Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook: Short-Term Meal Plans to Identify Triggers and Soothe Flare-Ups

by Christa Biegler

No-itch kitchen: histamine-free meals to eat well and feel good

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or interested in learning more about eczema for a family member or friend, The Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook has what you’re looking for. The straightforward recipes and easy-to-follow meal plans make understanding this condition more manageable than you thought.

This book features tons of delicious recipes, like Fluffy Waffles and Easy Pesto Pasta, with accessible ingredients that take different dietary requirements into consideration and help you ease eczema flares. There’s also helpful information on what foods your body reacts to, topical support alternatives, and stress management routines so you can respond to the condition from all angles.

The Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook includes:

Mealtime relief―Use a comprehensive 4-week meal plan to facilitate your diet.
75 satisfying recipes―Enjoy various choices for the three main meals of the day, plus snacks, desserts, and popular side dishes.
Get the facts―Learn about the causes of eczema and helpful ways to tackle it that go beyond diet.
Discover how to get soothing relief from eczema―one tasty meal at a time

Genres: Nonfiction, Cookbooks

185 pages, Paperback

Published April 14, 2020

Reviews

[McKenzie Rakes · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, an eczema handbook that makes me feel understood! Christa Biegler has done a wonderful job with her cookbook, but it is so much more than that.

Ziegler paints the picture of eczema and how complicated it truly is - what may cause flares, what may help, why people are affected, and how little is known. She does not suggest steroids nor extreme, unrealistic food limitations; she finds an incredible middle ground AND provides a menu plan with recipes.

I am so thankful to have found this resource! I devoured it in one sitting and am excited to implement Biegler’s recommendations. I so appreciate that the author provides scientific evidence, a list of beneficial and harmful foods, and then a weekly meal plan with recipes! It’s all right there. I would highly recommend this to any struggling with eczema or any one with loved ones that suffer from this difficult condition. I feel seen and understood.

A huge thank you NetGalley and Callisto Media for the digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy, via the publisher, of The Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook: Short-Term Meal Plans to Identify Triggers and Soothe Flare-Ups. I chose to review this cookbook and my opinion is freely given.

The first third of the cookbook is regarding understanding eczema and the root causes of it. The author goes through the diet itself and gives meal plans, helping those new to the lifestyle successfully incorporate the principles into their own menus. Phase One of the diet includes eliminating certain foods, especially the top 8 allergen causing items (cow's milk, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, shellfish, and wheat). Phase Two of the diet reintroduces restricted foods one at a time, checking to determine which are triggers.

The recipe sections are listed below, along with my favorites.

Breakfast and Beverages: Golden Turmeric Milk; Blueberry Oatmeal Bars; Fluffy Waffles

Soups, Salads, and Sides: Harvest Turkey Quinoa Soup; Make-Ahead Chopped Salad; Turmeric Rice Pilaf

Vegan and Vegetarian: Zucchini Noodles with Tahini-Ginger Dressing; Lentil and Beet Soup; Curry Stuffed Peppers

Meat and Fish: Sheet Pan Fajitas; Easy Pesto Pasta; Make-Ahead Meatballs with Cranberry Relish; Halibut with Pesto

Desserts: Carrot Cake Bites; Chia Seed Pudding; Coffee Mug Cake

Staples: Homemade Tortillas; Egg Free Mayo; Homemade Baking Powder; Quinoa Flatbread; Ranch Dressing

I like how the author lists restrictions for each recipe, whether it be vegan, nut-free, dairy-free, and so on. The cover art is so inviting and I wish that the author had included photographs for the finished dishes. Pictures are so inspiring and would have been a great addition to this cookbook. Overall, I would recommend The Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook: Short-Term Meal Plans to Identify Triggers and Soothe Flare-Ups, for its healthy approach and great meals.

[Joseph · Rating 1 out of 5]

Another diet/health book that is full of trendy bunkum with no basis in fact whatsoever.

Detoxification is a complete myth, your liver and your kidneys remove toxins, nothing else does.

Also the prevalent myth that the Organic label means the product is better than non-organic, it doesn’t even indicate that the item is pesticide free, as there are many pesticides that are classified as Organic.

References are listed but not cited in the text, so there is no indication what information, if any, is taken from where. The recipes are also ridiculous, very much leaning into trendy “superfoods” instead of focusing on basic, healthy food. I mean, Emu Oil?

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was excited to come across another book that focused on foods for eczema. The only other one I have seen out there is The Eczema Diet by Karen Fischer. I heard about this through the Skinterupt podcast and decided to check it out at my library. This book seems mainly aimed towards parents who have children with eczema.

As I began reading, I saw that basics of eczema were covered such as what is eczema, types of eczema, symptoms etc as well as possible solutions (topical or internal) that can be considered. Most important was the potential reasons for flares such as allergies, intolerances, gut, liver and adrenal imbalances. I think that when it comes to food and sensitivity, most think it is allergies but it is good that this book explains the differences. Even though the author cautiously recommends the Doctor Aron method, which some eczema and TSW warriors will be upset by, at least she mentions steroids have their downsides.

I appreciated that she mentioned topical steroid withdrawal too. I found that the Eczema Diet which was released years ago was outdated and not very conscious of how hard it would be for people to eliminate so much food from their diets. In 2020, there is more information about eczema and treatments. I liked that the author mentions that some people may not suit this diet and those with eating disorders like orthorexia should not embark on this. Fear of food and long term restrictions are issues I faced when I started an elimination diet. I can’t say my mindset is okay after that.

Good that she also addressed that not everyone may follow her both phase 1 and 2 of her elimination diet. She gives alternatives and options which leaves parents and eczema sufferers more flexibility. I did not pick up this book planning to follow the diet so after reading a quarter of the book I flipped through the rest as the other three quarters are filled with recipes, two pages on resources on where to buy snacks and other eczema relief as well as information eg ITSAN.

I thought that CB did well to understand that meal prepping and switching your entire diet is tough not only for you but for your family. You either have to cook separately for yourself or change the entire meal routine for your family. That can be stressful especially if not everyone is suffering from your condition or follows the restrictions. She gave alternatives and hacks on how prep time can be reduced. I would say that these tips are great for parents.

As for the recipes: There aren't many pictures and each recipe does not have it's own picture. Though they are divided into these sections:

- Breakfast and beverages
- Soups, salads and sides
- Vegan and vegetarian
- Meat and fish
- Desserts

Great that she has vegetarian and vegan options. As to how strict her elimination diet is, I would say it is much more flexible than the Eczema Diet by Karen Fischer. CB does not suggest eliminating many things and the duration of the strictest elimination which is phase 1 is only for 2-3 weeks. She advises that the most important thing is to reduce the amount of processed foods consume and stick to whole foods. This sounds less intimidating than telling the reader they need to eliminate entire food groups.

I would say that her recipes are more relevant for western diets (mainly US) because the prep and cooking steps requires use of appliances like an oven, food processor and blender. These are not commonly used in Singaporean or Asian cooking. Some of the ingredients might be hard to find in Singapore as well. Each recipe is made for sharing and is suitable for cooking for your family.

Overall, an easy book to read and good edition to natural eczema therapies.

[Annie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally published on my blog: Nonstop Reader.

Eczema Relief Diet & Cookbook is a new specialty cookbook and recipe collection by Christa Biegler. Due out 14th April 2020 from Callisto on their Rockridge Press imprint, it's 216 pages and will be available in paperback and ebook formats (ebook available now). It's worth noting that the ebook format has a handy interactive table of contents as well as interactive links. I've really become enamored of ebooks with interactive formats lately. For Kindle Unlimited subscribers this book is currently included in the KU subscription library to borrow and read for free.

The book follows a logical and easy format. The first three chapters cover the background of ingredient selection, what eczema is, what the diet entails and some general quick-start weekly meal plans. The author also includes some logical pointers, ingredients, and supplies. The recipe chapters are arranged thematically: breakfasts and beverages, soups salads and sides, vegan and vegetarian, meat and fish, desserts, and staples and ingredient recipes. Nutritional information is included in the footer at the end of the recipes and includes calories, fat, sugars, carbohydrates. Some special dietary information is included (gluten-free, nut-free, dairy, vegetarian,etc).

The recipes have their ingredients listed bullet style in a sidebar. Measurements are given in US standard only. Special tools and ingredients are also listed, along with yields and cooking directions. Most of the ingredients are easily sourced at any moderately well stocked grocery store. The book also includes a short author bio, and a metric conversion chart, but lacks any index or general ingredients index. Each of the recipes includes observations as well as tips and substitutions in highlighted sidebars.

My main quibble with the book is that the recipes are mostly not photographed. There are some photos, and they're clear and attractive, but they only represent about 5% of the recipes included in the book. It is, however, a very well written book for a niche (and previously largely ignored) group in the autoimmune community.

Four stars.

Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.

[Renee Knoblauch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eczema is no fun for anyone who suffers from it. This cookbook was extremely informative to give you some information to understand eczema. She covers many of the root causes and triggers. She even has a section on children and eczema. Along with some special considerations for children, pregnancy, and breast feeding and formula feed babies. I appreciated all the medical and scientific information to help me be more informed.

The author explains the diet and has meal plans. She has some different phases with one of them to eliminate certain foods. Those foods are the top 8 allergen from diary, eggs, peanuts, soy, tree nuts, shell fish, and wheat. This is done to see if you are having triggers from those foods. After you have eliminated you will start to add them back in one at a time.

I like that the author doesn’t push medication like steroids and such. She has some FAQ questions on common questions. She breaks down the role that food has on eczema and how to journal your information with a medical questionnaire.

She offers some stables to keep around in your trigger free kitchen. All the recipes are labeled if they are nut free, dairy free, and so on.

All the recipes are reasonable and should be easy to access at your local grocery store. There is a good variety of recipes throughout. I felt that most adults would really enjoy the selection but children especially if you have picky eater might not be so thrilled.

Some recipes that caught my attention are the Golden Turmeric Milk, Aunt Helen’ Roasted Root Veggies and Black Beans, Apple and Pear Crisp, Lamb Patties with Warm Carrot Salad, Quick Egg Roll in a Bowl, and Curry Stuffed Peppers.

I received a copy of this product from Callisto Publisher's in exchange for my honest review. I was not required to write a positive review.

[Bel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found the beginning chapters useful as the content focuses mainly on food triggers and what to eat and avoid. The recipes are a bit predictable. I wish there were more photographs. Obviously, there are lots of limited foods that restrict the variety of recipes but I wanted to see more creative recipes rather than another recipe for sweet potato and kale salad or chia pudding.

[Lindsay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Unlike some of the other books on this topic that I have attempted to get into, this book was written in a very accessible way. The meal plan is laid out for you, and quite straightforward, and the recipes provided also seemed quite reasonable -- it didn't feel like I needed to get a lot of specialty items to try any of them.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a beginner cook, I wish there were more pictures. Instructions are clear and the conversion chart is handy. Overall, I very good cookbook that will be a welcome addition to any cooks’ repertoire.
I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for my volunteer review.

[♏Vanessa♏ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good

Lots of information and great recipes. After reading a ton of books on this I have finally found one that is worth keeping and following the diet. Fingers crossed it will work.

[Witch-at-Heart · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book I do have mixed feelings about it. I do suffer from eczema but it is caused from medications I need to take during cancer treatment so I am always looking for ways to help improve my overall health.

Many of the recipes are quite good but some of the food suggestions in this book are not typical diet fare for most families so be forewarned that many recipes call for harder to find ingredients. Some of them I have never even heard of before. The recipes can also be time consuming and expensive to make so that is a drawback.

I don't need every meal to be simplistic or fast but I do have a food budget and time constraints on some days of the week. I also have to balance that with foods my family will actually eat so unfortunately the more expensive or elaborate meals with expensive ingredients are not a good option for me for the variety of reasons I just mentioned.

That left me with limited choices but this book does have some handy information I am just not sure it will be for everyone.

I received this book from Callisto Publishing and Rockridge Press for an honest review.