Transition Diet: From S.A.D. to Happy
Nothing will benefit human health and increase the chances for survival of life on Earth as much as the evolution to a vegetarian diet.
(Albert Einstein)
(Albert Einstein)
Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.
(Socrates)
(Socrates)
You put a baby in a crib with an apple and a rabbit. If it eats the rabbit and plays with the apple, I'll buy you a new car.
(Harvey Diamond)
(Harvey Diamond)
Transition Diet - Intended for those transitioning from SAD to Happy. The Standard American Diet can include fast food, fried food, processed food…but it doesn’t have to! Standard American Diet also includes a diet heavy in acid foods including meat and dairy, even encompassing “healthy” diets heavy in cooked food and improperly combined food. The more this type of diet is taken the more acidic we become in our bodies, minds, and spirits. This can manifest in acidic emotions such as stress and anxiety as well imbalances in the emotional body which often results in the increased use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and caffeine which on the surface soothe the anxiety and stress but truly the use of these stimulants and depressants adds to level of toxicity in the body, further perpetuating the cycle.
Many of us may consider ourselves healthy eaters, choosing organic, even vegetarian options, however as mentioned above these choices do not always guarantee you are maintaining a state of alkalinity. For example, if protein and starches are being combined in the same meal, if most meals are cooked and lack vital enzymes these choices are also creating an acidic environment within the digestive system and entire body. Therefore, anyone who considers themselves healthy eaters can use this protocol as a transition into deeper levels of healing and detoxification. It’s also a great diet to follow throughout the winter months if you are living in the northern hemisphere and 100% raw vegan or Fruitarian feels too extreme. This protocol is especially recommended for those who have the luxury of having plenty of time to gently transition through the purification process. However, if you are facing serious health challenges that need to be resolved ASAP you will want to make the transition as quickly as possible.
The purpose of this protocol is to introduce your body, mind, and emotions to an alkaline environment. Some of us are operating at such a high level of toxicity that this alone will be big shift and can even cause detox symptoms. Detox symptoms are normal during this process and can include headaches, mild dizziness, and most commonly fatigue. If your detox symptoms become unmanageable adjust the diet accordingly – the best way to slow down a detox but not stop it is to eat an avocado (fat tends to slow down detox) and if that doesn’t do the trick have some steamed vegetables or medicine soup. Another method for alleviating detox symptoms is to do an enema. The main thing to remember is that sometimes you will need to simply slow down and rest.
Guidelines
The Big Picture: All fruits and vegetables, a few nuts and seeds here and there, mostly raw with some nurturing healing comfort food like baked potato, medicine soup, or steamed veggies.
Herbal Protocol: Supportive and nutritive herbs that also have a gently detoxifying affect such as nettle and dandelion are recommended. Dr. Morse Herbal protocol can be followed with great results. This is an excellent dietary protocol in alignment with the Fab Four, as well as the GI Broom. Another option is drinking Heal All Tea throughout.
Complementary Cleanses: Colon Cleanse
Don’t let your habits stop you. If you can’t let go of certain habits, such as drinking or smoking, don’t let that stop you from making other healing shifts in your life. This protocol can be safely followed by those who are mild to moderate smokers or those whose alcohol intake is within reason. Be aware, both smoking and drinking alcohol are very acidic in nature and you will likely experience some level of detox symptoms. At some point during your healing journey these habits will need to be released, it’s up to you when.
Remove and replace – if you are drinking coffee with a ton of milk go to a decaf coffee substitute with coconut milk or homemade almond milk. If you are motivated to let go of your morning brew altogether, Great!! Go for some freshly squeezed orange juice, grape juice from the blender, or a green drink. If you’re craving something hot have herbal tea or ginger, lemon and honey in hot water. Other examples of remove and replace include having cucumber slices with creamy avocado dipping sauce in place of processed snacks, replacing meat with hearty roasted vegetables, and dairy with coconut or almond milk. If you are craving processed sugar, fruit is likely what your body wants; you will be surprised at how well a piece of fruit alleviates a sugar craving.
Keep it Simple (Avoid the Complex) – Complex carbohydrates in the form of grains, complex protein in the form of meat and beans, complex fats in the form of oils, meat, and dairy – all have one thing in common. They can’t be utilized by the body as available nutrients until they are digested and broken down into their simple form. Protein, for example, requires a highly acidic digestive process in order to be broken down into amino acids. Once it goes through this complex process only then is it available as a nutrient. All fruits and vegetables contain bioavailable amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose. Why not obtain these amino acids from fruits and vegetables? Keeping it simple alleviates the acidity and heavy load this kind of digestive process places on the body so our vitamins and nutrients are readily available and easily assimilated.
Go Vegan – there are certain guidelines that keep us on good ground in terms of healing and detox protocol. If you can make a commitment to not eat meats, dairies, or eggs for a certain length of time it makes things easier to not have a gray area with this.
All Whole – same as with the vegan guideline, if you make a commitment to avoid all processed foods it will alleviate the tough choices and shades of gray…(these potato chips are cooked with avocado oil, that’s okay, right? Or…these potato chips are baked, that’s okay, right?”) It will also alleviate any questions around meat replacements (nope) and other “healthy” vegetarian food-like-substances.
Follow 80/20 Guidelines – 80/20 Alkaline to Acid, 80/20 Raw to Cooked. If it needs to be 60/40, or even if 50/50 is a huge improvement over what you’re used to, that’s fine too.
Don’t fry your food – fried food is extremely acidic and eating saturated fat is essentially forcing your liver to make more cholesterol
Don’t let your habits stop you - If you can’t let go of certain habits, such as drinking or smoking, don’t let that stop you from making other healing shifts in your life. This protocol can be safely followed by those who are mild to moderate smokers or those whose alcohol intake is within reason. Be aware, both smoking and drinking alcohol are very acidic in nature and you will likely experience some level of detox symptoms. At some point during your healing journey these habits will need to be released, it’s up to you when.
Set a Timeframe and Commit - As with all dietary and lifestyle shifts setting a timeframe can help you stay committed. If you are using the protocol as a preparation for more a more intensive protocol, a few weeks to one month should suffice. If you are following the protocol through winter, set that as your timeframe and stay committed, knowing that you will deepen your detoxification in the spring.
Follow this protocol until you’re ready to enter a deeper healing and rejuvenation cycle.
Transition into the Transition - If you need a transition into this protocol I recommend doing fruit in the morning, “veggie fruits” such as cucumber, tomato, avocado and leafy greens at lunch, and for dinner enjoying a baked potato or sweet potato topped with sprouts or chopped leafy greens. Enjoy plenty of fresh fruit, leafy greens, veggie fruits (tomato, avocado, cucumber) and fresh vegetables as snacks. Eventually once you are feeling strong and willing, replace the evening meal with another raw “veggie fruit” salad or a fruit meal.
Sample – A Day in the Life of SAD to Happy
Wake up: Choice of: Fresh fruit juice, green juice, aloe water, celery juice
Breakfast: The most important time of day to consume fruit is in the morning. Fruit is the lightest, brightest, and most quickly digested food. It also contains bio-available water that enlivens our cells and fuels the brain. Choice of: Fresh fruit, fruit smoothie, fruit salad
Snack: Fruit or Green Smoothie, Celery Sticks, Cucumber slices, or Fruit
Lunch: Spinach Soup or Salad
Snack: Choice of: Celery sticks, dates with apples, cucumber slices, fruit
Dinner: Choice of: Spinach Soup, Salad; (salad meals can include steamed vegetables), choice of Baked squash, sweet potato or potato, Medicine Soup
Snack: If you’ve eaten cooked food vegetables for dinner a fruit snack isn’t advised due to food combining guidelines. Instead choose celery sticks or a fresh vegetable snack. If you’ve managed to stay raw throughout the day fruit would be a great after dinner snack.
Many of us may consider ourselves healthy eaters, choosing organic, even vegetarian options, however as mentioned above these choices do not always guarantee you are maintaining a state of alkalinity. For example, if protein and starches are being combined in the same meal, if most meals are cooked and lack vital enzymes these choices are also creating an acidic environment within the digestive system and entire body. Therefore, anyone who considers themselves healthy eaters can use this protocol as a transition into deeper levels of healing and detoxification. It’s also a great diet to follow throughout the winter months if you are living in the northern hemisphere and 100% raw vegan or Fruitarian feels too extreme. This protocol is especially recommended for those who have the luxury of having plenty of time to gently transition through the purification process. However, if you are facing serious health challenges that need to be resolved ASAP you will want to make the transition as quickly as possible.
The purpose of this protocol is to introduce your body, mind, and emotions to an alkaline environment. Some of us are operating at such a high level of toxicity that this alone will be big shift and can even cause detox symptoms. Detox symptoms are normal during this process and can include headaches, mild dizziness, and most commonly fatigue. If your detox symptoms become unmanageable adjust the diet accordingly – the best way to slow down a detox but not stop it is to eat an avocado (fat tends to slow down detox) and if that doesn’t do the trick have some steamed vegetables or medicine soup. Another method for alleviating detox symptoms is to do an enema. The main thing to remember is that sometimes you will need to simply slow down and rest.
Guidelines
The Big Picture: All fruits and vegetables, a few nuts and seeds here and there, mostly raw with some nurturing healing comfort food like baked potato, medicine soup, or steamed veggies.
Herbal Protocol: Supportive and nutritive herbs that also have a gently detoxifying affect such as nettle and dandelion are recommended. Dr. Morse Herbal protocol can be followed with great results. This is an excellent dietary protocol in alignment with the Fab Four, as well as the GI Broom. Another option is drinking Heal All Tea throughout.
Complementary Cleanses: Colon Cleanse
Don’t let your habits stop you. If you can’t let go of certain habits, such as drinking or smoking, don’t let that stop you from making other healing shifts in your life. This protocol can be safely followed by those who are mild to moderate smokers or those whose alcohol intake is within reason. Be aware, both smoking and drinking alcohol are very acidic in nature and you will likely experience some level of detox symptoms. At some point during your healing journey these habits will need to be released, it’s up to you when.
Remove and replace – if you are drinking coffee with a ton of milk go to a decaf coffee substitute with coconut milk or homemade almond milk. If you are motivated to let go of your morning brew altogether, Great!! Go for some freshly squeezed orange juice, grape juice from the blender, or a green drink. If you’re craving something hot have herbal tea or ginger, lemon and honey in hot water. Other examples of remove and replace include having cucumber slices with creamy avocado dipping sauce in place of processed snacks, replacing meat with hearty roasted vegetables, and dairy with coconut or almond milk. If you are craving processed sugar, fruit is likely what your body wants; you will be surprised at how well a piece of fruit alleviates a sugar craving.
Keep it Simple (Avoid the Complex) – Complex carbohydrates in the form of grains, complex protein in the form of meat and beans, complex fats in the form of oils, meat, and dairy – all have one thing in common. They can’t be utilized by the body as available nutrients until they are digested and broken down into their simple form. Protein, for example, requires a highly acidic digestive process in order to be broken down into amino acids. Once it goes through this complex process only then is it available as a nutrient. All fruits and vegetables contain bioavailable amino acids, fatty acids, and glucose. Why not obtain these amino acids from fruits and vegetables? Keeping it simple alleviates the acidity and heavy load this kind of digestive process places on the body so our vitamins and nutrients are readily available and easily assimilated.
Go Vegan – there are certain guidelines that keep us on good ground in terms of healing and detox protocol. If you can make a commitment to not eat meats, dairies, or eggs for a certain length of time it makes things easier to not have a gray area with this.
All Whole – same as with the vegan guideline, if you make a commitment to avoid all processed foods it will alleviate the tough choices and shades of gray…(these potato chips are cooked with avocado oil, that’s okay, right? Or…these potato chips are baked, that’s okay, right?”) It will also alleviate any questions around meat replacements (nope) and other “healthy” vegetarian food-like-substances.
Follow 80/20 Guidelines – 80/20 Alkaline to Acid, 80/20 Raw to Cooked. If it needs to be 60/40, or even if 50/50 is a huge improvement over what you’re used to, that’s fine too.
Don’t fry your food – fried food is extremely acidic and eating saturated fat is essentially forcing your liver to make more cholesterol
Don’t let your habits stop you - If you can’t let go of certain habits, such as drinking or smoking, don’t let that stop you from making other healing shifts in your life. This protocol can be safely followed by those who are mild to moderate smokers or those whose alcohol intake is within reason. Be aware, both smoking and drinking alcohol are very acidic in nature and you will likely experience some level of detox symptoms. At some point during your healing journey these habits will need to be released, it’s up to you when.
Set a Timeframe and Commit - As with all dietary and lifestyle shifts setting a timeframe can help you stay committed. If you are using the protocol as a preparation for more a more intensive protocol, a few weeks to one month should suffice. If you are following the protocol through winter, set that as your timeframe and stay committed, knowing that you will deepen your detoxification in the spring.
Follow this protocol until you’re ready to enter a deeper healing and rejuvenation cycle.
Transition into the Transition - If you need a transition into this protocol I recommend doing fruit in the morning, “veggie fruits” such as cucumber, tomato, avocado and leafy greens at lunch, and for dinner enjoying a baked potato or sweet potato topped with sprouts or chopped leafy greens. Enjoy plenty of fresh fruit, leafy greens, veggie fruits (tomato, avocado, cucumber) and fresh vegetables as snacks. Eventually once you are feeling strong and willing, replace the evening meal with another raw “veggie fruit” salad or a fruit meal.
Sample – A Day in the Life of SAD to Happy
Wake up: Choice of: Fresh fruit juice, green juice, aloe water, celery juice
Breakfast: The most important time of day to consume fruit is in the morning. Fruit is the lightest, brightest, and most quickly digested food. It also contains bio-available water that enlivens our cells and fuels the brain. Choice of: Fresh fruit, fruit smoothie, fruit salad
Snack: Fruit or Green Smoothie, Celery Sticks, Cucumber slices, or Fruit
Lunch: Spinach Soup or Salad
Snack: Choice of: Celery sticks, dates with apples, cucumber slices, fruit
Dinner: Choice of: Spinach Soup, Salad; (salad meals can include steamed vegetables), choice of Baked squash, sweet potato or potato, Medicine Soup
Snack: If you’ve eaten cooked food vegetables for dinner a fruit snack isn’t advised due to food combining guidelines. Instead choose celery sticks or a fresh vegetable snack. If you’ve managed to stay raw throughout the day fruit would be a great after dinner snack.
Some days are just more challenging than others. You may have days of doing 100% raw and feeling on top of the world, the next day you may feel like eating more cooked foods or even having a “cheat.” Overall success is to remain committed and see each day as a new opportunity to continue the healing journey.
Resources & Recommended
