I’m preparing to start a detoxification diet tomorrow. This isn’t the lemons and maple syrup type of detox diets that have been so popular. This is an eating clean healthy detox diet. It’s a change your lifestyle, take-control-of-your-health kind of diet. This is the diet that just over a year ago really turned my health around, most impressively kicking my Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) flare to the curb within the first week. Personally, I’m hoping for a repeat. 🙂
I wrote a little while ago that I had another flare the day before we flew out to Costa Rica. It’s been disappointing and difficult, but I’ve known from the get-go that my greatest hopes lie in doing what worked for me before – this diet. I’m really looking forward to experiencing the impact this diet will have on my RA and on my health in general. Even though Brad and I eat very healthy nearly 100% of the time, it’s still possible for “bad guys” to get into your gut and throw things off (one of the things this diet corrects). When I did this diet the first time my doctor told me that it should be repeated at least once a year and I can see why. Stress, traveling, the occasional unhealthy food or snack…those things all contribute to needing an annual reset to put your body back in order.
The most amazing thing to me about this diet is the almost immediate impact it had. In fact, because I’ve had so many questions about what I did to make the very noticeable changes to my health, and because the diet has so many great health benefits for anyone and everyone, I’m working right now on putting together a guide for what the diet is and how to follow it. It’s great for giving your body a clean start anytime, but I’d especially like to have it available as close to New Year’s as possible. It’s very timely and will be that much more helpful since I will be working through the diet again as I write the guide.
Besides requesting a few supplies from home that I’ll need during the diet, I’ve spent the last couple days preparing for another round. Brad and I are eating up all our foods that aren’t on the menu for the next little while, I’m focusing on all the foods I can eat in the first phase and trying to come up with great meals and snacks to keep us on track, and in a few hours we’ll go to the grocery store and stock up on those foods we’ll be eating in that first phase (lots of veggies, nuts, fish, and eggs).
I keep thinking of the huge difference this diet made for me the first time. It gave me the ability to get rid of about 80% of my prescription medications within two months, and more as time went on. I had my first pain-free hike and I was actually able to keep up with Brad and go where he went. I had my first vacation with Brad without using steroids or painkillers to get through it.
I’m so excited to get feeling better . . . again. Ding ding ding . . . Round 2 is on!
How about telling us a little more about the components of the diet and the plan? Also, can you tell us about your move to Costa Rica? What prompted you to go and what’s it’s like where you live (conditions, lifestyle, etc) ? Did you finally get sick of the slave wage rat race that the USA has become?
Great questions, Allan! Here’s a quick-and-dirty overview of the diet: it’s essentially an elimination and re-introduction of foods done in 4 different phases of two-week periods (so 8 weeks total), which naturally helps you detoxify, identify any food allergies or sensitivities, and gets your digestive system in a really good place (which is critical to overall health). As I mentioned, I’ve had so many people ask me about it after seeing the amazing turn-around in my health that I am currently writing it up as a guide that I hope to make available very soon (stay tuned here at Fooduciary).
As for moving to Costa Rica, yes, definitely sick of the slave wage rat race in the US (love that phrase)! We also thought it would be really fun to see what it’s like to try eating healthy in other parts of the world, so we’re not here permanently and look forward to exploring other countries and cultures (and food)!
Thanks for reading and commenting – look forward to hearing from you again.
–Kelli
I was researching detox’s and came upon your website. Looking forward to you discussing yours!
Thanks Toni. Kelli is just about done with her detox guide that gives a step-by-step layout of how to do it. As she’s gone through it for another round, I’m amazed yet again how powerful it is. It’s amazing what healing the gut will do for your body. Keep the comments coming, we love to hear from you!
Kelli- I saw the detox diet you put together and am very interested in trying it myself. This would be my first detox ever. At 39 I have recently been diagnosed with some auto immune issues and would like to give this a try. I am extremely active (previously a triathlete and now a runner and mountain biker) so nutrition has always been a huge part of my lifestyle. After reading the diet and looking up some of your recommendations I was wondering what else you recommend for the meal replacement drink… the one you mentioned needs a MD Rx for it. I have been looking for other alternatives that are all natural but am unsure what to use. I have seen Thorne Research products and Kaeng Raeng but I admit I know very little about good quality meal replacements and protein powders. I know they will be essential becasue I am hoping to keep up my current level (or close to it) of exercise/training. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks so much!
~Sandy
Hi Sandy,
Thanks so much for your comment! I’m sorry to hear about your autoimmune activity. I’m so glad you have some reserves from your good health habits to help get you thru this time. 🙂
To answer your question about the meal replacement, I think you’re referring to the Metagenix Ultrainflammx I meantion in the guide. I’m not sure about needing an Rx for it, but I do know Metagenix does not sell directly to consumers. They sell through licensed practitioners (this may be what you were referring to), but I’ve always found those to be in good supply wherever I’ve been. I grabbed this link from their site, and tested it out with my zip code – there are at least 5 sellers within about a 2-mile radius (compounding pharmacy, chiropractic office, etc):
http://www.metagenics.com/patients/patients-find-a-practitioner
Another option for meal replacement is Raw Meal by Garden of Life, who also does a good raw protein powder. I don’t know very much about Thorne’s or Kaeng Raeng’s meal replacements. Actually I hadn’t heard of Kaeng Raeng so I looked up their web site really quick – first thing it says at the top is “Skinny Bitch” approved. Brad and I are big fans of that book, and if it’s approved by them, it can’t be too bad.
As far as what to look for in meal replacement and protein powders, obviously no crazy stuff in the ingredient list, and watch out for sugars. On the meal replacement I look for a good range of vitamins and minerals, and in the protein powders I avoid casein and look for hypoallergenic proteins, preferably rice or something similar. Whey is ok, too.
I hope that helps! Please don’t hesitate to leave more comments or ask more questions. And I’d love to hear how things go for you!
Warmly,
Kelli