The Detox Diet... [Dun, Dun, Dun!]

    So, my mother has taken me to a homeopathic doctor. I'm kind of skeptical of the homeopathic route, since I have background and training in traditional medicine, but the doctor has placed me on a detox diet, and I'm trying it. What's a detox diet? Well, it is a food plan that gets rid of the foods that cause the most inflammatory responses in the body, for most people. By clearing foods away from your daily diet and drinking plenty of water, it helps to clear the body of unnecessary chemicals and toxins and regain a normal, natural balance. The doctor is going to evaluate how I respond to taking these certain foods out of my diet and also how I do when I gradually bring them back into my diet. Incorporating the foods back into daily meals is the true test as to what foods might be affecting my health, i.e. I get sick when I eat something I haven't had in a while. I am going to list the foods that are taken out of my diet and explain the doctor's reasoning behind each.

    Forbidden foods:

• White potatoes/white rice/pasta... These are not as healthy as sweet potato and brown rice alternatives.
• Any wheat, oat, or grain product - so gluten-free, which means no bread or cereal... Even if you don't have Celiac Disease (have a gluten antigen/intolerance) you can have an intolerance.
• Pork... Because no matter how much you cook it, you can never get rid of all the "parasites and bacteria" from it.
• Anything not organic... Because we want things to be as natural as possible, without chemicals.
• Peanuts... these can cause much inflammation in the body.
• Dairy (except for goat or sheep products)... Dairy from cow's milk is full of antibiotics, which can be harmful to the body.
• Sugar... By substituting for agave or Stevia, you will have a lower glycemic index sweetener with less chemical processing from the original, organic product.
• Soy... This is supposed to cause a higher amount of estrogen levels in women, which can have harmful effects.
• Caffeine... It's a chemical, so it's a no-no.

    I know, that's pretty much everything in the American food pyramid, right? I cannot even begin to tell you how hard it is to shop... or how expensive it is. Did you know that even the dairy-free and gluten-free options have sugar in them? That's probably the hardest thing of all, the no sugar rule. Sour cream, even chicken broth, have sugar in them! I can't believe even regular, gluten-free Chex cereal has sugar! Sugar is in everything!!! No wonder Diabetes is becoming more rampant than ever.. It's amazing to really take a look at the food labels of the products you have always eaten. You should try taking a look, it just might surprise you.
    So I have been eating a lot of corn, veggies, fruit, and meat. Oh, and WATER! Drinking lots of water each day is very important to this detox diet because it helps to cleanse the body. It is just important not to over drink. If you drink too much water, cells can abnormally swell and you can get very sick. It is also not good to overload your heart with too much fluid, which can cause blood pressure to rise.
    I have been on the detox diet for a week now. I have a few simple tests to run before I go back and see the doctor, so I will be on this diet until that next visit. So far, I have felt extremely run-down and tired on this diet. I have even been feeling a little sick. I have actually been in bed all weekend and have been feeling too exhausted to really accomplish any of my chores. Not sure if this is a common side effect of this diet or not, but it has definitely not been the most pleasant. I hope it is just my body adjusting to the change.
    In the meantime, I will keep you updated on what's happening with the diet and any new discoveries I may come across. I actually just heard an NPR radio newscast about how, over time, gluten-free diets can be hazardous to your health if you do not have Celiac Disease (gluten intolerance). This is because grains are an essential part of a healthy diet, and if you can eat it, you should! People have been getting ill because they have been depriving themselves of grains. All I have to say is, they don't call bread "the staff of life" for nothing!
    This being said, never start a diet, like this detox diet, without a doctor's consent first. Diets like these can be very problematic if the proper care is not taken to fit each individual's needs. Close supervision may be required.
    Have you started a detox diet? Have anything to say about my past entries? Have anything to say about yourself? If so, I would love to hear from you! :)

Until next time, grab some really green cabbage and look for my next post, because we are going to try Cabbage Therapy! And nope, that is not made up!

                                             Chelsea <3

*Today's Happy Thought: DISNEY'S ROBIN HOOD
(It's probably one of the most forgotten animated films Disney has, but I love it! And I think the song "Love" is one of the greatest love songs ever written. <3)

"Love" written by Floyd Huddleston and George Bruns, and sung by Nancy Adams

Love
It seems like only yesterday
You were just a child at play
Now you're all grown up inside of me
Oh, how fast those moments flee

Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on

Love will live
Love will last
Love goes on
And on and on

Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief, but when it's gone
Love goes on and on