This dietary approach has been most helpful in patients who complain of recurrent gastrointestinal problems, especially diarrhea, food intolerance or sensitivity;  chemical or environmental sensitivities;  and chronic headache of unknown etiology.

Serum antibody testing for specific food allergies provides a more precise diet but if food allergy testing can't be done for some reason this diet is a good place to start.

The diet is low lactose, low fat, gluten free and usually well tolerated.  A summary of the dietary guidelines is outline below.

The primary guidelines are:

• Eliminate dairy products such as milk, cheese, and ice cream. (Note: varying amounts of natural, unsweetened, live-culture yogurt may be tolerated by some individuals.)
• Avoid meats such as beef, pork, or veal. Chicken, turkey, lamb and coldwater fish such as samon, mackerel and halibut are acceptable if you are not allergic or intolerant of these foods. Select from free-range, whenever possible.
• Eliminate gluten. Avoid any food that contains wheat, spelt, kamut, oats, rye, barley, amaranth, quinoa or malts. This is the most difficult part of the diet but also the most important. Unfortunately, gluten is contained in many common foods such as bread, crackers, pasta, cereals, and products containing flour made from these grains. Products made from rice, corn, buckwheat and gluten-free flour, potato, tapioca and arrowroot may be used as desired by most individuals.
• Drink at least two quarts of water, preferably filtered, daily.
• Avoid all alcohol-containing products including beer, wine, liquor and over the counter products that contain alcohol. Also avoid all caffeine-containing beverages including coffee, caffeine-containing tea and soda pop. Coffee substitutes from gluten-free grains should also be avoided along with decaffeinated coffee. Read labels carefully, as over the counter medications may contain alcohol and/or caffeine.