Digestive System Cleanse

Digestive System Cleanse

5. Diet Foods to Enjoy FRESH FRUIT

FRESH VEGETABLES -- except corn, which can be an allergenic food. Great detox foods include broccoli, cauliflower, broccoli sprouts, onions, garlic, artichokes, beets, red and green vegetables. Approximately 40% of your diet should be fruits and vegetables.

RICE -- Rice is easily digested by most people. Choose brown or basmati rice, rice cakes, rice crackers and rice pasta.

QUINOA, AMARANTH, MILLET, BUCKWHEAT -- can be used instead of rice. They can be purchased at a health food store.

BEANS -- Split yellow and green peas and lentils are easy to digest and require less soaking time. Other beans include kidney beans, pinto beans, mung beans, garbanzo beans (chickpeas) and adzuki beans.

NUTS and SEEDS -- Unsalted nuts, seeds and nut butters can be sprinkled over any meal. Includes flaxseed, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, almonds, cashews and walnuts. Avoid peanuts.

FISH -- Poached, broiled or steamed fish in moderation.

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL, GRAPESEED OIL

CONDIMENTS -- Vegetable salt, sea salt, vinegar, naturally fermented soy sauce or tamari, any culinary herbs or spices, limited amounts of honey.

HERBAL TEA -- Herbal non-caffeinated teas, except green tea.

WATER, LEMON WATER, JUICES, RICE MILK

Foods to Avoid

SUGAR -- Refined sugar and mixtures containing refined sugar including sucrose, dextrose, corn syrup, brown sugar, turbinado. Avoid artificial sweeteners.

DAIRY PRODUCTS -- Milk, eggs, butter and other dairy products.

WHEAT -- Wheat and products containing wheat.

CORN -- Corn and all corn products

YEAST

CAFFEINE -- Coffee, both regular and decaffeinated, black tea, green tea and other drinks containing caffeine.

RED MEAT

ALCOHOL

FOOD ADDITIVES AND PRESERVATIVES

CHOCOLATE

HIGH-FAT FOODS

6. Vegetable Broth

Vegetables in this alkaline vegetable broth contain minerals that are necessary for tissue cleansing. Drink 2 cups per day.

7. Fluids

Adequate fluids are essential when taking psyllium, activated charcoal, or bentonite clay. Drink 8-12 glasses per day. When calculating total fluid intake per day, be sure to include intake of herbal tea and alkaline broth.

8. Contrast showers

The contrast between hot and cold water increases circulation, promotes detoxification and strengthens the immune system. This helps bring nutrients, oxygen and immune cells to damaged and stressed tissues and carries away metabolic waste, inflammatory by-products and other toxic substances.

Start with three minutes of hot water followed by less than one minute of cold water. Repeat this pattern at least once, always finishing with cold (e.g. 3 minutes hot - 1 minute cold - 3 minutes hot - 1 minute cold).