Your food-related illness may be caused by food allergy, food intolerance, or a similar condition (collectively known as ”food sensitivity”). The symptoms may begin immediately after eating the food, or there may be a delay of several hours or days before your symptoms become apparent. Once started, the symptoms can continue for a few hours, and up to several days. The obvious way to avoid an allergic or intolerance reaction is to avoid the offending food(s). The problem is to find them, and after identifying the culprits, avoid them and still eat a healthy enjoyable diet! This is where we can help you.
Unfortunately there are no tests, including traditional skin or blood tests, that can, on their own, precisely identify your culprit food, or foods. Allergy tests for foods are indicators only. The only way to accurately identify the foods responsible for your particular symptoms is an elimination and re-introduction diet. The principle of such a diet is that symptoms should improve if the offending foods are avoided for 2-4 weeks and should recur when they are eaten again.
Your food sensitivities management program will start with a review of your pertinent medical records, usually sent by your physician or other health care provider; analysis of food and symptom records provided by you; and consideration of the results of appropriate medical tests for your food-related condition.
There are 3 phases to the dietary approach to identifying the food or foods that may be causing your problems.
During this phase you will record the severity of the main symptoms from which you are suffering. You will also record all the foods and beverages that you are currently consuming. Do not alter your diet at all during this phase. The length of this phase will depend on how frequently you get the symptoms. If they occur every day then one week will be sufficient. If they occur less frequently then it may require longer.
During this phase you will eat and drink only those foods and beverages that are unlikely to be a cause of your symptoms. There is now a lot of information about the types of foods and beverages that most commonly cause problems. It is therefore possible to devise a diet that avoids those foods, but is adequate from a nutritional point of view during the short time of this phase. Detailed information for your elimination phase diet will be provided during your consultation, based on your medical history, previous allergy or other relevant tests, and your food and symptom record.
After about 4 weeks on the elimination diet devised for you, an assessment of the results of your diet will be made. This will be based on a second dietary record, which you will keep for the last week of the elimination phase. If it is considered appropriate, you will be provided with detailed instructions for reintroducing each individual food component that you have avoided during the elimination phase. You will be instructed on how to observe and record any adverse reactions that you experience.
Your final “maintenance diet” will be developed after you have completed the reintroduction phase. The diet will avoid all of the food components that caused symptoms during the reintroduction phase, and will provide all of the nutrients your body needs from alternative sources.
Before your first consultation, please complete the Registration form, and the two important questionnaires:
The fee can be paid by Mastercard or Visa. My services may not covered by provincial or state Medical Plans, but some insurance companies do pay for dietetic services through extended health benefits.
A mutually convenient time can be arranged for you to connect by Skype, or to phone me for your first consultation session, by contacting me at Vickerstaffhs@shaw.ca
I hope that I can be of assistance to you in your quest for good health
Please complete the Registration form and return all completed questionnaires to me by email attachment, fax : 250-377-3248 or mail to the following Address
| Dr Janice Joneja 2016 High Canada Place Kamloops, B.C. V2E 2E3 Canada |
Adult Patient Registration Form
