs occur in the gastrointestinal tract. A Low FODMAPs Diet is used when these fermentable carbohydrates are suspected to be causing gas, pain, and digestive irregularity, and other digestive symptoms. This diet can also be helpful in cases of SIBO and additional microbiome issues. Common symptoms a low FODMAP diet can address include diarrhea, constipation, gas, bloating, gastrointestinal pain, and an increase in any symptoms affected by pain, microbiome, or other gut state, and SIBO symptoms.
Low Salicylate, Amine, and Glutamate
What it is: These are all food chemicals that react similarly in the body. Salicylates are found in plants/plant foods, artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives. Amines are found in a variety of foods including meat, fish, fruits, and vegetables at varying levels. Glutamate is found in fermented and cured foods. This diet removes salicylates, amines, and glutamates that are overwhelming certain people’s systems and contributing to symptoms. In certain individuals these naturally occurring food chemicals can be difficult to detoxify due to poor sulfation, so by removing them from the diet it decreases the burden on the body to restore the microbiome and other systems affected to improve food tolerances.
Who it’s for: Conditions associated with poor sulfation include ADHD, autism, autoimmune conditions such as Lupus, microbiome disruption. Common symptoms that can be supported with a low SAG diet include hyperactivity, redness on the cheeks and ears, irritability, defiant behavior, self injury, aggression, sleeping issues such as night waking or terrors, skin rashes, respiratory issues, diarrhea, crying easily, bedwetting, urinary urgency, incontinence.
Food Sensitivity Diet
What it is: The purpose of a food sensitivity diet is to remove inflammatory foods that may be causing adverse health reactions. The top inflammatory foods are gluten, casein, soy, corn, eggs, citrus, peanuts, chocolate, and sugar. By removing these foods, inflammation in the gut and the rest of the body can be reduced and eliminated completely. In addition, a food sensitivity test (MRT) can be run to determine specific sensitivities. Those foods are also removed to allow the body to de-flame and promote healing. After a period of several weeks, these foods can slowly be reintroduced to determine tolerance.
Who it’s for: Inflammation is at the root of most chronic diseases. This is especially true for neurological conditions such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, and autism. This diet can be very helpful when a gluten free, dairy free diet has not produced satisfactory results. An MRT test takes the guesswork out of figuring out what foods one is sensitive to.
Feingold/Low Phenol Diet
What it is: This diet removes artificial food additives and foods high in salicylates. Some children have difficulty processing salicylates (phenol) and this can lead to a build up in the body. This can have negative effects on the brain and lead to behavioral and physical symptoms listed below. High salicylate foods are apples, grapes, berries, honey, almonds, peanuts, oranges, apricots, cherries, ketchup, chili powder, cider and cider vinegar, cocoa, cloves, coffee, cucumbers, pickles, currants, red grapes, raisins, plums, prunes, tangerines, tea, tomatoes, wine and wine vinegar, oil of wintergreen, and most herbs/spices. Food additives such as artificial colors, food dyes, artificial flavoring and fragrances, preservatives such as BHA, BHT, TBHQ, and artificial sweeteners are also removed.
Who it’s for: Many children with ADHD, autism, neurological and immune system disorders, and phenol sensitivity. Common symptoms of phenol sensitivity in children include dark circles under the eyes, redness on the cheeks and ears, ear infections, asthma, sinus problems, diarrhea, hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression, headache, head banging/self-injury, impatience, short attention span, difficulty falling asleep, night walking for several hours, inappropriate laughter, hives, stomach aches, bed wetting and day wetting, dyslexia, sensitivity to noise/lights/touch, speech difficulties, tics, and some forms of seizures.
Paleolithic (Paleo) Diet
What it is: The Paleo (Paleolithic) Diet focuses on foods that our ancestors ate such as meat, vegetables, fruits, eggs, nuts, and seeds. The Paleo Diet avoids grains, beans, dairy, refined sugars, and processed foods as those were not available to our ancestors as hunter gatherers. The purpose of the Paleo Diet is to avoid modern foods that contribute to modern health issues such as inflammation, pain, digestive issues, blood sugar dysfunction, neurological condition, behavioral disorders, learning disabilities, and obesity.
Who it’s for: Children with ADHD, autism, neurological conditions, immune disorders, metabolic conditions, and digestive dysfunction often have inflammation and oxidative stress. Foods incorporated in the Paleo Diet are nutrient dense and contain minerals, fat soluble vitamins, fatty acids, and amino acids that help replenish nutrient deficiencies, support the microbiome, and provide the building blocks needed to grow and heal.
Specific Carbohydrate Diet (SCD) and GAPS Diet
What it is: These diets involve removing all starches (polysaccharides) and complex sugars (disaccharides). Simple sugar (monosaccharide) carbohydrates found in honey, natural fruit sugar, and non-starchy vegetables are allowed. The goal is to reduce gut inflammation and promote healing by “starving out” pathogenic gut bacteria by eliminating the sugars and starches that feed them. These disaccharides and polysaccharides require carbohydrate digesting enzymes. When these enzymes are not present or not performing appropriately due to dysfunction, the carbohydrates remain in the gastrointestinal tract undigested and become food for the microbes and pathogens. Studies have shown that some children with autism lack these digestive enzymes and have digestive systems that are overrun with pathogenic bacteria and yeast. Foods that are avoided include maple syrup, cane sugar, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, and other sources of sugars, all starches including grains, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. Additionally foods that contain these ingredients including most baked goods, candy, jelly fruit snacks, granola bars, juices, fruit punch style drinks, ice cream, soda, chocolate milk, cereal, and other pre-packaged and freezer foods that contain sugar in their ingredient list are also avoided.
Who it’s for: These diets are beneficial for those with autism or other neurological conditions, inflammatory bowel conditions, and other digestive disorders.
Antifungal or AntiCandida Diet
What it is: The anti-Candida diet promotes a low-sugar, anti-inflammatory style of eating that focuses on improving gut health and eliminates the sugars that feed Candida overgrowth. The diet is high in non-starchy vegetables, some low sugar fruits, gluten-free grains, some dairy products, and fermented foods. Improving gut health, and restoring the balance of the bacteria and yeast in the body is the goal of the anti-Candida diet. This can help to relieve symptoms from Candida-overgrowth such as bloating, indigestion, yeast infections, fatigue, nausea, diarrhea, and gas. Candida albicans is a species of yeast that lives in the gut. Typically, it co-exists with the rest of the microbiome; however, it can grow out of control under the right circumstances. Other bacteria in the gut usually keeps Candida albicans in check, but different factors can affect this, such as a high-sugar diet, a course of antibiotics, or chronic stress.There are many symptoms of Candida-overgrowth including fatigue, brain fog, digestive issues, sinus infections, food allergies, yeast infections, mild depression, joint pain, and much more. Symptoms can vary person to person depending on the overall health of one’s gut.
Who it’s for: The health of the gut is linked to the immune system, blood sugar regulation, heart health, and digestion. If you have been following me for a while, then you know that gut health also impacts mental health. An unhealthy gut can cause problems throughout every part of the body. The anti-Candida diet is for those experiencing any of the above symptoms of Candida-overgrowth. If you are wanting to know for sure whether you have a Candida overgrowth, that can be detected with a GI Map. Click here to schedule your test.
Body Ecology Diet
What it is: The Body Ecology diet focuses on improving the ecology of the body with beneficial microbes. The Body Ecology Diet incorporates cultured and fermented foods, meat, fish, eggs, vegetables (land and sea), sour fruit, some seeds, natural fats/oils. It avoids legumes, unfermented dairy, sweet fruits, starchy vegetables, nuts, all except four grains, and refined oils and sugars. The purpose of this diet is to supply the body with microbes and nutrient dense foods to feed the microbiome and support the digestive system. The Body Ecology Diet is used to support overall health, starting with the gut.
Who it’s for: The Body Ecology Diet can be useful for those with symptoms of digestive issues, candida/yeast/fungal infections, after taking antibiotics to rebuild the gut microbiome, weak immune function, reactions to gluten, dairy or soy, food allergies or environmental sensitivities. For those with neurological challenges that have underlying dysbiosis, such as with depression or autism, The Body Ecology Diet can be used to support gut health and clean up the diet.
Low histamine diet
What it is: Histamine is a compound that’s found in the cells of our body and also naturally occurs in some foods. Histamine plays a role in inflammation by providing an immediate response to inflammatory events and is also an important part of the immune system. Histamine also regulates gastric acid secretion needed for digestion, and aids the body in delivering blood, nutrients, and oxygen to various parts of the body. Histamine is typically broken down by the DAO and HNMT enzymes. For someone with a histamine intolerance these enzymes are impaired and histamine builds up in the body. Other causes of histamine intolerance include environmental triggers such as dust mites and pollen, excessive alcohol, a diet high in fermented foods, protein, and aged foods, excess estrogen, adrenal dysfunction, too little sleep, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and gut dysfunction.
Who it’s for: Histamine intolerance does not have a specific test to diagnose. However, histamine and DAO enzyme levels can be measured through blood and urine screenings. Common symptoms of histamine intolerance include headaches, diarrhea, eczema, low blood pressure, runny nose, heartburn, PMS, seasonal allergies, food allergies, asthma, motion sickness, nausea, vomiting, irritability, and loose stools. Diet is an important part of determining if one is suffering from histamine intolerance and then managing it. A low histamine diet is implemented by eliminating histamine-rich foods and seeing if symptoms begin to clear up. In addition to a low histamine diet, underlying conditions such as digestive dysfunction (IBS, SIBO, Celiac disease) must also be addressed, so it is important to work with a practitioner to take an integrative approach. To have my comprehensive list of histamine foods sent to your email click here.
Vegan and Raw Food Diets
What it is: A vegan diet consists only of eating plants and plant-based alternatives to animal products. A vegan diet is composed of lots of fruits and vegetables, legumes such as beans, peas, and lentils, nuts and seeds, grains, vegetable oils, and dairy alternatives such as soy, coconut, and almond products. A raw food diet is similar to a vegan diet with an emphasis on many plant foods. A raw food diet goes further in that it focuses on uncooked and unprocessed foods. A raw food diet can consist of animal products such as raw eggs, meat, and fish, and unpasteurized dairy products.
Who it’s for: I don’t recommend either of these diets to clients for the important reasons that both of these diets are nutrient deficient and do not promote a balanced diet. Common nutrient deficiencies include calcium, iron, zinc, vitamin D, B12, and omega-3 fatty acids. In addition, many plant-based alternatives on the market are loaded with hydrogenated oils (canola, sunflower, safflower) and additives like guar gum and carrageenan. Animal protein far surpasses plant-based protein options in nutrient density and is needed for hormone balance and blood sugar regulation.
Autoimmune Protocol (AIP)
What it is: The AIP (Autoimmune Protocol) Diet is implemented to reduce inflammation, pain, and other symptoms that are caused by autoimmune diseases. For those with an autoimmune disease, the body produces antibodies that attack healthy cells and tissues, rather than fight infections. There are certain foods that increase inflammation and the likelihood of leaky gut. When leaky gut is occurring in the body, an immune response is elicited to fight the food particles that escaped the small intestine and are now in the bloodstream. For an individual with an autoimmune disease, the body may not be able to respond appropriately due to their already compromised immune system. The AIP diet focuses on eliminating these foods and replacing them with nutrient-dense options to promote health, help heal leaky gut, reduce inflammation, and reduce symptoms of the autoimmune disease.
Who it's for: Those with an autoimmune disease such as Celiac disease, IBD, Lupus, Rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, and Psoriasis. The AIP diet can help reduce common symptoms that are caused by autoimmune disease including joint pain, fatigue, abdominal pain, tissue and nerve damage, fatigue, and brain fog.
Some of these terms may be new to you or you may be wondering if a certain diet would be beneficial to you on your health journey. If you want to know more or want the guidance of a practitioner as you embark on one of these styles of eating, schedule a Clarity Call here!
