For two weeks, I had to remain sugar free, wheat free, and soy free. This was a crucial element of the detox diet that I had to follow while on my first detox (I am not referring to any book or program with the same name, but the actual diet itself, which is natural). I’ve since completed the detox diet and found that my body has reacted remarkably to my dietary adjustment.
Soy and wheat are common allergens, plaguing millions of Americans annually. Sugar, on the other hand, is toxic and classified as a drug by some. Removing these items from the diet gives the body time and the ability to rebalance itself and remove the irritations that they may cause to the digestive and nervous systems.
My diet during the two week period relied heavily on organic grains and roughage, primarily brown rice, lentils, avocados, watermelon, potatoes, lettuce, tomatoes, and chick peas. It was a sparse diet, but a repeatable diet that I could use without much effort. It also made it easy to narrow down anything that caused me discomfort.
Fried Foods
What I found amazing was reintroducing certain items back into my diet caused an unexpected reaction. Fried foods left me with a sudden nauseated feeling that left me extremely uncomfortable. My tongue felt leaden and my taste buds were overwhelmed with the taste of oil.
This was surprising, because french fries were one of my guilty pleasures that I might have to forego. In this instance, I ate a handful of frozen tater tots that I baked in the oven. Their aroma was heavenly, however the taste was not. The oil was overpowering.
French fries are notoriously unhealthy, I am well aware of that, and always had intentions to switch to something friendlier on the arteries. This situation has prompted me to accelerate the transition, which I will do. Instead of fries, I will opt for the healthier and tastier baked home fries.
Sweet Foods
I was given a gluten-free cupcake by a friend and could only stomach two bites of it. The taste of sugar was so amplified that it gave me a headache. I’ve never tolerated sugar well, and the cupcake was not overly sweet in the first place. Nevertheless, the sugar was more than I could tolerate.
My baked sweet goods will have to be homemade now. My baking skills have increased, so I will make my own cupcakes and muffins, adjusting the sugar to what’s reasonable and healthy.
What Happened?
My taste buds have been reprogrammed. It’s as simple as that. Embarking on a more natural, wholesome way of cooking and eating has conditioned me to a certain taste now. Understand that my eating was not terrible in the first place: I’ve been a strict vegan for ~13 years, with the unfortunate exception of one or two accidents. What I have been is lax in preparation and allowed less-than-healthy additions to creep in from time to time.
I’ll reintroduce soy and wheat slowly so that I don’t shock my system. There are no allergies to soy and wheat, as far as I can tell, but there might be a slight reaction once they are introduced again.
Some of my staple meals during the detox diet will be incorporated into my day-to-day menu, and that is a positive. By keeping my diet based on a high fiber, plenty of roughage, and minimally-processed menu, my health with improve from great to stellar and I will be better off because of it.
hi there, I am looking to go on a detox diet and then proceed to a cleaner, healthier lifestyle. This sounds doable…what did a normal day of meals look like on this diet? yes, I know for sure I have a soy and dairy allergy and I suspect I am also gluten sensitive. Thank you
Hi Intricately Designed,
I’m a vegan, so my diet is already free from many items that most people would eat. My suggestions may seem limiting to you:
Breakfast:
Oatmeal with dairy-free milk (almond, oat, etc.) and fruit
Snack:
Fruit-based smoothie
Lunch:
Black beans and rice, large green salad, fresh corn
Snack:
Fresh juice or smoothie
Dinner:
Rice pasta with sauce and beans, large green salad (hint: I did NOT like the rice pasta)
Dessert:
Fresh fruit
Have you considered a raw diet? It’s not for me, however it may interest you.
The transition to a healthier diet may not be easy, so prepare yourself for a bit of withdrawal. Stick to it, and expect there to be doubt as you go along for the ride.