A systematic approach for diagnosing food allergies.

An elimination diet is the systematic elimination of different foods and food groups from the diet as a means of diagnosing food allergies. While people of all ages can develop an allergic sensitivity to certain foods, such allergies are especially common among children. In the United States, one child in six develops an allergic reaction to certain substances, and foods are among the prime offenders. (Many food allergies are outgrown during adolescence.) Common symptoms of food allergies include hives, angioedema (swelling), respiratory congestion, and gastrointestinal problems. Food allergies are also known to play a secondary role in many chronic conditions, such as asthma, acne, ear infections, eczema, headaches, and hay fever. The most effective means of treating food allergies is to avoid the foods that produce allergic reactions.

There are two main ways of diagnosing food allergies by the...