Gut check.

My friend Cindy inquired about my old lady bunion yesterday. We both giggled at the photo (see below) and she mentioned I could try adjusting my diet to reduce inflammation.

That little comment sparked a light bulb. Over the years I've monitored my diet for weight loss and sure I've consciously cut out trans fats and high fructose corn syrup but I've never focused on food for its medicinal benefits.

And like some divine intervention - an email popped into my inbox from Precision Nutrition that detailed an "Elimination Diet" to discover food allergies.

Check this out:

For example, food sensitivities/reactions and other gastrointestinal disturbances have been linked to:

• asthma and allergies[1],[2]
• autoimmune disorders[3]
• skin conditions[4]
• arthritis
• atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases[5],[6],[7]
• neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia[8]
• mood disorders
• ADD/ADHD
• narcolepsy
• addiction
• migraines
• kidney problems[9],
• bunions (just kidding, I added that)

Apparently this "diet" takes about a 5 to 6 week commitment. The first four weeks you eat super duper clean - avoiding all dairy, red meats, wheat, certain acidic veggies and fruits, nuts, COFFEE!, and sugars (to name a few). Then you slowly introduce a food back into your diet for a day, go back to clean eating and observe how your body reacts.

So why do it? Well according to this article, "If you think you might be suffering from food intolerance, you might want to try an elimination diet. Food has the power to promote health or create disease, and following an elimination diet can be a rewarding and eye-opening experience.

So, give it a try if you think your gut health needs a check-up. What you give up temporarily in creature comforts you’ll gain in lasting and unequivocal knowledge about your own health and well-being!"

Read more about it here: http://www.precisionnutrition.com/elimination-diet