Detoxification: Days 3 & 4
The Elimination-Provocation Diet: Part 1
As you get started on your detoxification program, you will probably find that the dietary requirements are quite different than your normal diet. You may wonder, “Why do I have to give up so many different foods?” The reason for this is that many of the foods that we consume on a daily basis have ingredients that are toxic or are irritants to our bodies.
Many people don’t realize how much our diet can affect the function of our bodies. Obviously, foods that are high in refined sugars, contain unhealthy fats, and that are full of artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners are less than ideal to eat. However, when I talk about diets affecting bodily function, this not only refers to eating food that is knowingly unhealthy (fast food, foods with chemical additives, etc). I am also referring to foods that may be considered healthy but can cause allergic or sensitivity reactions.
An example of this is grain. Grains, especially whole grains, are considered by many to be an important part of a healthy diet. However, if you have a sensitivity or an allergy to gluten (a common allergen found in many grains),
Some of the most commonly offending foods
grains will cause inflammation and an immune response every time you eat them. This may not sound like a big deal but it can set the stage for developing many chronic diseases in the future.
The gluten contained in grains is just one common example of how even “healthy” food may not be good for everyone. Other common examples of these unhealthy “healthy” foods are eggs, dairy products, corn containing products, soy based products, and even some nuts/seeds. While these are the most common offenders, I have sent patients for food allergy testing only to find that they have sensitivities to lettuces, garlic, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, peppers, yeast, and many other foods that may be perfectly healthy for another individual. This is why the elimination portion of the Elimination-Provocation diet is so important. It forces you to get rid of the junk food and remove the potentially allergenic foods from your diet for a period of time so your body gets a break to catch up and recover.
As you continue on in the program, the number of foods you eliminate increases. The intense detoxification portion of the program (days 5-7 on the Metagenics detox) causes your menu plans become very limited for a few days. Because of this, the next post will discuss what you need to do during these difficult days to stick to the dietary plan. We will cover the Provocation portion of the Elimination-Provocation diet in a part 2 follow up toward the end of this series.
