Dietary Restriction and Illness

Diet elimination studies typically use small groups suffering from the health issue under investigate, with a control time period or group, and a time period or group under the influence of on a restricted diet, typically for a period of 2-8 weeks.

Migraines
A small study employed phases with diets where any foods that patient had IgG positivity for were eliminated, and another where they were deliberately increased.  these foods varied between patients but commonly included seafood and cheese, and for some patients included eggs, milk and meat.  Diet was shown to effect migraine frequency ( Alpay et al, 2010).

Asthma
A small study of asthmatic children in the United Kingdom gives some credence to the idea that a milk and egg-free diet can improve their symptom. Thirteen experimental and nine control children were studies over an 8 week period and the children on a restricted diet showed improvements in IgC antibodies, and in some cases lung function and overall health as self-reported and confirmed by a pediatrician.

References:

• Alpay K, Ertas, M, Orhan E, Ustay DK, Lieners C, Baykan B. (2010) Cephalalgia, 30, 829-837.
• Yusoff, N.A.M., Hampton, S.M., Dickerson, J.W.T., Morgan, J.B. (2004). The effects of exclusions of dietary egg and milk in the management of asthmatic children: a pilot study. The Journal of the Royal Society for the Promotion of Health, 124, 74-80.

Religion and Meat (in progress)

Christianity

Barclay (2010) suggests that a Christain orientation, specifically  to wards food includes thanksgiving to God and careful consideration of the well-being of others.  On this basis he argues that wealthy Christians should consider greatly reducing their meat intake based on the adverse environmental effects of large scake meat production.

Islam

British Question Halal Meat

The Mail seemed outraged that a lot of meat served at British events, schools and in other public settings including Wembley Stadium is Halal.  Halal meat is of a type and preparation considered correct under Islamic law.  Specifically it is not pork, and has been slaughter with a prayer to Allah by cutting he neck veins resulting in rapid exsanguination--minimising the amount of blood left in the carcass. 

It has been suggested that Christians should not eat alal meat because it has been dedicated to Allah. Some also argue that halal slaughter is not humane as the animal is not "stunned" (unconscious) when it is killed.  For this reason The RSPCA and Vegetarians International Voice for Animals (Viva!) oppose providing only Halal options to consumers, and not informing them that the meat is Halal.

References:

• Barclay, JMG. (2010). Food, Christian identity and global warming: a Pauline call for a Christian food taboo. The Expository Times, 121, 585-593.

Sources:

• Halal Britain: Famous institutions and schools routinely serve up ritually slaughtered meat
• On London's Halal Hoo Ha