To whole 30? Or not to whole 30?

Crafty_camper123

I am seriously contemplating trying a round of whole 30. The reason why is to rule out the possibility of any food related sensitivities in relation to my asthma and GERD.

NOTE: I have a working relationship with my doctor on both of these things among others. I am on an asthma control protocol, and medication for GERD as prescribed by my doctor. I plan to continue these treatments and following the recommendations of my primary physician.

Now, I have done extensive reading on the Whole30 website. I can see the woo for what it is. I am not expecting life changing results, tigers blood(mrow?) , or new found love of food prepared by Tibetan monks, or whatever revolutionary claims they make. What I am interested in is identifying any food sensitivities that could be making my asthma or tendency towards bloating and heartburn worse. While yes, I can fork out hundreds of dollars towards allergy testing and treatment, I am hoping to avoid that via elimination diet.

What concerns me is A) this diet is SUPER restrictive. Even though it's only 30 (technically 45) days long, it will be hard to adhere to.
B ) I am a little afraid of developing a new allergy (or intolerance) to something that has never bothered me before. Either because I eliminated the thing for so long, I now no longer have the enzymes to process it. Or because I have a low lying allergy to something that becomes a full blown allergy because I no longer have built up immunity to it. ETA: I am a little afraid I'll be duped by the "nocebo" effect...

But identifying possible foods that make me wheeze could be worth the trouble.

SO to the point of my post:

Who has successfully completed a whole 30 for the purposes of IDing food intolerances & allergies? Did you come away with something you had no idea you were allergic(or intolerant) to? Did you develop a reaction to something you've never reacted to before? Or did you find it was business as usual after the re-introduction phase? (no reactions) What did you learn from it? Will this be a giant waste of my time and money?

janejellyroll

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

Duck_Puddle

I wouldn’t choose whole 30 for GERD as a number of frequently triggering foods are included in those allowed. Meaning-the foods that are restricted aren’t restricted because of a likelihood for GERD so you’re basically restricting a totally random bunch of foods (for your specific issue) that don’t really affect you, and including a bunch that probably do.

If you want to do an elimination diet for potential food sensitivities-there are some that already exist and are medically sound and eliminate foods based on common elements that may cause issues. You would begin by eliminating all of them - then add back in one thing at a time and assess the changes.

amy19355

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

janejellyroll

amy19355 wrote: »

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

But I feel like (and, OP, correct me if I'm wrong) that the issue here isn't related to calorie control, it's a temporary plan in order to address some specific medical issues. So the type of elimination diet that wouldn't be a good fit for many of us moderators here is only a very temporary thing that is serving the larger goal of determining what foods (if any) need to be restricted to ensure OP's health.

Crafty_camper123

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

ETA reply:

amy19355 wrote: »

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

ME too! I'm down 20 lbs this year by just watching portion control, (and calorie counting) and never restricting any one food. Even the ones I don't moderate well. I just have those with less frequency. Actually, I'm pretty anti-restrictive diet of any kind. But I'm also impatent. And the idea of having "elimination of the month" for a few months sounds more annoying then just jumping in whole hog with whole 30. But I dunno. Their rules are kind of woo-ey. This is why I'm hoping to hear a few non-promotional testimonials.

Tacklewasher

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

I thought (and my wife did something similar) the idea was to eliminate a bunch of potential trigger foods (not one at a time) and get to a point where the symptoms are gone, then start adding one thing at a time to see what triggers the symptoms.

thisPGHlife

Honestly, I would also your doctor. If they think it might be food related issues it's potentially going to be a fairly pointed allergy like gluten or nightshades and your doctor will hopefully be able to point you in the right direction. This will let you narrow down what you need to eliminate to get to the source. Plus then they are extra in the loop.

I've done a few whole 30s and they are not fun. At around day 20 you start getting pissed about how the whole thing seems pointless and random and you start getting resentful of all the people you're surrounded by who get to eat whatever food they want. I already new that milk products were an issue for me so I wanted to see if that was the only issue. I also, naively, thought it would help me reset do I could get back to eating better.

janejellyroll

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

@Duck_Puddle points out that some common GERD triggers are included in the Whole30 plan. I don't know what those are, as I'm not very familiar with GERD. But I wonder if a potential solution would be to add those triggers to Whole30 eliminations, remove the eliminations that aren't associated with your issues, and ignore the unnecessary stuff (like the SWYPO rule).

It would be a bit more work to come up with the list and obviously I'm not a doctor/RD, but this is probably what I would do in your situation if my doctor was in the loop and thought it was a good idea.

Whatever you decide to do, good luck!

Duck_Puddle

amy19355 wrote: »

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

As @janejellyroll said, OP doesn’t seem to be doing this for weight loss, but rather for health.

But I did want to address that if the digestive issue likely has many possible (or likely) triggers, eliminating one at a time maybe isn’t the way to go. If I have a reaction to tomatoes, garlic and pork (all common), but I’m not sure what my trigger foods are, and eliminate tomatoes but keep eating garlic and pork, do I assume that tomatoes aren’t a problem because I’m still having a reaction even after I eliminated them?

lemurcat2

I think the rules are kind of dumb (the woo justification turned me off), and I think they don't focus on the most common culprits for a lot of things, but if you want to do a cut out a few things at once with their model or would like their structure and support I don't think it's harmful.

For example, if gluten is something you want to try avoiding (or grains as a whole) and dairy (which is a common thing for people to have issues with), you could do that alone.

Or put together your own list, cut them out, and reintroduce them.

My sister has IBS and worked to find her problem foods, and did so successfully, but W30 would have been useless as they are all things that are fine on W30. (I realize your issue is different though.)

Crafty_camper123

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

I thought (and my wife did something similar) the idea was to eliminate a bunch of potential trigger foods (not one at a time) and get to a point where the symptoms are gone, then start adding one thing at a time to see what triggers the symptoms.

That's kind of what whole30 does. I think the only things it doesn't elimanate specifically are nightshades, and eggs. (I might be forgetting some). The thing that I'm not sure is necessary (for me) is the elimination of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Since my goal is to identify allergens. Not "detox" off sugar and "improve" my relationship with food. (Me and cookies are pretty tight these days).

CharlieBeansmomTracey

the thing with asthma though there are different types. theres allergy induced, exercise induced ,eosinophilic asthma and many many more. so trying the whole 30 to see what triggers it may not work. I would definitely get an allergy test. I have had asthma since I was 3 and for me different things cause me flare ups. Im allergic to all pollens,grasses,dander,certain insect, dust mites,very little foods and a few others I take a preventative to prevent flare ups. if you have a type of asthma that has nothing to do with allergies then an elimination diet is not going to make any difference.

do you know what Kind you have? also get a lung fiunction test done as well. I also had a lung specialist do whats called a strongoloid test,its a blood test that tests for parasites that can mimic asthma and cause flare ups. you can have one or more overlapping types of asthma as well.

now as for GERD I too have that and I know which foods cause me issues and which ones dont. as soon as I eat one,i get indigestion within minutes.since asthma is a lung disease I dont know how much I would fool with it by trying to change my diet. if its that bad see an allergist.pulmonologist,etc and get tests run. they can tell you what type and what your best course of treatment is. also with flareups you can go years without one and then one day BOOM, it can be a bad one even deadly. asthma is nothing to fool with.

if you know a food makes you wheeze stay away from it!.Gerd also can cause flare ups if not treated properly as well. are you seeing a gastroenterologist to see why you have GERD? for me I make too much acid,I also get gastritis from time to time. if you are seeing a regular GP see if you can start seeing specialists first. Gerd you can eliminate things and maybe be symptom free. but its not always the case.

bloating on the other hand can be allergies,food intolerances, fibroids,etc. many things can cause all the above issues you have and its best to see what causes it and why,and what the best course of action is. Im not saying an elimination diet should not be done,but I think that you may not find the results you are looking for with these things for your health issues especially the asthma.

Tacklewasher

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

Tacklewasher wrote: »

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

I thought (and my wife did something similar) the idea was to eliminate a bunch of potential trigger foods (not one at a time) and get to a point where the symptoms are gone, then start adding one thing at a time to see what triggers the symptoms.

That's kind of what whole30 does. I think the only things it doesn't elimanate specifically are nightshades, and eggs. (I might be forgetting some). The thing that I'm not sure is necessary (for me) is the elimination of sugar and artificial sweeteners. Since my goal is to identify allergens. Not "detox" off sugar and "improve" my relationship with food. (Me and cookies are pretty tight these days).

Oooh. Cookies might be an issue if it's a gluten sensitivity. Again, from my wife's experience.

SVZee

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

ETA reply:

amy19355 wrote: »

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

ME too! I'm 20 lbs this year by just watching portion control, and never restricting any one food. Even the ones I don't moderate well. I just have those with less frequency. Actually, I'm pretty anti-restrictive diet of any kind. But I'm also impatent. And the idea of having "elimination of the month" for a few months sounds more annoying then just jumping in whole hog with whole 30. But I dunno. Their rules are kind of woo-ey.

But it's a process that does take time and rushing through it isn't going to actually help you figure things out. The FODMAP elimination protocol is 6-8 weeks, before a reintroduction process that's several more weeks, and there's a reason for this.

I think we went back and forth a bit in another thread about this topic and I totally understand cost being a factor/hindrance. I'd try and do FODMAP on your own instead of doing W30 if working with a doctor isn't an option right now-

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fodmaps-101#diet-tips

https://www.monashfodmap.com/

Crafty_camper123

@CharlieBeansmomTracey I have both allergy and excersise induced.It may be worth noting I have never had an asthma attack I can directly relate to food. But I have had ones I can directly relate to pollen. (Fine inside, go outside and WHAM wheezy). But I've also heard that it can take 48 hours to have a reaction to foods sometimes.

@SVZee I'll look into low FODMAP too. Thank you. I didn't want to hijack that thread we were in, so I figured I'd creat my own.

@Tacklewasher I've had some GF cookies that are pretty tasty!

GottaBurnEmAll

SVZee wrote: »

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

janejellyroll wrote: »

Have you considered a more standard elimination diet? That is why my brother did when he needed to identify what was causing his digestive issues. You eliminate some of the same things as Whole30, but it isn't as strict on the more nonsensical parts of it. For example, I think Whole30 has rules like no rice and no maple syrup, while these wouldn't be excluded in an elimination diet (unless you or your doctor had specific reason to think they were associated with your issues). Whole30 also has rules about "no substitutions" on foods, while an elimination diet is completely agnostic as to whether or not you eat an "okay" item while pretending it is something else.

If you're worried about the strictness, I would consider an elimination diet because you could probably eat more foods overall. People were using elimination diets before Whole30 was even a thing. Whole30 is just a woo'd up elimination diet anyway.

I have considered this. Earlier this year I did gluten free for 3 weeks, and added it back in full bore. I'm not sure 3 weeks was enough time to rule out gluten. I've heard some sources say 2 week min. and others say 6 week min. No reactions though. I thought of just going on down the list of common allergens one by one. But the allure of whole 30 is that it's theoretically faster. Instead of avoiding 1 thing for a month until I get through them all, I avoid it ALL for 30 days, then add them back in. Theoretically finding the intolerances a bit quicker. I agree they have some dumb rules though. (see thier SWYPO rule that one makes me roll my eyes hard.)

ETA reply:

amy19355 wrote: »

If it were me, and I wanted to zero in on a food allergy, I'd remove one at a time for a few weeks and see what happens. If nothing changed, I'd add it back to my diet and drop a different one to try.

I am most satisfied with a WOE that doesn't restrict the choices of food I eat. CICO is the basis of my confidence in what I'm doing. Logging and watching the weight progress over time is what proves to me that CICO is a valid premise on which to base meal planning.

good luck to you!

ME too! I'm 20 lbs this year by just watching portion control, and never restricting any one food. Even the ones I don't moderate well. I just have those with less frequency. Actually, I'm pretty anti-restrictive diet of any kind. But I'm also impatent. And the idea of having "elimination of the month" for a few months sounds more annoying then just jumping in whole hog with whole 30. But I dunno. Their rules are kind of woo-ey.

But it's a process that does take time and rushing through it isn't going to actually help you figure things out. The FODMAP elimination protocol is 6-8 weeks, before a reintroduction process that's several more weeks, and there's a reason for this.

I think we went back and forth a bit in another thread about this topic and I totally understand cost being a factor/hindrance. I'd try and do FODMAP on your own instead of doing W30 if working with a doctor isn't an option right now-

https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/fodmaps-101#diet-tips

https://www.monashfodmap.com/

Was just coming in here to recommend this.

Crafty_camper123

I've done some quick googling on low FODMAP diets. It kind of sounds like my two issues (Asthma & Heartburn/gerd) will need to be addressed independantly. While there are some crossovers between low fodmap and whole30, it seems that low FODMAP is more aimed at addressing gastrointestinal issues that aren't nessecarily caused by an allergic response. It sounds like asthma would have to be addressed by an elimination diet that eliminates common allergens but low fodmap isn't necessarily a requirement.... I also looked into Autoimmune Protocol, which is like whole30 on steroids, but eliminates ALL common allergens. Guess I need to sit on this for a bit and figure out what I want to do... Maybe an expensive allergy test would be more convenient.

Duck_Puddle

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

I've done some quick googling on low FODMAP diets. It kind of sounds like my two issues (Asthma & Heartburn/gerd) will need to be addressed independantly. While there are some crossovers between low fodmap and whole30, it seems that low FODMAP is more aimed at addressing gastrointestinal issues that aren't nessecarily caused by an allergic response. It sounds like asthma would have to be addressed by an elimination diet that eliminates common allergens but low fodmap isn't necessarily a requirement.... I also looked into Autoimmune Protocol, which is like whole30 on steroids, but eliminates ALL common allergens. Guess I need to sit on this for a bit and figure out what I want to do... Maybe an expensive allergy test would be more convenient.

I think maybe getting a comprehensive list of GERD trigger foods (the scientifically known likely culprits and those that have enough anecdotal reports that you’d want to include them as possible/likely).

I know that’s not addressing the asthma side, but I’m not sure where to go with that on the food side.

Keep in mind that whole 30 is not designed as an allergy elimination diet (except for woo-ness that might stem from common digestive issues with things like dairy). And many of the foods you can eat are either known or have strong anecdotal reports as GERD triggers (spices, coffee, carbonated beverages, some fruits, some vegetables, onions, tomatoes, fats, acids are all known....certain fishes, pork, eggs, etc are common digestive triggers sometimes reported with GERD) . While some do, many of the eliminated foods have no relation to GERD at all (sugar, grains, etc.).

Given all the trigger foods still remaining, you could easily follow whole 30 and have reflux all day, every day the entire time.

I know you’re researching several options, but if you have GERD and you’re trying to determine what foods may trigger that, you’ll be best served by focusing on those foods that affect it. And you want the end result to eliminate only the minimum - not a bunch of random stuff that really has no impact on your particular conditions.

I do hope you find something that works for you (both to find your triggers and deal with them long term so you can be healthy).

Crafty_camper123

I was kind of hoping on killing two birds with one stone here. But @Duck_Puddle your right. Most triggers of GERD are foods that are allowed (encouraged even) while on Whole30. (Such as high fats, tomatos, certain meats etc). I actually got most of the heartburn under control within this year by quitting my over-eating habit. I knocked my heartburn to once daily every day after every meal, to once or twice a week. But then last month, I randomly developed esophageal spasms. (not the painful ones, the fluttery ones?) a PPI (doc prescribed) has squashed those completely. But I can't help but wonder if something I am eating is triggering those. Plus getting asthma down would be nice. With my current regimen I take my rescue inhaler 1-2x a week (less if I remember my dang maintenance inhaler) and when I am about to exercise. It would be nice not to be so dependent on pills though. I suppose I have some thinking to do.. I really appreciate all of your input!

CharlieBeansmomTracey

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

@CharlieBeansmomTracey I have both allergy and excersise induced.It may be worth noting I have never had an asthma attack I can directly relate to food. But I have had ones I can directly relate to pollen. (Fine inside, go outside and WHAM wheezy). But I've also heard that it can take 48 hours to have a reaction to foods sometimes.

@SVZee I'll look into low FODMAP too. Thank you. I didn't want to hijack that thread we were in, so I figured I'd creat my own.

@Tacklewasher I've had some GF cookies that are pretty tasty!

allergies from foods dont always cause asthma attacks. its rare but can happen. I know for me when I have a food allergy I usually feel like my throat is swelling, it gets harder to swallow and then I know its time for plenty of benadryl and if needed the ER but thats my experience been asthmatic since I was 3 ,I will be 45 in august, food allergies have never caused me to have an asthma attack.

now pollen yes,if my asthma isnt treated. BUT,certain foods can possibly cause an attack because they are in that pollen family. just like those allergic to latex can also be allergic to bananas, those allergic to almonds can be allergic to peaches, and can be allergic to birch pollen.(see how that can happen/work?) \its possible but doesnt mean its a certainty. Im allergic to all pollens and grasses yet not allergic to any fruits or veggies.IM allergic to molds but can eat mushrooms. crazy huh?

as for food allergies if its a true allergy it will crop up within a few minutes to a few hours,usually they crop up quick depending on how your body reacts to the allergen but it usualy doesnt take 48hrs,as its an immune response. an intolerance may take 48 hrs, most food allergies happen quick,,if it happens over time its most likely an intolerance. https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/adult-food-allergies

CharlieBeansmomTracey

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

I've done some quick googling on low FODMAP diets. It kind of sounds like my two issues (Asthma & Heartburn/gerd) will need to be addressed independantly. While there are some crossovers between low fodmap and whole30, it seems that low FODMAP is more aimed at addressing gastrointestinal issues that aren't nessecarily caused by an allergic response. It sounds like asthma would have to be addressed by an elimination diet that eliminates common allergens but low fodmap isn't necessarily a requirement.... I also looked into Autoimmune Protocol, which is like whole30 on steroids, but eliminates ALL common allergens. Guess I need to sit on this for a bit and figure out what I want to do... Maybe an expensive allergy test would be more convenient.

it would be best to get one to rule out what you are and arent allergic to. it would give you an idea. allergy testing would be the way to go to be honest. maybe see someone who deals with allergies and asthma together? they do have doctors the specialize in both.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

I was kind of hoping on killing two birds with one stone here. But @Duck_Puddle your right. Most triggers of GERD are foods that are allowed (encouraged even) while on Whole30. (Such as high fats, tomatos, certain meats etc). I actually got most of the heartburn under control within this year by quitting my over-eating habit. I knocked my heartburn to once daily every day after every meal, to once or twice a week. But then last month, I randomly developed esophageal spasms. (not the painful ones, the fluttery ones?) a PPI (doc prescribed) has squashed those completely. But I can't help but wonder if something I am eating is triggering those. Plus getting asthma down would be nice. With my current regimen I take my rescue inhaler 1-2x a week (less if I remember my dang maintenance inhaler) and when I am about to exercise. It would be nice not to be so dependent on pills though. I suppose I have some thinking to do.. I really appreciate all of your input!

taking your asthma preventative is key to preventing flare ups. as for exercise drs usually recommend taking a puff or two of your rescue inhaler before you work out and after if need. but talk to your dr and ask if its ok. 1-2x a week for rescue inhaler is good. thats about how often I take mine especially during the fall and winter. and my asthma is pretty well controlled with my maintenance(preventative) inhaler. what pills do you have to take? and those of use with asthma sometimes we have to take meds. with the spasms it may be something you are eating but it could be something else causing them which is why IMO it would be best to see a gastroenterologist(if you dont already) and see what they find. Im glad I went to one or I would have never known I produced excess acid and had gastritis.

Crafty_camper123

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

I was kind of hoping on killing two birds with one stone here. But @Duck_Puddle your right. Most triggers of GERD are foods that are allowed (encouraged even) while on Whole30. (Such as high fats, tomatos, certain meats etc). I actually got most of the heartburn under control within this year by quitting my over-eating habit. I knocked my heartburn to once daily every day after every meal, to once or twice a week. But then last month, I randomly developed esophageal spasms. (not the painful ones, the fluttery ones?) a PPI (doc prescribed) has squashed those completely. But I can't help but wonder if something I am eating is triggering those. Plus getting asthma down would be nice. With my current regimen I take my rescue inhaler 1-2x a week (less if I remember my dang maintenance inhaler) and when I am about to exercise. It would be nice not to be so dependent on pills though. I suppose I have some thinking to do.. I really appreciate all of your input!

taking your asthma preventative is key to preventing flare ups. as for exercise drs usually recommend taking a puff or two of your rescue inhaler before you work out and after if need. but talk to your dr and ask if its ok. 1-2x a week for rescue inhaler is good. thats about how often I take mine especially during the fall and winter. and my asthma is pretty well controlled with my maintenance(preventative) inhaler. what pills do you have to take? and those of use with asthma sometimes we have to take meds. with the spasms it may be something you are eating but it could be something else causing them which is why IMO it would be best to see a gastroenterologist(if you dont already) and see what they find. Im glad I went to one or I would have never known I produced excess acid and had gastritis.

Thanks for all your replies here! I'm on singulair, asthmanex, and then allergy meds when I need them . It's the best managed in the winter when there isn't any pollen to speak of, and worst (not at all) in the late summer early fall. So I suspect it's mostly pollen with bits of dust, pet dander, and mold here and there. You bring up an interesting point about the allergies to certain pollens and their similar food producing plants. I think maybe this might be the year I suck it up for allergy testing. But it depends on where the esophageal thing takes me I suppose. There are next steps to discuss (endoscopy and things of the like) during my January follow up, so I guess we'll see. My doc thinks it either an allergic esophagus, or it's due to damage from acid reflux. I guess there really is one way to find out for sure. It's just expensive. I know its kind of dumb (especially saying it out loud) But I would rather spend my money on something fun then being poked and prodded and tested on in the name of my health. And of course they raised my deductible for next year... But getting on top of this stuff while I'm in my 30's rather then when I'm 50 and have extensive/widespread damage and the possibility of pre-cancer is probably worth it. Thanks again for your input. You bring up a lot of really good points.

SusanMcMc

Sounds like you've made your decision, but I thought I'd add one thing from my experience with whole 30. I've found that food restrictive diets (Whole 30, Primal/Paleo, etc.) really do a number on me psychologically. I start out like gangbusters and think that just because I don't accept all the woo, it won't harm me. But then I get tossed into a shame cycle if and when I slip up--really? A piece of fruit shouldn't trigger a shame cycle. But the worst is that when I eventually go back to my pre-diet diet, I retain some of the categories of "bad food=don't touch" and "good food=eat in large quantities" in my subconscious. So my post-diet diet is actually WORSE for me than if I had never started the diet in the first place. I am convinced that following woo diets is how I ended up slowly gaining weight in the four years I spent the most time focused on a "healthy," "clean," and "natural" diet.

I don't have allergies, but I suspect that doing a one-by-one or medically proscribed allergy diet rather than a book-based diet would avoid some of those shame cycle and frankendiet disasters that I've experienced. I hope this helps.

CharlieBeansmomTracey

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

CharlieBeansmomTracey wrote: »

Crafty_camper123 wrote: »

I was kind of hoping on killing two birds with one stone here. But @Duck_Puddle your right. Most triggers of GERD are foods that are allowed (encouraged even) while on Whole30. (Such as high fats, tomatos, certain meats etc). I actually got most of the heartburn under control within this year by quitting my over-eating habit. I knocked my heartburn to once daily every day after every meal, to once or twice a week. But then last month, I randomly developed esophageal spasms. (not the painful ones, the fluttery ones?) a PPI (doc prescribed) has squashed those completely. But I can't help but wonder if something I am eating is triggering those. Plus getting asthma down would be nice. With my current regimen I take my rescue inhaler 1-2x a week (less if I remember my dang maintenance inhaler) and when I am about to exercise. It would be nice not to be so dependent on pills though. I suppose I have some thinking to do.. I really appreciate all of your input!

taking your asthma preventative is key to preventing flare ups. as for exercise drs usually recommend taking a puff or two of your rescue inhaler before you work out and after if need. but talk to your dr and ask if its ok. 1-2x a week for rescue inhaler is good. thats about how often I take mine especially during the fall and winter. and my asthma is pretty well controlled with my maintenance(preventative) inhaler. what pills do you have to take? and those of use with asthma sometimes we have to take meds. with the spasms it may be something you are eating but it could be something else causing them which is why IMO it would be best to see a gastroenterologist(if you dont already) and see what they find. Im glad I went to one or I would have never known I produced excess acid and had gastritis.

Thanks for all your replies here! I'm on singulair, asthmanex, and then allergy meds when I need them . It's the best managed in the winter when there isn't any pollen to speak of, and worst (not at all) in the late summer early fall. So I suspect it's mostly pollen with bits of dust, pet dander, and mold here and there. You bring up an interesting point about the allergies to certain pollens and their similar food producing plants. I think maybe this might be the year I suck it up for allergy testing. But it depends on where the esophageal thing takes me I suppose. There are next steps to discuss (endoscopy and things of the like) during my January follow up, so I guess we'll see. My doc thinks it either an allergic esophagus, or it's due to damage from acid reflux. I guess there really is one way to find out for sure. It's just expensive. I know its kind of dumb (especially saying it out loud) But I would rather spend my money on something fun then being poked and prodded and tested on in the name of my health. And of course they raised my deductible for next year... But getting on top of this stuff while I'm in my 30's rather then when I'm 50 and have extensive/widespread damage and the possibility of pre-cancer is probably worth it. Thanks again for your input. You bring up a lot of really good points.

yes do it now when you are young. I will be 45 and I only wished that I had had several tests years ago.it may have prevented me needing meds now for certain things. I can see not wanting to spend the money so no its not stupid but its best to find out something now then wait for it to possibly get worse and maybe end up in the hospital or with a condition that deteriorates over the years or worse.