Digestive Health Regimen Daily Guidelines

The Digestive Health Regimen daily guidelines have been most helpful for those with recurrent gastrointestinal problems, especially diarrhea and constipation, food intolerance or sensitivity (allergies); chemical or environmental sensitivities; and chronic headache of unknown etiology.

The diet is low lactose, low fat, gluten free and usually well tolerated. A summary of the dietary guidelines is outlined below.

1. Eliminate dairy products such as milk, cheese and ice cream. Varying amounts of natural, unsweetened, live-culture yogurt may be tolerated by some individual.
2. Avoid meats such as beef, pork or veal. Chicken, turkey and cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel and halibut are acceptable if you are not allergic or intolerant of these foods. Select from free range whenever possible.
3. Eliminate gluten. Avoid any food that contains wheat, spelt, kamut, oats, rye, barley, amaranth, quinoa or malts. This is the most difficult part of the diet but also the most important. Unfortunately, gluten is contained in many common foods such as bread, crackers, pasta, cereals, and products containing flour made from these grains. Products made from rice, corn, buckwheat and gluten free flour, potato, tapioca and arrowroot may be used as desired by most individuals. A trip to your local whole foods store will help you find the appropriate foods.
4. Drink at least two quarts of water, preferably filtered, daily.
5. Avoid all alcohol and caffeine.
6. Avoid all sugar
7. Avoid all fried foods
8. Avoid raw meats such as sushi and raw beef as an appetizer.
9. If you are prone to hard stools or constipation, use more fruits. Try fruit as a whole meal once a day. Eat fruits alone.
10. When detoxing (otherwise known as cleansing), most of the diet should be raw or steamed vegetables, fruits, seeds and nuts. The more you include these foods and less of the meats and grains, the faster your body will cleanse. Eliminating other foods on the chart will help you cleanse then re-introduce the foods later. In this way you may see if you have any food intolerance or allergies.

DIET SUMMARY

Dairy Products
Allowed:
Unsweetened, live-culture yogurt, Milk substitutes such as rice milk, nut milks and soy beverages
Avoid:
Milk, cheese, ice-cream, cream, non-dairy creamers

Breads, Cereals
Allowed:
Any made from rice, corn, buckwheat, millet, soy, potato flour, tapioca, arrowroot or gluten free flour based products
Avoid:
All made from wheat, oat, spelt, kamut, rye barley, amaranth, quinoa, or gluten containing products

Starch
Allowed:
White or sweet potato, rice, tapioca, buckwheat and gluten-free products
Avoid:
All gluten containing products, including gluten containing pasta

Vegetables
Allowed:
All vegetables, preferably fresh, frozen or freshly juiced
Avoid:
Creamed or in casseroles, Canned vegetables

Beverages
Allowed:
Unsweetened fruit or vegetable juices, water, non-citrus herbal tea
Avoid:
Milk coffee, tea, cocoa, Alcoholic beverages, soda pop, sweetened beverages, citrus

Fruits
Allowed:
Unsweetened fresh, frozen, or water-packed, canned fruits excluding citrus and strawberries
Avoid:
Fruit drinks, ades, citrus, strawberries, dried fruit

Fats/Nuts/Oils
Allowed:
Cold/expeller pressed, unrefined, canola, flax, olive or sunflower oils, ghee, sunflower, sesame, flax, pumpkin, squash seeds/butters, salad dressings made from allowed ingredients, almonds, cashews, pecans, walnuts
Avoid:
Margarine, shortening, unclarified butter, refined oils, peanuts, salad dressings and spreads

Soups
Allowed:
Clear, vegetable-based broth, homemade vegetarian soups
Avoid:
Canned and cream soups

This information has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure disease.

Return to Digestive Health Regimen Home page