My Favorite Spring Cleaning Diet

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My Favorite " Spring Cleaning " Diet

 

Jamison Starbuck, ND

University of Montana

 

his spring, consider a " cleansing " diet to boost your health. This type of

diet is designed to gradually phase out certain " trigger " foods that cause

symptoms. It can be useful for people with headache, fatigue, irritable bowel

syndrome, indigestion and any other condition that may be linked to diet.

Cleansing diets are safe for most people. However, if you have an eating

disorder or are pregnant or nursing, do not try this diet. If you have diabetes,

anemia, kidney, liver or bowel disease, check with your doctor before doing a

cleansing diet. If you are in poor health or have not seen your doctor in

more than a year, schedule a checkup and alert your physician about your plan

to do a spring cleansing diet.

Continue to take all your prescription drugs and your multivitamin, but avoid

supplements, herbs and nonessential over-the-counter medications. Drink 72

ounces of water daily throughout this program. Improve your circulation and

energy with gentle exercise each day. I recommend walking, swimming or yoga.

Increase the elimination of toxins by scrubbing your skin with a loofah or

bristled brush when you shower. Also, aim to take two saunas during the program.

Get a minimum of eight hours of sleep each night. Some people experience

headaches during the first three days of a cleansing diet. If you do, take

aspirin to relieve the pain. Begin each day with six ounces of plain,

unsweetened

yogurt that contains live cultures of acidophilus and bifida, which aid in

digestion and nutrition assimilation. (If you have a dairy allergy, eat soy

yogurt instead.)

Here is the 12-day program I prescribe...

Day #1: Eliminate all sugar, caffeine, alcohol and processed foods.

Day #2: Eliminate all animal food -- dairy (except for the daily yogurt),

eggs and meat.

Day #3: Eliminate all wheat -- bread, pasta and crackers, baked goods --

potatoes and corn.

Day #4, #5 and #6: Eat only fruit, vegetables, whole grains, legumes and

nuts. You may have up to three tablespoons of olive oil each day. Be sure your

fruits and vegetables are fresh or frozen.

Day #7: Reintroduce wheat -- pasta or bread -- at two meals. If you

experience bloating, headache or indigestion, wheat is probably a

" trigger " food, so

you should avoid it. Continue to monitor symptoms as other foods are

reintroduced.

Day #8 through day #12: Reintroduce one serving of one new food at two meals

per day, in the following order -- potatoes, corn, eggs, dairy products and

meat.

After 12 days, return to your normal diet. If you discovered food triggers,

you'll probably feel better if you avoid them indefinitely.

Jamison Starbuck, ND, is a naturopathic physician in family practice and a

lecturer at the University of Montana, both in Missoula. She is past president

of the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians and a contributing

editor to _The Alternative Advisor: The Complete Guide to Natural Therapies and

Alternative Treatments_

(http://bottomlinesecrets.ed10.net/h/L8KM/AFCF/LE/3QD4D) (Time Life).

 

 

 

--

Diana Gonzalez

 

 

 

 

Nothing wastes more energy than worrying - the longer a problem is

carried, the heavier it gets. Don't take things too seriously - live a

life of serenity, not a life of regrets.

-Unknown