What is the deal with food?

This is really a complicated question that experts have written numerous books on. While there are some variations, in general they have the most important concepts in common. Underlying it all is the concept that people with autoimmune issues have (at the very least) sensitivities to food. There is more to autoimmune, but that is an important place to start. If you eat the wrong foods, you will have a reaction.
So what does a person do?
If we all had time, money and energy to burn, it would be a piece of cake We could hire an expert to tell us what to do, prepare and cook our meals so we didn't even have to think about it. However, chances are that there is a deficit of at least one of those 3 things which might have contributed to how we got in this position. Besides...where is the fun and learning in having it figured out and done for us?
I have done a lot of experimenting. Some things work for me and some things don't. I find that I have lots of ups and downs when it comes to my autoimmune situation. From what I have heard, that is not uncommon.
Right now I am looking into Elimination Diets specifically designed for autoimmune conditions. The idea is that the body, specifically the digestive system (commonly referred to as the Gut) needs a chance to heal. It also focuses on flooding the body with quality, essential nutrients. This helps greatly with healing.
Elimination diets remove certain types of food that tend to cause inflammation (physical stress) in people that have autoimmune. Some of these foods can be re-introduced after a period of time with no problem. Others when re-introduced you notice that you can't handle. It is very personal.
The elimination period lasts commonly from 30-60 days. However, the goal is to prepare you to make permanent lifestyle changes. With autoimmune, effective lifestyle changes need to be permanent.
Common foods that are eliminated will include gluten containing products, dairy, processed foods, certain sweeteners and certain kinds of vegetables. Some plans eliminate more things, others less.
Right now I am studying Sarah Ballantyne's approach. She has 2 excellent books and a great website, both of which I have included on this blog.
I am at a point where I need to bring myself back and reset my eating approach! Anyone with me?