Purification Diet Protocol
This protocol is for those people interested in a somewhat strict dietary guideline to foster a faster result in regaining health.
There are many practices and diets that support health and aid the immune system. Our approach is to teach you health concepts that will educate you and empower you to make sound decisions.
Following is an overview of the purification diet protocol recommended by our office, which includes four rules on what to avoid, and many recommendations on what to include, on your journey to vibrant health.
The Purification Diet can help anyone heal from a debilitating disease. With a little discipline and informed choices, you can literally change your life.
Purification Diet Duration
The primary rationale for a purification diet is to clear the pathological overgrowth of microbes from the gut that have spread both within and around the gut. The intestinal flora also includes good bacteria that comprise an estimated 70% of our immune system. Unfortunately it is very difficult to re-populate the intestine that has been stripped of its healthy flora by multiple doses of antibiotics, toxic drugs, vaccinations and refined foods. This is true even if you haven't had antibiotics for decades and have followed a relatively healthy diet for years.
Additionally, whether strengthening one's weakest link in defense of good health, combating a major health problem, success usually requires a transformation toward healthy food. Very often patients who think they are only quitting junk food temporarily end up feeling so much better and thinking so much more clearly on the higher octane fuel of healthy nutrition, they stay on the diet permanently.
Going on a detoxification diet for 6 months to a year, depending on the severity of one's condition, can decrease the level of pathogenic microbes within your body just enough to allow for the re-implantation of healthy acidophilus/bifidus flora. Some people, if they have serious food allergies, will not be able to resume the eating of their allergenic foods until the gut flora has been repopulated. This can take from 12 to 24 months.
Basic Rules
1. Avoid sugar.
This includes white refined, brown, raw, corn syrup, fructose, barley malt, rice syrup, maltodextrin, turbinado, Sucanat, molasses, honey, maple syrup, aspartame, saccharin, xylitol, mannitol, etc. The only accepted sugars are fruit (except grapes, oranges, ands bananas), fruit juice and dried fruit.
However, note that since fruit is yeast producing, we must temporarily remove it to balance body chemistry. If you are very sick, you will need to remove all fruit to regain your health. Malnutrition from as little as 2 teaspoons per day of sugar (including honey, maple syrup, rice syrup, etc., as well as fruit sugar) can throw the mineral ratio out of balance. The body depends on minerals to activate enzymes. Without enzymes, the body cannot digest and assimilate nutrients, a failure, which can initiate food allergy reactions.
Eliminating sugar is challenging, but it is also one of the most critical and rewarding steps you can take toward better health. Low blood sugar symptoms include irritability, nervousness, fatigue, depression, memory loss and increased sugar (and alcohol) cravings. When these powerful cravings are given into, the whole chain reaction of impeded nutrient intake begins again. After years of sugar ingestion the defenses of the body become exhausted and cellular and tissue damage begin. Degenerative diseases such as cancer, heart disease, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, osteoporosis and failure to maintain homeostasis (for example, stable blood sugar and blood pressure levels, digestion and body temperature) may begin to develop.
The average American eats 170 pounds of sugar per year. How much do you eat? A more modern form of refined sugar is high fructose corn syrup introduced in the 1970s. It was considered to be even less expensive to produce than sugar from beets or sugar cane. It now represents more than 50 % of the sugar in processed foods, soft drinks and baked goods, and the percentage is growing. HFCS has specifically been implicated in heart disease, high blood cholesterol and blood clotting dysfunction. It also causes our white blood cells to become "sleepy" and unable to defend against foreign invaders.
Skyrocketing sugar consumption over the last 200 years is a major contributor to the toxic period in which we live. With the addition of other modern innovations such as mercury amalgam fillings and widespread petroleum chemical use, the ever-growing list of modern degenerative diseases has not been coincidental. The harmfulness of sugar and other toxic ingredients in manufactured foods dwells not just in the threat of future diseases, but also in respect to one's daily mood, feelings and life choices. When one grasps this, it is much easier to summon the will to say no and eat a sane diet of life-positive foods. And there are alternatives!
ENTER STEVIA. Stevia is an herb from South America that is very, very sweet. It doesn't alter your blood sugar and is good for your immune system. If you have a sweet tooth we recommend that you learn how to cook with stevia so you are guaranteed success on your health journey. There are many cookbooks that offer great stevia recipes (stevia.com).
2. Avoid alcohol.
An occasional glass of wine when you are healthy will be acceptable, but not now. Alcohol has an effect similar to sugar on the body so it is to be avoided. When alcohol is taken with food, digestion is slow and inefficient, and many minerals (notably zinc) and vitamins are not absorbed.
Also, alcohol, like sugar, contributes to "leaky gut syndrome," a condition where incompletely digested food particles escape through the damaged intestinal lining - a primary cause of food allergies.
3. Avoid the major allergenic foods.
Even though you may not be allergic to all the typical allergenic foods, it's probable that you have a sensitivity to most of them just from eating a conventional American diet as a child. It is important to understand that the symptoms from a true chronic food allergy are not apparent unless you remove the food completely for 2 weeks. When you reintroduce the food, symptoms may appear immediately or any time up to 3 days. Food allergy symptoms include nausea, headache, rash, fatigue, bloating, puffiness, trouble concentrating, mood changes, insomnia, increased need for sleep, eyesight changes and depression.
The most common food allergies are to:
WHEAT and other grains. Note that this includes kamut, triticale, spelt, barley, rye and oats.
DAIRY from cows. Hormone-free goat and sheep products in light to moderate amounts are usually OK.
SOY, which is usually over-ingested by vegetarians. Soy contains trypsin inhibitors that are obstacles to protein digestion. It also contains phytic acid, which reduces the bioavailability of vitamin D, iron and zinc. Soy is in so many foods that you must read labels very closely if you are allergic. Foods containing lecithin usually contain soy lecithin.
The body can digest and metabolize fermented soy like tempeh and miso. And, if you can eat soy products in general, make sure they are organic, and not genetically modified. Not only does genetically altered soy (and corn) sometimes includes toxins that attempt to replace pesticide use, soy has also been modified to succeed in pesticide-laden and nutrient-depleted fields where other crops only struggle. Some strains of soy can handle 22 times more pesticides than previous strains! The chemicals absorbed by this commercial soy make it one of the most polluted crops we have - so be careful.
CORN, which is in most processed foods as high fructose corn syrup.
YEAST. Both brewer's and baker's yeast must be avoided.
NIGHTSHADE VEGETABLES. These include tobacco, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, and potatoes.
CHOCOLATE. Be of good cheer; it's too bitter to eat without sugar, anyway.
EGGS. Only avoid eggs if you test allergic to this otherwise healthy food.
PEANUTS, a very common allergen. Peanuts should be avoided not only by those who test allergic, but also by children under 7 years of age. Early consumption of nuts has been implicated in future nut allergies.
4. Decrease or stop stimulants.
Fatigue is presently the #1 health complaint. Therefore, it is very difficult for people to quit coffee cold turkey even though it is very toxic to the liver and slows the positive effects of our homeopathic drainage remedies and detoxification.
We recommend that you switch to organic coffee, then slowly begin substituting organic decaffeinated until you have broken your caffeine addiction. Then substitute a natural coffee substitute or herbal tea for the decaffeinated coffee.
For some of you these alternative beverages will serve you well and will not throw your system out of balance. For others, they will not be strict enough and you will probably only be able to drink safer herbal teas like ginger, lemon, peppermint, orange, chamomile, spearmint, raspberry, etc. There are also grain beverages that are used like instant coffee. They help with this transition process and include Pero™, Caffix™, Roma™, and Inka™.
Nourishing Foods to Eat
Archeological and cross-cultural research reveals that cultures whose diets were rich in animal proteins, fresh vegetables, fats, eggs, raw dairy, and lacto-fermented foods (such as yogurt) and cultured vegetables (such as pickles), were not only relatively free of disease, but enjoyed robust health. These traditional diets of our ancestors starkly contrast with the popular low-fat diets and vegetarianism that have been en vogue. Nutrient-dense, whole natural foods nourished our ancestors for millennia before the more recent introduction (mostly from the 1920s on) of refined industrialized foods that are largely responsible for the ever-growing number of degenerative diseases like cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis and heart disease.
Following is a list of nutritious foods that are based on the traditional dietary wisdom of the past, before the onslaught of devitalized, manufactured foods. On one hand, these dietary guidelines are easy to follow and prepare, for example, eating more organic vegetables. On the other hand, understanding why it is important to cook with meat and fish broths so the hydrophilic colloids attract your digestive juices more readily takes some study. Therefore, Sally Fallon's book, Nourishing Traditions, is highly recommended and serves as a great guideline as both a cookbook and a textbook of valuable information. It is easy to read and full of great history and advice.
1. Fresh organic vegetables.
Eat fresh organic vegetables both raw in salads and steamed. The body does better on salads from March through October in most of North America, and better with steamed veggies in the winter months. So change your ratios so seasonal veggies dominate. (Parsley, one of the best sources of the antioxidant glutathione and "nature's mouthwash," ground up in a small coffee grinder and sprinkled on salads, vegetables, meat or soup is an excellent health habit to institute).
2. Lacto-fermented vegetables.
Lacto-fermented beets, carrots, cabbage, sauerkraut, cucumbers or pickles, garlic, and onions are extremely beneficial in providing enzymes promoting healthy beneficial flora. You can prepare these yourself by following Sally Fallon's directions in the cookbook mentioned above. You can also make it easy on yourself and buy lacto-fermented veggies from a company called Rejuvenative Foods. A tablespoon or two with meals will help your overall health tremendously.
3. Organic beef, chicken and fish.
Commercial beef, chicken and fish are polluted with 3 main health insults. First, they contain antibiotics, which are heavily used, and when you eat the animal you are also getting these antibiotics. There are not as many different antibiotics as you may think; therefore you want to stay clear of these residues so that you do not become resistant to them, especially if one day you have a medical emergency that requires effective antibiotics.
Second, commercial meat contains hormones that bulk the animal to make it ready for market sooner. There is no doubt who else is bulking in size - the Americans. Our population continues to be the most obese in the world. Your hormonal system is already under attack and cannot handle any more confusion.
Third, pesticide residues not only in meat but vegetables and dairy are directly related to cancer. It makes no sense to simultaneously poison yourself while trying to get healthy.
4. Free-range fertile eggs.
There are a lot of great eggs out there to choose from. Make sure that the food the chickens are fed is organic. A free-range chicken on commercial feed is of no help to your health since the feed usually contains hormones.
5. Alternative grains.
Quinoa (Keen-wah) is a complete protein food with all the essential amino acids. Other good grains are millet, brown rice, amaranth, buckwheat, and kamut. If you are not gluten sensitive, you can also use rye, oats and barley. Wasa rye crackers have no wheat or yeast.
6. Raw unpasteurized butter.
This is the only raw unpasteurized butter from cows raised on grass and not grain that is available in California. A grass diet is important for the absorption of minerals, and for brain and nervous system development.
Try incorporating it into your diet 2-3 weeks after avoiding dairy completely; it will usually not cause an allergic reaction even for dairy sensitive people. For most of us, it is important to have around 2 tablespoons per day. Remember not to heat it, or you will kill the enzymes.
7. Organic coconut and olive oil.
Unlike polyunsaturated oils (sunflower, sesame, corn, safflower), coconut oil does not go rancid very easily and can be heated and used in cooking. It is anti-microbial and aids in the absorption of calcium. Because it is saturated it can be used for cooking and sauteing at relatively high temperatures of 350 degrees or less.
Coconut oil lasts about 6 months at room temperature so it may be important for you to refrigerate it. We like to remove a cup or so to keep at room temperature for cooking or greasing the bottom of a pan.
Organic olive oil, a monounsaturated fat, can be used for cooking at low temperatures but is best used as an eating oil at room temp. It is a great salad oil and is perfect to drizzle on vegetables.
Olive oil needs to be kept in a cold, dark place because it is vulnerable to rancidity, so the refrigerator is perfect.
Our favorite salad dressing in the world is olive oil, lemon juice, garlic, salt, and a little seasoning with Italian herbs. We use 4 parts oil, 1 part lemon juice, and add garlic, salt and herb seasoning to taste. It takes more oil and more salt than you would expect to make a great dressing. This is excellent for your liver and gallbladder, which are always taking a beating with the toxins they have to process.
8. Celtic Sea Salt™.
Celtic Sea Salt™ is an amazingly valuable substance for health and longevity that also offers superior flavor. It provides the body with needed natural macro-minerals (sodium, manganese, calcium, phosphorus) and micro/trace minerals (iodine, zinc, selenium, manganese, and others). This is a great salt to incorporate into your diet in place of regular sea salt, but you may find that you need to drink a salt-water solution to get the right mineral ratio balance if your minerals are unstable.
9. Filtered water.
For maximum detoxification you must get a filter on your tap and your shower. There are many types and qualities of filters to buy.
The more expensive reverse osmosis filter will remove all impurities out of the water including minerals. These usually run around $200 to $300. The less expensive type (around $100) filters most of the impurities but leaves the good minerals.
A shower filter is around $40.00 for one with a replaceable filter and around $25.00 with a disposable filter. We recommend you buy these at your local health food store or online.
You must find a way to drink 7-8 glasses of clean water a day. This will keep every cell hydrated and able to release toxins without damaging itself. Many of us are seriously dehydrated and think our headaches, aches, depression or confusion are from some other cause when we are really in need of water.
10. Beans, chickpeas, and peas.
Follow Sally Fallon's soaking and cooking guide to neutralize harmful phytic acid and enzyme inhibitors. Please be careful not to over-do these legumes. If you are a food sensitive person, you will need to make sure that you do not repeat the same bean on a daily basis.
In fact, it is best for most people to keep food rotating while they are recovering. The body can get overwhelmed with a recurring insult and begin to become allergic. Further, varying your diet applies to all food if you are starting this program while food sensitive.
11. Organic nuts and seeds.
Nuts and seeds are rich sources of protein, essential fatty acids, vitamins (especially B) and minerals.
Almonds, pecans, walnuts, cashews, chestnuts, filberts and pistachios, and pine, macadamia and Brazil nuts, are very health promoting if soaked in sea salt overnight. To keep them from rotting you must dry them in the sun or put them in the oven at 100 degrees for 6 hours (remember enzymes die at 118 degrees). All nuts, but especially pecans and walnuts, are susceptible to rancidity and should be stored in the refrigerator.
Great seeds to eat are sunflower, pumpkin, flax and chia. Seeds, too, are easier to digest if they are soaked or sprouted. Some, like flax and chia, are great if they are ground and sprinkled on food.
All seeds and nuts should be eaten in small amounts. Even with your favorite nuts, you shouldn't have more than a handful. Remember that most people are a little, if not a great deal, allergic to peanuts (actually a legume). It is rare if peanuts do not contain mold.
12. Fresh organic fruits.
Eat fruits in less abundance than vegetables. Fruits can be an excellent treat and a valuable psychological aid when withdrawing from sugar, honey or maple syrup. Freeze and blend with stevia for an occasional dessert. Dried fruits have a very high sugar concentration and are best avoided until healthy.
Support Your Body's Healing Process
Rest- take naps and get more sleep: 10 to 12 hours per night may be needed for awhile. If insomnia is a problem, you may need us to put you on some natural sleeping aids for the short term. Decrease your workload if possible. Americans are currently the most overworked people on the planet, surpassing the workaholic Japanese. If you are suffering from information overload, you are not alone.
Drink plenty of filtered water- the general rule is half of your body weight in ounces. If you weigh 140 pounds, half of 140 is 70. So you would need to drink 70 ounces of water a day. This will significantly help flush out toxins and rehydrate inflamed tissues
Don't get constipated-even though the drainage remedies will eventually solve constipation, some stubborn cases will require extra help. The use of laxatives is very individual. Use what works for you (magnesium, Oxy-Mag, psyllium seed, bentonite clay, triphala, vitamin C, teas, flax seed meal, etc.) until your pancreas, small intestine, and large intestine have drained sufficiently and have enough tone to digest food and evacuate waste on their own.
Naturally supplement extreme fatigue. Fatigue has replaced the 1950's gastritis as being the most common chief complaint today. Although the remedies often significantly reduce fatigue, for some, extra support is needed. Taking supplements like adrenal glandular, ginseng, gemmotherapy or other tonifying herbs might be necessary for a time.
Get emotional support. Although most people experience a sense of well being and increased joy on this program, others have painful emotions arise. Both of these detoxification symptoms are completely normal and appropriate. You may want to engage in the support of a qualified professional to support you through this transition.
Look at our list of local foods. Here in Redding we are very lucky and have great sources of meat and vegetables. Pick up a current copy of this list and find some of these great foods.
We realize the very serious value of our health when we have either lost it or can feel it slipping away from us. It can be very unsettling to realize that your physical body just isn't up for the task that you have in mind for it. Please be patient. It took years to get unhealthy and it will take you time to get your health back. Welcome and good luck.
Dr. Trudi Pratt
Acknowledgement to Louisa Williams, DC, ND, MS and AANK
