My sugar detox: Time to go on an elimination diet
I eat way too much sugar. I always have and lately it's getting worse. I free pour it into my coffee in the morning and drink flavoured coffees throughout the day. Last week a co-worker found me breaking into a box of candy canes...in October.
It’s not going to be easy but, I have to quit this sugar habit and detox. I’m working with Dr. Natasha Turner to cut back on sugar. You may have read her article on why you should stop eating sugar now.
My first task is to detox. Here, in Natasha's words, is what I’m going to take on for the next 14 days.
Natasha Turner’s detox recommendations:
The following food groups must be removed from your diet during your body detox because they are too high in sugar, inflammatory or allergenic:
Dairy products: Yogurt, cheese, milk, cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, casein, whey protein concentrate. One hundred percent pure whey protein isolate and goat-milk cheeses are allowed.
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All grains that contain gluten: Wheat, spelt, rye, kamut, amaranth, barley. Note that most breads, bagels, muffins, pastries, cakes, pasta, durum semolina, couscous, cookies, flour and cereals are off limits, unless they are gluten-free.
Corn: Popcorn, corn chips, corn breads or muffins, fresh corn, canned or frozen niblets.
Oils: Hydrogenated oils, palm kernel oil, trans fatty acids, soy bean oil, corn oil, cottonseed oil, vegetable oil, shortening and margarine. Limit your intake of safflower and sunflower oil. Olive oil is okay.
Alcohol and caffeine: During your detox I recommend you cut these out completely. Too much of either one will elevate stress hormones, increase cravings and contribute to hormonal imbalance.
Peanuts and peanut-containing products: Peanut butter, peanuts in the shell, trail mix containing peanuts. Check labels carefully, as many products list peanuts as ingredients.
Sugar or artificial sweeteners: Table sugar (sucrose) and all products with sugar added must be cut out completely. Foods to avoid include rice syrup, maple syrup, honey, foods/drinks containing high fructose corn syrup, packaged foods, candies, soda, juice.
Citrus fruit: Oranges, tangerines and grapefruit. Lemons are okay.
Red meats: Pork, beef, lamb, all types of cold cuts, bacon and all types of sausages.
The following anti-inflammatory and immune-enhancing foods are permissible during your detox program:
One serving of grains and starchy vegetable (The size of your fist): Millet, oats, rice and rice products, buckwheat, rice pasta, rice cakes, rice crackers, potato, sweet potato, squash. Have just one serving of per day - at lunch or dinner the size of your fist.
Vegetables: Unlimited amounts of all vegetables except corn.
Fruits: Unlimited amounts of all fruits except oranges, tangerines, grapefruit, canned fruits, raisins, dates and other non-organic dried fruits.
Beans: All beans are allowed.
One handful serving of nuts and seeds: All nuts except for peanuts; all seeds are fine.
Fish and meat: All poultry (chicken, turkey, duck), fish and seafood are fine.
One serving of dairy (One tbsp): Feta (made from sheep’s or goat’s milk); goat cheese; small amounts of butter.
Oils: Canola oil, flax oil, hemp oil, small amounts of butter and extra virgin olive oil are the only oils you should consume.
Eggs: Both yolks and whites are okay.
Milks: Oat, almond and soy milks are fine but avoid those with sugar added.
Soy products: All soy products are allowed unless you have noticed digestive upset (gas bloating, indigestion or symptoms) when you have eaten these products in the past. Selections include tofu, tempeh, soy nuts, soy milk and whole soy beans. Try to keep soy consumption to a maximum of one serving a day.
Give the above cleanse a try and let me know how it goes for you in the comment section below.
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