Purification Diet

Purification diets are done primarily for the purpose of improving health. A purification diet is free from chemically altered or processed foods, and is much like a detoxification diet where the goal is to cleanse the body of built up toxins that can potentially wreak havoc on the body and its systems. Toxins can build up in the body from eating the wrong types of food, drinking contaminated water or even breathing polluted air.

Foods to Avoid

• The basic rules of a purification diet are to avoid alcohol, sugar (all syrups and artificial sweeteners, except stevia), fruit, stimulants and allergenic food. Avoiding sugar is essential because sugar is linked with heart disease, blood clotting dysfunction, high cholesterol and other degenerative disorders. Stevia is an exception to sugar substitutes because it is derived from a South American herb that is very sweet and does not affect blood sugar levels. Fruit has to be temporarily avoided (until health is restored) because it produces yeast and can throw the body's chemistry balance off. Stimulants like coffee should be avoided because coffee has been known to slow down the detoxification process. Allergenic foods should be avoided because they can bring on negative symptoms such as headaches, bloating, tiredness, insomnia, depression, puffiness, rash, poor concentration, and changes in behavior or mood. The most common allergenic foods are dairy, wheat, soy, corn, yeast, certain nightshade vegetables (potatoes, eggplant, tomatoes, peppers and tobacco), chocolate, eggs and peanuts.

Foods That Are Allowed

• Foods that can be eaten on a purification diet include fresh organic vegetables such as parsley, carrots, cabbage, cucumbers, peas, garlic, onions and beets. Protein sources that can be eaten on the purification diet are beans, organic meat such as beef, fish, chicken and free-range fertile eggs; grains such as quinoa, amaranth, buckwheat, kamut, brown rice and millet. If you do not suffer from a gluten allergy, then you can consume wheat, rye and barley. Cooking oils such as olive and coconut can be incorporated into your diet, as well as lots of filtered water and organic nuts and seeds. When the body is healthy, it is OK to indulge in organic fresh fruits, but only in moderation. The purification diet can be done for as long as you want. However, to fully reap the benefits, most people choose to follow the diet for six months to a year. The diet can even be followed for life.