Why We Eliminate Before Testing

Here at Fab Fertile we always test instead of guess. But before that, we do something else. Right when couples start our Couple Coaching Program, they begin a 10-day Elimination Protocol. Shortly after and sometimes even during, couples then complete a food sensitivity test which will provide the most in depth and accurate look at true food sensitivities. We often get the question: why both? Why not just the food sensitivity test? Here is why.

The Elimination Protocol

Before we can get into the why let us explain what the Elimination Protocol is first. For 10 days, we ask our couple to avoid eating top allergens. During this time they focus instead on eating whole foods such as: 

• Lots of vegetables
• Fruit 
• Grass-fed meat
• Wild-caught fish
• Organic poultry
• Organic rice
• Legumes (except peanuts)
• Nuts and seeds
• Gluten free grains

At the end of the 10 days, couples slowly + systematically reintroduce foods and track how they feel. This is where the magic happens. This is when your body truly gets to communicate with you in a way it likely never has been able to before.

Survival Mode

But why is an elimination diet necessary? Imagine that you grew up with a cat in your house since you were a newborn. You never lived without this cat. Then you go off to college. You return home and start to notice your eyes are burning and itchy. You start presenting all the signs that your body is allergic to your cat. But why not before? How is this possible?

Your body wants to keep you safe and protected. It doesn’t want you to suffer or have allergic reactions. Sometimes some bodies are in survival mode like the example given here and it takes allowing yourself to heal in order for your body to communicate with you that this food is causing inflammation or hurting your body in some other way.

When you eliminate a food that is causing a sensitivity, you allow your body to heal. And when you reintroduce the food that causes a negative response, you notice.

Elimination vs. Testing

But still, why not just test? First of all, you can start an elimination protocol right now. There is no waiting. Your body can start healing immediately. So when you are on a fertility journey and you have found yourself here, chances are you are tired of waiting. 

Second, it is easy to look at a list of sensitivities and say:

“That food doesn’t bother me”

“I have never had problems with gluten before” 

“No way, I love cheese”

We hear this ALL THE TIME but the food sensitivity testing we prefer is extremely accurate and we know from experience that we don’t always notice our symptoms until things get really bad. 

When you do an elimination protocol first, you will:

1. Gain confidence in your ability to do it
2. Relearn how to listen to your body as it communicates with you
3. Experience the symptoms certain foods cause first hand

Completing the Elimination Protocol is empowering, even if it doesn’t feel that way at first. We know this to be especially true for our Standard Western Diet eaters. The results are fast, helping you get that much closer to your pregnancy by having an easy + early win.

Food Freedom

Once the elimination protocol is complete and we have received the results of your food sensitivity test, one of our functional nutrition practitioners will review it with you and possibly encourage eliminating other foods on your results for varying lengths of time. 

Now, we are not in the business of telling anyone what to do or how to eat. However, the majority of our clients quickly realize which foods are resulting in which symptoms in their bodies and have the freedom to now choose which symptoms they wish to experience and when. 

What each person does with the results is exclusively up to them, yet with the help from our functional nutrition practitioners and fertility coaches, each client understands the consequences of continuing to eat foods that don’t serve your body and how to adjust their habits and recipes to best serve their bodies and prepare for pregnancy.  To learn more about the elimination diet and improving your chance of getting pregnant holistically, book a consultation here.