The Ultimate Tummy Taming Detox
16 July 2015
Want a hormone-balancing, mental-cleansing, tummy-taming detox with a side effect of weight loss?
Yes, me too!
Although food allergies are still rare (affecting about 5% of the population), food intolerances are quite common. A typical protocol to treat allergies and food intolerances involves a food restriction diet ranging from one week to one month. Following such a protocol enables weight loss, reduces menopausal or PMS symptoms, decreases acid reflux, improves energy, enhances sleep, and clears complexion, among other health boosting benefits.
Try this detox for at least 10 to 14 days and I have a feeling you'll want to continue some portion of it permanently.
Why do this before the holidays?
- You don't have to buy any crazy products.
- It's natural.
- It's healthy (and some detoxes are not!).
- It does not require every expensive food intolerance testing.
Why does this work?
Turns out that food allergy researchers may be on to something in the diet world. In non-allergic patients, these foods may be irritating the gut, thus causing inflammation, which triggers our body to release inflammation "soothing" hormones. These hormones also store away calories. The overall inflammation in the body is also likely the source of the bloating, acne, brain fog etc.
So why not try eliminating potential food triggers? If it helps at the end of two weeks, just add one food back each week to see which foods you may consider eliminating permanently from your diet.
The downside: You may see no results at all or may want to extend it for a week. If nothing else, you'll probably eat more vegetables and fruit than you ever have in your life!
Now, let's get down to the details:
Foods to Avoid:
- Soy
- Wheat
- Dairy
- Nuts
- Egg
- Corn
- Shellfish/fish
- Limit sugar and artificial sweeteners
Luckily, labelling of the top 8 food allergens on any packaged food is mandated—this includes milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish. So that even if it doesn't specifically say soy in the ingredients, it must be labelled somewhere on the package as having soy.
What can you eat?
Try eating predominantly vegetables, with a brown rice or sweet potato side.
Fruit or seeds can be snacks.
Vegans will find it hard to avoid nuts and soy, but hemp seeds, chia seeds and oils are a good substitute.
While you should limit processed sugar intake, natural sugars from fruit for example are not absolutely banned.
Lastly, you should not be hungry on this detox!
A typical day may look like this:
- When you wake up: 1 glass green juice
- Breakfast: Chocolate Cherry (Green) Smoothie: spinach, raw cacao, frozen organic cherries, chia seeds, coconut milk
- Snack: Herbal tea
- Lunch: Large salad with avocado, olive oil, balsamic dressing, and tomato soup
- Dinner: 3 to 5 Black bean burgers (no bun) with guacamole, and salsa. (Optional: sweet potatoes, veggies, and kale chips)
- Dessert: 1 serving of dark chocolate (my favourite is 85% dark)
I have many more recipe and snack ideas to help you along your detox – this is just a sample for you to try out. Click here for some great detox meal options. I'm excited for you to try it and please share in the comments how it's working for you so we can all learn from your experience!
Yours in Health Always,
Cara-Lisa
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