THE BOWEL AS A DUMPING GROUND: CLEAN-UP DIET

Stage OneNote: this is a clean-up diet rather than an elimination diet for allergies, but in fact some people have found that after cleansing the bowel, if they combine foods carefully they can tolerate foods which had previously caused trouble. Also note you are not going to feel good initially, in fact as you detoxify you could feel tired and heavy-limbed. Some people experience a furred tongue, nausea and joint pains. This is why cleaning out in stages has been suggested. Try to stay with it; the feelings pass in a few days and remember the worse you feel the cleaner you are becoming inside.Getting StartedThink about what you are putting in your mouth; has it been messed about? Does it contain chemicals? What has been lost in the processing? How is it packaged? Do you really want to eat dyes, or munch snacks covered with large quantities of salt to conceal the fact that they have been cooked in rancid fat? Your body is just not built to cope with this.GIVE UP:1 Regular consumption of junk foods2 All dairy products (except live yogurt), even for a month; these are the main cause of allergic problems in infants and adults so it makes sense to start here.This request usually brings cries of protest, ‘But how can I live without cheese or milk’ – you can, and you will be surprised how quickly the desire for these foods will go. You could substitute goat’s or sheep’s milk, yogurt and cheese. Some people use soya milk for drinking, cooking and making yogurt.CUT DOWN:3 Tea, coffee, chocolate and all soft drinks (see page 38).4 Alcohol. Make sure you eat fruit or drink fruit juice at the time you would normally have an alcoholic drink.Increase ‘Dredger Food’1 Wholegrains: oats, brown rice, barley, millet, rye2 Pulses: lentils, beans, peas3 Fruit and vegetables including sea vegetables (sounds better than seaweed)4 Fish, olive oil, sunflower oil5 Nuts (not peanuts) and seeds6 Take water, fruit juice, herb teas or coffee substitute at some of your tea breaks.Stage TwoYou might be ready for this after a week but if you are still struggling continue stage one for another week.CUT DOWN:1 Meat, eggs, and poultry2 Tea, coffee, soft drinks and alcohol more than in stage one.Increase Whole Clean FoodsMore vegetables, fruit, grains as in stage one.Stage ThreeOn paper this is going to look depressing, but when you are up to stage three you should be used to being deprived. (Although hearty bowls of lentil and vegetable soup, or baked potatoes with nut butter or yogurt and herbs, curried vegetables and rice or pasta tossed in olive oil with garlic mushrooms and tomatoes is not exactly starvation rations, is it?)EAT ONLY:Whole grains, vegetables, sea vegetables, fruit: fresh or dried, nuts, seeds, olive oil or sunflower oil, or products made from any of these if they do not contain additives.DRINK:Water, bottled or fdtered if possible, fruit juices preferably diluted, bancha tea, herb teas, coffee substitutes or, if you cannot make it without, one cup of weak tea or fdtered coffee per day.Your Hard Work Will Be RewardedBy now you might be ready to rush out for fish and chips to settle your nerves – don’t despair and think what you will gain:1 The bowel will work more efficiently, the absorption sites will be cleared, enzyme production will increase and as a result your bowel should be less irritable.2 Because you have eaten less concentrated protein you will have been eating better combinations of foods. Also your kidneys and liver will have been rested.3 Because of reducing your sugar intake your pancreas will be less strained and your blood sugar levels should be more stable.4 You will probably have lost some excess weight or puffmess.5 You will look healthier.*55\326\8*