CLEAN Lessons 101: Include/Exclude Food List

Have I ever shared the details of what I can and cannot eat during this CLEAN detox? 

I don't believe I have so here's the scoop...

Foods to include:

whole fruits, unsweetened, frozen or water-packed;

almond milk, coconut milk,

non-gluten grains and starch: brown rice, quinoa, buckwheat;

cold water fish, lean lamb, duck, chicken;

lentils, legumes, olive oil, sesame oil;

green tea, herbal teas, agave nectar;

most condiments: i.e. basil, cinnamon, cumin, dill, garlic, etc.

Foods to exclude:  

wheat, corn, barley, spelt, rye, couscous, oats;

no beef, raw fish, veal, sausage, shellfish; 

oranges, orange juice, grapefruit, strawberries, grapes, bananas;

tomatoes, potatoes, eggplants, peppers;

no dairy, soy products, butter, processed oils, spreads;

alcohol, coffee, caffeinated beverages, sodas, 

sugar, chocolate, ketchup, relish, etc.

The reason these foods are eliminated from the detox is mainly due to their ability to suppress our digestive strength, unbalance our PH levels, and inflame our body.

Certain foods act as irritants preventing our system from breaking down properly and causing fermentation, i.e. tomatoes, chocolate, potatoes, shellfish.

Simply put, you’re body needs to absorb or eliminate what was eaten. If it can’t do it normally, i.e. by eliminating waste from you know where, then any residuals will be reabsorbed into your body creating a toxic condition; abdominal rumblings, heartburn, bloating, depression, etc. Yuck!

*Adding spices to your meals is a great way to help the body break down the foods you eat.

Other foods listed are more acidic which decrease the body’s ability to absorb minerals and other nutrients; decrease it’s ability to repair damaged cells and makes it more susceptible to fatigue and illness: milk products, bananas, and grains such as wheat -but these are also the main "mucus-making" foods that cause the stickiness in the intestines which in turn makes nutrient absorption and elimination harder to achieve. 

*Note, when it says avoid acidic foods, it doesn't necessarily mean you need to avoid them at all costs. It just means that there should be a healthy balance of both acidic and alkaline forming foods. You can buy PH balance strips, if you're really interested, to see if your body contains too much acid. 

Last but not least, some foods to avoid have inflammatory effects in the body: sugars and grains, especially refined grains (white rice) cause the body to release more insulin, which regulates absorption. Insulin is a pro-inflammatory hormone...big no no.

The Eat Clean Maintenance Checklist

1.   Eat more veggies, less dairy to balance your PH

2.   Include plenty of fresh, whole foods

3.   Eat at least 51% raw (veggies, fruits, seeds, nuts, unprocessed oils)

4.   Support good bacteria in your intestinal tract with plenty of fiber, good-quality saturated fats, foods with natural probiotics.

5.   Avoid feeding bad bacteria with preservatives; sugar; wheat; refined grains; dairy products, and alcohol.

6.   Detox periodically (once/year)

And that about sums up our lesson of the day! 

Hope you learned something valuable. 

Thanks for stopping by.

xx