Before I discuss the elimination diet, I would like to explain what you can do to reduce symptoms if you prove to be tannin intolerant.
A tannin-free diet, it has to be said, is very bland and limited and can be challenging to stick to all of the time. You don’t realize how much of the enjoyment of eating food comes from the things you add to it until you have to go without them (herbs, spices, vinegar, sauces, and condiments). So, I generally eat a tannin-free diet four to five days a week and then have two to three half-days where I eat food and drinks containing tannin. If I drink certain medicinal herbal teas on those days I can reduce my symptoms the following day. There are also beneficial yoga poses that are good for digestion, and chewing your food thoroughly will also help.
A typical week
If I eat tannin foods during the morning, say from 8 am to mid-day, symptoms will generally start to develop around 8 pm, gradually worsen throughout the night, and be at their worst the following morning until approximately 11 am/ mid-day, when they disappear. So at the beginning of the following day, I will have symptoms, but I will feel normal during the afternoon and evening. So I have to put up with tannin symptoms two to three nights and mornings a week, but I will feel fine the rest of the week.
Sometimes I eat and drink tannin all day and therefore have symptoms all of the following day.
Things you can do to reduce your symptoms
Important Update – Omega 3
I recently started taking Omega 3 capsules (algae), as I read that omega 3 is good for preventing and treating inflammation, and some mental health issues. They have proven to be the best supplement I’ve tried, my symptoms are greatly reduced and some days I don’t feel any symptoms at all.
I highly recommend you try the capsules (at least for a month) rather than trying to get omega 3 through your diet, you’d have to eat an awful lot of fish to get the same amount of omega 3.
Vegans and vegetarians can use the Algae omega 3 capsules if they don’t want to use cod liver oil. Cod liver contains a lot of omega 3 because cod eat things like krill. krill eat algae which contains the the omega 3.
Mastication
Mastication (chewing) is very important, and it is easier to break down food mechanically with your teeth than breaking it down through the various forms of internal digestion. Try to chew your food until it is almost liquid before swallowing.
Herbal teas
Drink lemon juice ( it helps to neutralise tannins – but not entirely).
Drink ginger tea, fresh ginger juice, mint tea, and licorice tea. These help to digest your food.
Drink lemongrass tea. This will help to reduce headaches the following day.
Remember to only drink the herbal teas on the days you eat tannin as they contain tannin. I usually start the days, when I eat tannin, with a cup of Licorice or ginger tea.
You can also add some fresh ginger or mint to your meals.
An Ayurvedic drink for increasing digestive fire
Fresh ginger juice (grate some ginger and squeeze out the juice) diluted with water or apple juice.
Squeeze of lime
Pinch of Rock or Himalayan salt
A quarter teaspoon of honey
Black Pepper
Adding a little black pepper to your meals will help with digestion.
Supplements
I don’t take digestive supplements, but you might like to try Bromelain supplement. Other digestive enzyme supplements are available, but I haven’t tried them as they contain ox bile.
Yoga
I am Vata dosha in Ayurvedic medicine, and a Vata yoga routine works well for me (there are a few on YouTube).
Also, diaphragmatic breathing helps as it keeps the belly relaxed.
Do not practise yoga or exercises like crunches during the elimination diet, as the detoxifying effects might confuse the results of the diet.
I will soon be adding more information about yoga and digestion, and a simple, easy ‘Yoga for Digestion’ routine.
There are possibly other healing modalities, such as acupuncture and reiki, that might also help to reduce symptoms, but I have not tried them.