I switched from functional medicine practioner, Dr Hyman to Dr Aunna Herbst and from nutritionist, Trisha Howell to dietician, Kylene Bogden. Trust me it’s traumatic enough to switch one, much less two at a time! I loved Dr Hyman, but left Dr Hyman, because my wallet was making complaints! Trisha Howell, on the other hand, left me, to move back home to Florida, after her husband was offered a promotion, so I had to move on to a new food advisor. I will clearly miss Dr Hyman and Trisha Howell. All I can say is onward and upward, the new team awaits me!
After the kidney stones, I was very afraid I would be told I could no longer be on the Detox Diet. Just not so. Dr Herbst was helpful and supportive. She modified my Detox Diet. Dr Herbst is pleased that I am eating a variety of raw nuts and seeds, including sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, pecans, almonds, walnuts, Brazil nuts, and cashews, but asked me to eat as few cashews as possible, and to keep the total amount of nuts that I eat daily extremely low, just a few, because nuts cause kidney stones! I told her I felt I was consuming too much flesh protein and probably needed to be on rice and beans, in addition to a largely reduced amount of animal protein. This is right on, because my research suggests that animal protein does cause kidney stones!
I have subsequently learned that too much salt causes kidney stones, so a reduction in salt is in order, as well. Avoiding caffeine, carbonated beverages, processed foods, sugar, artificial sugars, genetically modified foods (GMOs), like corn and soy, as well as, dairy is all part of the Detox Diet. Likewise, it is important to avoid these foods to prohibit the formation of kidney stones. Moreover, it is important to maintain appropriate levels of calcium in the diet or through supplements to avoid kidney stones.
I am now eating brown rice, mixed with black rice, and quinoa. I am also eating steel cut oats, or gluten free extra thick rolled oats by Bob’s Red Mill. I sprinkle a tablespoon or so of milled flaxseed on the steel cut oats, which are cooked with almond milk. I feel so entirely nourished as a result of eating this way.
So basically, I can now incorporate many of the tricks I learned, when I was vegan, with this modified Detox Diet. This was simply not possible before. You see, the vegan way and the Detox Diet are nearly in direct opposition with one another, save for the fact that they both encourage the consumption of non-processed foods, with heavy reliance on fruits and vegetables. That said, few green leafy vegetables like collard greens, kale, rhubarb, Swiss chard, or spinach for this girl, because these plants cause kidney stones! Beets, okra, chocolate, and tea should also be avoided to prevent kidney stone formation.
I spoke with Dr Herbst about how I can increase my HDL, or good cholesterol level. I have never had a high LDL (bad cholesterol) level, but I have struggled with the ratio between the two, owing to having a low HDL level. She recommended oatmeal or steel cut oats, coconut water, ground flaxseed, or flaxseed oil, avocados, walnuts, almonds, Brazil nuts, and fish. Although EPA & DHA or a fish oil supplement, are often recommended, to increase HDL, I have taken these for years.
All in all, I had a good first meeting with Dr Herbst. I am so happy to be on this modified Detox Diet. It makes great sense for me! I feel confident, with these adjustments, that I can lose the next thirty pounds, without too much trouble!
So what types of adjustments do you need to make, in your eating regimen? Have you scheduled your appointments with specialists, who can advise you on changes you want to make? Have you begun to do your own research, to see what makes best sense for you? If not, why not?
Now it’s simply time to embrace the new changes. Just dig in, to get to the next step of your journey! Best of luck to you!
Lisa J Lafave, PhD, MBA, ACC, BCC
CEO & Founder of Coaching Rocks, LLC
The Wellness Coach at Building Better Bodies Rocks
A Single Mom By Choice Raising Surrogacy Twin Boys
Written in My Little Brick in University Heights, Ohio
Leap Into Action!