Healthy eating, as well as good sleeping habits and regular exercise, all help give the body the best possible chance to heal itself. Homeopathic remedies are thought to work more efficiently if the body is not overtaxed by too many toxins, A homeopath may recommend that before taking a homeopathic remedy, the body should he generally detoxified to boost the metabolism and optimize the absorption of the remedy.
To help detoxify the body, do not smoke or drink alcohol and reduce your intake of caffeine. Carefully scrutinize the contents of packaged foods for hidden sugar, salt, and additives, which should he avoided. Some homeopaths may also recommend a reduction in meat consumption.
Complaints that are aggravated by particular foods may benefit from the alkaline or liver diets. It is unlikely that these diets will lead to problems, providing you eat a variety of foods. If you are suffering from a severe illness or are taking allopathic medicine, however, consult a doctor before starting either diet.
The alkaline and liver diets should be followed for one month. If there is an improvement in your health, gradually introduce the foods you have avoided eating, twice a week. Take note of the effects. If symptoms reappear, try the diet for another month and then reintroduce specific foods to your diet gradually. If you still experience problems, see a homeopath or a nutritionist.
alkaline diet
This diet is recommended for acidic conditions, such as osteoarthritis, rheumatism, and cystitis.
Acids, which come naturally from the intestines, are usually neutralized and eliminated through the liver, lungs, and kidneys. Illnesses can occur if the body produces too much acid or if the metabolic processes fail to detoxify it. The acid/alkaline balance of the body should be about 20 percent acid and 80 percent alkaline. When this is unbalanced, the metabolism becomes swamped with acid and unable to cope. When too much acid is present, small particles of it accumulate in the tissues, resulting in pain and inflammation. Individuals appear to differ as to how efficiently their detoxifying mechanisms work and how easily they can become overloaded.
The foods allowed in the alkaline diet can reduce the general levels of acidity in the body. Junk food and foods containing white flour, for example, white bread, should be avoided on a long-term basis.
FOODS ALLOWED
• Goats' and sheeps' produce, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Goats' or soy milk
• Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
• Oats, brown rice, corn, whole-wheat pasta, millet, 100% rye crispbread, buckwheat, and gluten-free bread
• Sugarfree oat crackers, granola, tapioca, and white rice bread
• All dried fruit and all fresh fruit except tomatoes and citrus fruit, which can be eaten twice a week after the first month. (Although citrus fruits are acidic initially, they become alkaline after being digested.)
• All vegetables
• All nuts, especially hazel, almond, cashew, and walnut. Not dry-roasted,-preferably unsalted
• Molasses and sugarfree jam
• Coffee substitutes (available from health food stores), herbal tea, noncitrus, unsweetened fruit/vegetable juices, and miso soup
• Salt substitute and vegetarian stock cubes
• Olive oil, and any other unrefined oils,- saltfree salad cream
• Carob
• Potatoes
FOODS ALLOWED ONLY TWICE A WEEK
• Fish, preferably fresh and oily (not smoked or canned)
• White meat and poultry
• Eggs
• Tomatoes
• Butter
FOODS TO AVOID
• Red meat (lamb, beef, pork), including pies, pates, and sausages
• Cows' produce, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Foods containing wheat, including bread, cakes, and pastries (Wholewheat pasta may be eaten)
• Bran
• Any product where wheat starch, edible starch, cereal filler, or cereal protein is listed as an ingredient
• Waxed fruit
• Dry-roasted nuts, potato chips, and other salty snacks
• Sugar, corn syrup, malt, dextrose, and honey, and any foods containing them
• Coffee, decaffeinated coffee, cocoa, and tea
• Salt, pepper, and vinegar
• Chocolate
• Alcohol and all carbonated drinks
• Spicy foods
• Fried foods, except lightly sauteed vegetables
• Refined, processed foods
• Salty foods, eg yeast extract, anchovies
Note White flour and junk food and food containing food additives should be avoided altogether and should not be reintroduced to the diet.
liver diet
This is recommended for many ailments, including hemorrhoids, acne, eczema, and heavy or painful menstruation. The foods allowed in this diet are those that the liver finds easiest to metabolize. Foods that the liver finds difficult to process are avoided, thereby enhancing its function. This does not mean that there is liver disease, simply that the liver may not be functioning as well as it could.
FOODS ALLOWED
• Fish, preferably fresh and white, not smoked or oily
• Legumes (peas, beans, lentils)
• Whole-grain bread, unsweetened whole-grain cereals, brown rice, whole grains, and whole-wheat pasta
• Tofu (bean curd)
• All vegetables
• Pineapples, apples, grapes, melons, and fresh or canned fruit in natural juice
• Herb tea, soy milk, and unsweetened fruit juice made from the fruits listed above, but no citrus in week 1 ; vegetable juices.
• Almonds, sunflower seeds, sesame seeds, and pine kernels
• Carob
• Olive oil and spreads made from cold-pressed vegetable oil and other unrefined oils
• Herbs and soy sauce
FOODS ALLOWED IN MODERATION
• Molasses and unsweetened jams that are yeastfree (refrigerate after opening)
• Berries, apricots, peaches, raisins, and dates twice a week
• Less than one-eighth of a teaspoon of salt a day
• Limit intake of canned fish (wash off oil if not in brine)
• Soy, rice, or goat milk products twice a week
FOODS TO AVOID
• Meat, poultry, and eggs
• White bread, rice, and pasta
• Sugar, corn syrup, maltrose and dextrose, honey, and all foods containing them
• All cows' produce, such as milk, cheese, and yogurt
• Tomatoes, citrus fruit (in week 1), avocados, bananas, and all very sweet fruit
• Nuts, except almonds
• Coffee, cocoa, and carbonated drinks
• Chocolate
• Fried food
• Spices
• Alcohol
• All products containing animal or vegetable fats
• Icecream made from nonmilk fat
• Any food containing casein or whey
• Refined cereals
• All food containing food colouring and preservatives
complex carbohydrate & protein-rich foods
These are recommended for menopause, migraines, and PMS. A drop in the blood sugar level may trigger a migraine or cause a hormone imbalance. To ensure the blood sugar level is stable, eat small amounts of food when you feel hungry, rather than large meals.
Avoid refined carbohydrates, which are found in foods made with refined sugar and white flour, dairy products (except milk and yogurt), caffeine, and alcohol.
Instead, eat protein-rich foods, such as chicken, tuna, sardines, and complex carbohydrates, which include potatoes, whole-grain bread, legumes, wholewheat pasta, brown rice, and other whole-grain cereals.
Suitable snacks include raw nuts or seeds, a glass of milk or some yogurt, and unsweetened oat crackers.
types of food
As well as recognizing that different types of people have individual desires and aversions in foods, homeopaths also are aware that certain foods may aggravate or upset certain people and that different constitutional types tend to have different food preferences.
FOOD LIST CATEGORIES Acidic foods
• Red meat, white meat, and poultry
• Cows' produce
• Wheat
• Dry-roasted nuts
• Salt, pepper, and vinegar
• Sugar and sweet foods, chocolate
• Coffee (both caffeinated and decaffeinated), tea, cola drinks, and other caffeinated drinks. Note Citrus fruit should be avoided in the first month of an alkaline diet (see p. 228) and the first week of the liver diet. They are acidic initially, but become alkaline after being digested. Dairy products
• Dairy products include all products from sheep, goats and cows, including butter, cheese, milk, and yogurt. Fatty foods
• Fatty meat
• Butter and cheese
• Most processed and fried foods Salty foods
• Foods with added salt and flavor enhancers, such as monosodium glutamate
• Meat with preservatives Note Use potassium chloride/sodium substitutes instead of table salt Spicy foods
• Curries, chilli peppers, and highly seasoned/spiced food Starchy foods
• Bread, potatoes, and cereals Sweet foods
• Sugar, honey, corn syrup, glucose, glucose syrup, dextrose, fructose, and maltrose, and all foods containing these, such as cakes, pies, puddings, cookies, candies, and custard
FOODS TO AVOID FOR PARTICULAR AILMENTS
Acne
• Seafood, seaweed, kelp, iodized salt,
and fish liver oils
Bloating & gas (flatulence)
• Legumes
• Onions and cabbage
• Nuts Cold sores
• Foods that contain arginine, including peanuts, chocolate, seeds, and cereals Migraine
• Salty and fried foods
• Food additives
• Alcohol
• Lima beans
• Chocolate
• Cheese and other dairy products
• Citrus fruit
• Coffee, cola drinks, cocoa, and tea
• Onions, sauerkraut
• Shellfish
• Wheat, yeast extract
• Meat, especially bacon, liver, pork, salami, and sausages
