Happy Healthy Gut (25 page)

At a Restaurant

Don’t feel as though you must only dine in vegan restaurants, but do try and stick to places that at least cater to vegetarians. Most restaurants do this, and at the very least you can order a salad. Also, don’t be afraid to order something that is not listed on the menu. Think that chicken quesadilla looks good? Ask for a veggie version, and ask them to increase the veggie portion big-time, sans cheese if you don’t plan on consuming dairy anymore. If the dish comes with fries, ask if you could upgrade to a salad. Most servers are used to special requests, and yours is not unreasonable as long as you’re not ordering a clubhouse sandwich, no mayo, no meat, no wheat. What you’re really asking for in that instance is a salad, so just order one.

At a Friend’s Home

Find out what your friend is preparing to serve before you go, and ask if you can bring a veggie side dish. Then, at the very least, there is one item you can eat. It’s also probably a good idea to let your friend know that you’ve decided to take on a whole food, plant-based diet for personal health reasons. There is absolutely nothing anyone can do or say that would be antagonistic or misunderstanding about your situation. You’re being honest, and then he or she can be prepared.

On the Fly

If you must grab-and-go, there are definitely better options out there than deep-fried onion rings. Most fast-food restaurants have salads, and some have veggie chili and soups. A better option would be to run into a grocery store and grab an avocado roll or some fresh fruit. In
The Kind Diet
, Alicia Silverstone discusses these choices. She writes that she just simply tries to make good decisions when
confronted with a situation such as eating on the go. She gives the example that even if she’s stuck going to a 7-Eleven for grub, she can always walk out with raw sunflower seeds and an apple juice, which would be a whole lot better than most of the alternatives offered there.
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The following foods are ones that should be removed from the diet of anyone who wants or needs to recalibrate their bodies from the inside out, especially for the first few weeks of detoxification:

Meat, dairy, processed sugar, processed foods, anything genetically modified, caffeine and alcohol all should go in order to achieve the best results in the shortest amount of time. These foods harm; you need to begin consuming foods that heal. The exception to sugar is fruit. If you can’t live without red wine (I totally get you), reintroduce it after this initial period. If you can, purchase an organic label.

When you do this, the first week or so will be tense. You might experience headaches, constipation, diarrhea, and irritableness. These are symptoms of detoxification, which you will definitely be going through. Sugar (in particular) is a drug, and your body will be initially resistant to its disappearance. To aid in your successful accomplishment of the task of truly removing these disease-provoking foods from your diet, simply take anything that falls into the “nix” category, box it up, and give it away. This is to prevent temporary relapses when the going gets tough. Open your refrigerator, and take a good look at what’s in there. Imagine me standing behind you. What would I be suggesting that you chuck? If you live with others who plan on still consuming these foods, then try and create a separate area of the pantry for yourself. You can stock this area with good foods that you will shop for shortly. Use the Pantry Prerequisites (page 184) and
Meal Ideas (Page 190) sections in this book to get an idea of foods you can consume. Prepare a grocery list, and shop for items listed there.

With regards to giving up meat and animal products: there are tons of substitutes out there (you can swap your mayonnaise for Vegannaise, and your butter for Earth’s Balance Buttery Spread), and there is no reason to keep these in your diet, nutritionally speaking. They will only do you harm, and your body needs a break. Also, there are a great many people out there who are lactose intolerant. By not consuming dairy products for at least a month, you will notice if they bother you afterwards. You might be so used to feeling stomach pain that you can’t decipher where it originated from. Dairy’s a tricky little bugger!

It’s also very important to begin consuming at least eight glasses of purified water and/or peppermint, ginger, fennel, or chamomile herbal teas every day. Nothing else will hydrate you better. Maybe experiment with some pure coconut water. (Read the ingredients and make certain that it’s only coconut water; no added sugar.) Again, try and refrain from caffeine and alcohol, because this will inevitably aggravate your digestive system, and slow down the healing process. If you are super brave, start juicing in the morning. This is a fabulous way to kick-start this plan, and fresh, raw juices on an empty stomach will help the detoxification process. Just a word of caution: if you aren’t used to consuming a lot of raw vegetables and fruits, then don’t start with the green juice. Slowly work up to that one by juicing the other recipes for a couple of weeks first, and then try adding the green juice to your menu. It’s the best for you, but it can cause a lot of excitability in your digestive parts.

Add some whole grains and beans into the mix. Whole grains, beans, fruits, veggies, water, herbal tea, and juices are what you should be consuming a good 80% of the time. You will see a huge
change within two weeks if you do this, and not only digestively speaking. Kelly, who told her colitis story earlier in this book, lost thirteen pounds in her first three weeks on this plan! Ideally, you should be consuming five small meals daily, and they need to be equally spaced apart. You need to give yourself enough time to sit down, chew well, and be relaxed while you eat. Do not drink any liquids while eating; it will only interfere with proper digestion. Wait for about half an hour after a meal to drink anything.

Begin your new venture by writing up a weekly meal plan for yourself. If you are in the middle of a flare-up, then foods should be relatively bland in the first two weeks, and in theory, easy to digest. You should also be taking probiotics upon waking up. This will help reintroduce good bacteria to your gut, and improve intestinal flora. Remember that organics are better for you. You will want to rid your body of the chemicals and genetically modified ingredients that are probably running around, partying hard in your colon. Include tons of whole, sprouted grains, fresh vegetables (including sprouts), and beans. Fruits and nuts are great too. Also, if you are truly planning on taking the full-on vegan route, I recommend taking a B12 supplement at least two or three times a week.

There are several ways in which you can make this food transition easier for yourself. Instead of thinking that you must give up all of your favorite foods, just make small changes to them in order to make them meat-free, and more whole. For example, if you like hotdogs and fries, try a veggie dog on a whole wheat bun, and side it with roasted yams. Super yummy! Or, instead of beef tacos, substitute the beef for black beans. Just tweaking your favorite foods can help you accomplish this dietary change. Try the meat substitutes, and then transition to making your own at home. (Homemade veggie burgers are the best!) Try buying sprouts from the grocery store first, then go ahead and sprout your own when you feel comfortable. Baby steps, right?

Keep an open mind. This might seem restrictive, but it’s really what you make it out to be. Restriction is what is going on with your situation now; this plan is all about freedom. Many people know that they should be eating this way, but they don’t really give it proper consideration because they assume it will be really difficult. It’s not! It’s fun, and it forces you to try new foods and become more creative with your cooking. Also, remember why you are doing this. This plan is for better quality of life. It will eliminate many if not all of your digestive disorder’s symptoms, and treat the root of the digestive problem itself. This is for long-term wellness. There is no way for this diet to be bad for you—its good, clean, whole food. This is for you, because you deserve to live without chronic pain. I know what this lifestyle change is about, and I am confident that it can vastly improve your entire life. It’s been three years for me, and I’m still learning new things every day. It takes time, but it’s worth it. I’m pain free, and so is everyone who shared their story in this book. We all treated ourselves without drugs or surgeries. We simply healed ourselves with food.

Hopefully by now, you’re revved and inspired, and ready to go. The information in the last chapter is a general outline to provide you with an idea of how to begin this lifestyle game-changer. This plan is tailored to take into account all of the goings-on of a toxic, stressed, run-down digestive system. By removing such clutter as bad food, chemicals, non-nutritive drinks, stress, insomnia, and as a by-product, excess fat from your life, you will be a new, very happy person. I cannot emphasize enough that if you follow this plan, you will absolutely attain freedom from that which has been holding you down. You will only feel better, and it will happen very quickly. Hooray!

Question:
Which foods are you most interested in trying? Do you eat any of these foods already? Highlight what you need to
remember, and look forward to implementing these ideas as a way to build the new you! Tear down your current pantry, then make a new food list to build it back up with the building blocks to digestive success. Write down as many yummy-sounding ingredients down as you can, and go rock the grocery store. It’s a liberating feeling to be able to leave your old foods on the curb, and fill your pantry with new and interesting substitutes. Shopping with your eyes open is an activity too few of us participate in.

“Love the life you live. Live the life you love.”
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—Bob Marley

E
veryone is responsible for making their own decisions regarding how to live their lives, and food is at the forefront of living. It is a very personal subject, because it literally makes us who we are. Food directly contributes to how we feel, what we look like, how much energy we have, how well we sleep, our power to fight off infection and disease, our longevity, and more.

My personal stance on the issue of “to be” or “not to be” vegetarian was originally one of mixed feelings, and I think that was because I didn’t like the label. This is how I came to the conclusion that I wanted to be a “plant-based” eater or a “plant-strong eater.” eater. Not “vegetarian” or “vegan.” My diet is made up of mostly plant-based foods (I would say about 95%), but I also eat a little bit of wild, fresh fish every now and then, and maybe a little goat cheese on my salad when I feel that I need to indulge. The difference
between eating these items for me, and eating a piece of steak, is that I now understand what my body can handle and what it can’t, in terms of digesting the food I supply it with. I can handle a bit of salmon and goat cheese, but my stomach would divorce me (that’s literally what it feels like it’s trying to do) if I got anywhere near a hamburger. After many years and far too much gut ache, I finally know my limits. The goal for you is to figure out the same, and if you begin by ridding yourself of all foods that could possibly cause concern and/or inflammation, and just eat simply and mindfully, you will get to know your body. You don’t have to live by a label that defines who you are, or what you eat. Just be you, only better. Be the
best
version of yourself. Eat what makes you feel amazing, what makes your soul sing, and what makes your gut sigh with relief over the cessation of chronic pain.

“The only person who likes change is a newborn, and it’s natural, it’s human nature. Anywhere you go, 99% of the people are eating incorrectly. The numbers are against you, and it’s very hard for those 99% to look at you in the 1% and say, ‘Yes, he’s right, we are all wrong’.”
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—Dr. Caldwell Esselstyn, JR, MD,
The China Study

It’s sometimes very confusing that there can be such a general lack of enthusiasm for something that obviously results in better health for everyone, regardless of age, gender, and previous medical history.

Let’s use an analogy. Say you are a realtor, who has recently stumbled upon a remarkable, yet fairly obvious and simple way of selling homes more efficiently and effectively. When you use your new selling method, your sales triple. Now, say you share this information with your sales team, because you want them to thrive too. Everyone wants to make more money, right? Imagine getting uncomfortable feedback from your team right away; they
don’t even want to try it, despite your assurance of better sales. That would be really bewildering, right? They have nothing to lose and everything to gain, but they still want to stick to their same old sales method, which only makes them a fraction of what they could make if they ventured out and tried something proven to increase their income.

Do you choose familiarity and mediocrity, or do you trust in others’ experience, and reap the rewards? Do you decide to make considerably less than what you could, or double your income? Would you rather be half sick, or genuinely and undeniably healthy?

The day after I decided to adopt this lifestyle change, somebody close to me that I was conversing with about my new dietary venture said, “Just don’t feed your kids that crap.” I was pretty shocked, and a little hurt. I felt as though I had just made the best lifestyle choice of my twenty-nine years, and was already getting grief for it. This was to be the first situation of many in which my defenses were raised and my decision reinforced. I’m sort of contrary like that. If you get similar reactions from people who are close to you, please do not become discouraged. Take it as a challenge.

By showing a good example when it comes to eating healthy food, educating yourself about the food industry as we
don’t
know it, and exemplifying how conscious eating can eradicate the most common digestive disorders, hopefully your friends and family will understand why you gave up or altered some of your favorite foods, and what it has meant for your health and quality of life. Perhaps they might eventually consider adopting a plant-based diet themselves! It’s about opening each other’s eyes about what the food we choose to eat means to our health, the welfare of our fellow sentient beings, and the effects it has on our environment and planet. I think these are important considerations to pass on to each other, and to our future generations.