Food allergies can be a serious cause of illness. Problem foods are know to cause all sorts of symptoms and illnesses. Food allergies are associated with eczema, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) irritable bowel syndrome, and even mental health issues like depression and ADHD.
Identifying problem foods is not easy to do. Food allergy tests are not always accurate or helpful. They can also be expensive.
One of the best ways to identify foods is to go on a carefully designed personal food elimination diet and monitor the the results carefully. Food elmination diets may not work for everyone, but there is substantial evidence that they can make a difference in a lot of people.
For example, research shows that when people go on a FODMAP elimination diet, avoiding food containing these sugars can reduce symptoms in about 75% of people who have irritable bowel syndrome.
Going on a food elimination diet is best done under the guidance of a trained professional, like a doctor or certified dietition with specific experience in food elimination diets.