Whole 30 vs Elimination diet

[Sambalina]

I'm trying to get to the bottom of my digestive problems and am looking into a diet-based approach for the moment. First, here's the problem:

 

As of mid-October (I've never had anything like this before):

In the late afternoon and into the evening EVERY day I get huge amounts of gas, bloating, and tummy distention. It's painful and annoying. It stats around 4-5pm until I go to bed. Gone the next morning, back the next afternoon. I was mostly constipated, but not chronically so, and not all the time. But the afternoon gas and bloating was there every single day. 

 

I tried more leafy green veg, more water, more movement, yoga for digestion, taking coconut oil, and probiotics. The probiotics are the only thing that works - they get rid of the problem completely. But, I have to take them every day. I've tried stopping - now after about 3 months of being on them, and 2 days later the gas symptoms are back exactly the same.

 

So, I'm thinking something changed in my gut flora. As far as I can tell, I didn't change anything in my diet in October 2015. I didn't get sick. I didn't take any medication. I live in South Korea, but right now I've been in Bali, Indonesia for a month. I was half hoping that eating the different food here might help, but nope. I came off the probiotics for 2 days earlier in the week, and the gas came right back.

 

So, I don't want to be reliant on probiotics. I'm thinking it's:

- a food sensitivity

- leaky gut

- a possible environmental problem (I moved to a big city with a lot more pollution about 6 months before this issue came up)

 

As I'm already planning on moving back out of the city soon (and have been chilling in Bali for a while with no sign of improvement), I'm going to try the food sensitivity angle first.

 

Which brings me to my question: Which do you guys think is best for dealing with this: A Whole 30 or a full-on elimination diet?

 

I've done a whole 30 before, about a year before this problem started, so I'm familiar with it and know I can do it. The elimination diet is harder, longer, but ultimately the gold standard in finding food sensitivities.

 

Anyone have thoughts, experiences, or words of wisdom about my symptoms or steps to take from here?

[SkiBlue]

I would try the Whole30 first, since you already have experience with it. Give that a try, and if it doesn't solve the issue or give you an edge to do so, then try the full elimination diet.

[Sambalina]

Thanks, Skiblue!

I've decided to go with a low FODMAP diet, combined with the general principles of the Whole30. My symptoms are very IBS-like, so I figured a diet specifically targeted at them was a good way to go