During the past months your body has been experiencing a number of very important and positive changes. The cleansing and life-sustaining foods that you have been eating and the stress that you have been learning how to manage more effectively have been assisting your body to cleanse away the toxins and acids that have been accumulating in your tissues for years. This detoxification, aided by the vitamins, minerals, glandulars, homeopathics and/or herbs that have been specifically suggested by test results have enabled your body to detoxify itself and begin the very important process of rebuilding its integrity. Although Phase I may have been a challenging time for you that required modification of your diet and lifestyle, it was truly an essential program that has been preparing your mind and body to soar to new levels of health and well-being. Learning to avoid unhealthy foods and develop new self-care habits has probably required a great deal of commitment on your part. We would like to commend you for all of your hard work and dedication.

The Life Maintenance Program is designed to help your body maintain health and vitality throughout your life. In order to facilitate this process and to help your create lasting change, please follow the guidelines listed below.

Specific alterations in your Phase II program may be recommended for you depending upon your specific biochemical and nutritional needs. From time-to-time, further cleansing may be necessary. During these times, you may be placed back on the detoxification program for specified periods to time. Periodic BTA reevaluations and other diagnostic test will monitor your progress.

The foods that you will be preparing and eating during Phase II are healthy, basic, and easy to digest. Approximately 70-75 percent of your diet during this phase will consist of vegetables, wholesome grains, and fruit. The remaining 25-30 percent of your dietary intake will consist of small portions of animal protein, including fish, turkey, and chicken, and/or healthy meat and dairy substitutes, such as legumes, tempeh, tofu, and rice or soy milk products. Depending upon your tolerance to dairy products they may or may not be recommended or advised for your particular health state.

  KEEP YOUR MEALS SIMPLE    5

  COMBINE YOUR FOODS WISELY    5

Basic, simple foods and meals are easiest for your body to digest. Fruits and vegetables are the easiest food groups to digest. They require approximately 20-45 minutes to move through your stomach into your small intestine for absorption. Grains, which are carbohydrates, are more complex and may require up to an hour or so in the stomach. Animal protein, on the other hand, is much more complex and depending upon how it was prepared and eaten, may require several hours for digestion.

Certain food combinations are easier to digest then others. This is based in part on the current state of your digestive enzymes and integrity of your gastrointestinal system. It is therefore important to try to follow the simple guidelines below whenever possible:

Most authorities agree that it is best to avoid drinking tap water. The tap water in most communities is filled with so many chemicals and additives that it is not considered healthy for the human body.

If your drinking water comes from a well or spring on your property, it is wise to have the water tested. Some wells and springs can produce very healthy water. Many, however, have become contaminated by chemicals in the soil from farming practices (fertilizers, herbicides, and fungicides), flood, or industrial waste run-offs. If you would like to obtain information regarding water testing, please contact our office.

It is also wise to continue drinking your water at room temperature. Cold or very hot water can diminish the production of digestive enzymes in your mouth and alter the pH of your saliva. These factors can interfere with proper digestion.

  MAINTAIN A HIGH VEGETABLE INTAKE    5

For many years, vegetables have been under-rated and have taken a very small place on the dinner plate. Current research studies, however, are proving how vitally important this food group is to promoting health. Most vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals and other nutrients such as beta-carotene. Most vegetables are also alkaline and contain lots of water. This helps your body to cleanse itself and reduce the acidity in your tissues that are created by stress and poor foods.

It is best to continue eating a wide variety of vegetables. Organically grown or home grown vegetables should be eaten whenever possible. Eat several large servings daily. Because of their healthy alkaline and nutrient content, there is no limit to the amount of vegetables that you should consume. During Phase II, vegetables should be fresh and eaten raw or steamed, baked, woked, or cooked. Avoid canned or process vegetables that contain excess sodium and preservatives. If fresh produce is not available, use frozen vegetables without added salt, additives, and preservatives. Steam or cook your vegetables until they are tender yet sill brightly colored. This will enable them to retain high levels of nutrients. Try to use filtered or distilled water when steaming your vegetables. Save the water and store in a glass jar in the refrigerator. This nutrient-rich, alkaline water can be used as a nutritious drink, particularly in the morning or as a stock for cooking your grains and soups.

Now that your digestive mucosa and enzymes have become or are becoming normalized, raw vegetables can be reintroduced. See "Eat Foods That Are Fresh And Alive" below.

  EAT FOODS THAT ARE FRESH AND ALIVE    5

Now that your gastrointestinal system is stronger, it is better equipped to digest and absorb raw foods. Reintroduce raw foods such as fresh salads and juices very slowly, particularly if you have a past history of gassiness and bloating after meals. Give your body time to get used to the process of breaking down these goods. Try eating a salad, then skip a day, then have another on the following day. Listen to your body. Adjust portions as needed. Start simply with just one or two easy-to-digest ingredients, such as lettuce and sprouts. Add an additional vegetable with your next salad and so on. Continue slowly introducing other raw vegetables. If any vegetables create discomfort after eating, avoid eating that vegetables in its raw state for a period of time and slowly reintroduce it at a later time. If it continues to create gastrointestinal discomfort, lightly steam or cook this vegetable before eating.

Keep your salad dressing simple and easy to digest. Avoid heavily processed or fatty dressings. Preparing your own healthy salad dressing is a wonderful way to add essential fatty acids and other nutritious elements to your diet. If you are dining out, carry a small container of your own salad dressing with you.

The healthiest juices are those that are made from organically grown fresh fruits and vegetables. Commercially prepared juices have often lost most of their nutrient value and often contain added sugar and preservatives. Fresh juice, on the other hand, when prepared properly, is filled with life, nutrients, and vitality.

For optimal nutrition, ingest your fresh juice immediately after juicing your produce. Start with a simple juice such as apple. Because it is high in fructose content, dilute this juice with distilled or spring water. Begin with 8 ounces and sip slowly. The best time to drink fruit juice is in the morning on an empty stomach. Store any extra juice in a glass container in the refrigerator. The longer the juice is stored, the more nutrients are lost.

There are many theories concerning the amounts and types of juices to ingest based upon particular health conditions. As you begin the Phase II maintenance program, proceed slowly, starting with 8-16 ounces daily, divided into 2-3 servings. Begin with one ingredient juices before you begin to combine fruits or vegetables. This way you can assess your body’s response to each individual fruit or vegetable. Carrot juice is a wonderful first choice vegetable juice with many healing properties. "Juices" by Dr. Norman Walker is an excellent resource book that can provide you with additional information on the specific healing properties of each fruit and vegetable juice.

It is important that you eat a wide variety of grains. Continue eating four to six servings daily. Grains are filled with vitamins, minerals, protein, and fiber that can help you to continue strengthening and healing your body. During the digestive process, many grains are capable of expanding and absorbing fluids and toxins. The outer hull of most grains contains vital trace minerals and roughage that helps your body to eliminate wastes with greater ease and regularity. When available, it is best to eat grains that are certified organic. Some healthy grains include brown rice (short, medium, or long grain, wild rice, basmati), millet, amaranth, oats, buckwheat, barley, kamut, teff, and quinoa. Different types of grains can be combined while cooking. Be Creative!!

Depending upon your health status, you may also begin reintroducing healthy breads and whole grain pastas (whole wheat, quinoa, rice, and amaranth) into your diet. Try to avoid the use of white flour products. They are devoid of essential minerals and nutrients and often contain preservatives and chemicals used in the bleaching process.

Consult with your health care practitioner as to whether yeasted products should be introduced at this time. If you have or have had candidiasis or certain fungal conditions, yeast products may be contraindicated at this time. The products to avoid would include alcoholic beverages, vinegar products, and soy/tamari sauces. If you are allergic or sensitive to wheat, gluten, or other grains, it is important to avoid these foods as well and to read labels carefully. If you are advised to avoid such products don’t despair! There are many alternatives that can be found in health food stores such as healthy no-yeast and gluten-free breads, wheat free crackers, organic yeast free tortilla shells and muffins. There are also cookbooks on the market that can guide you through the process of preparing very healthy and delicious alternatives at home.

Approximately 25-30 percent of your dietary intake should now consist of healthy forms of protein. Read labels carefully. Avoid processed animal protein products that are laden with preservatives, nitrates, antibiotics, and saturated fats. This includes such products such as bologna, salami, hot dogs, processed cheeses, dairy products, etc. Meats and commercially processed dairy products contain greater levels of toxic ingredients than any other types of foods.

They can also contribute to creating lymphatic congestion, food allergies, and excessive tissue acidity. Check with your health care practitioner as to whether your body has the gastrointestinal and enzymatic integrity to digest dairy products. If so, take some time and explore some of the organic, antibiotic-free dairy products including milk, cheeses, and eggs that are found in health food stores. Ingest small portions of healthy animal products such as fish (particularly deep sea fish such as salmon) and turkey and chicken (white meat only with no skin). Try to purchase free-range and antibiotic-free meats and eggs when available or raise your own if at all possible. These proteins can be eaten several times weekly in small amounts. Minimize your intake of shellfish such as lobster or shrimp. The healthiest way to cook these foods is by baking, steaming, or broiling.

This is a wonder time to explore creative ways to prepare healthier forms of protein that are derived from vegetable and grain sources. Tofu or bean curd, tempeh, legumes, or gain-based meat substitutes may be consumed in 2-4 servings daily.

Now that your BTA testing has determined that your gastrointestinal and enzymatic integrity has been restored, you can begin to incorporate legumes into your diet. Legumes, such as lentils, split peas, lima beans, black beans, kidney beans, mung beans, and garbanzo beans contain vital nutrients, minerals, and protein. Purchase organic legumes when available. Some legumes, such as lentils, can be prepared in 45 minutes. Others, such as kidney beans or garbanzo beans are much harder and need to be soaked for several hours or overnight and then cooked for a few hours. Many individuals experience gassiness when they eat cooked legumes. Reintroduce them back into your diet very slowly. Start with small portions. Be certain to drain off your soaking water and use fresh water when cooking. Enzyme supplements are available for help in digesting these complex carbohydrates. Many legumes can also be sprouted for several days and added to your grain and vegetable dishes and salads for extra protein and nutrients.

The most nutritious cooking oils are the unrefined polyunsaturated and super-unsaturated oils such as safflower, sunflower, canola, sesame, and omega-3 flax oils. These oils provide the omega-3 (alpha-linolenic acid) and omega-6 (linolenic acid) essential fatty acids that contain nutrients that your body needs.

The oils high in mono-unsaturated including olive, canola, and high-oleic safflower oil help your body to deal with the cholesterol and saturated-containing fats often used in cooking.

Nutritious cooking oils are essential to good health. Use oils that are organic, unrefined, and expeller or cold pressed instead of solvent extract oil. These oils can be found in most health food stores. Canola, safflower, and olive oil are excellent and practical first choices to get you started.

It is important to avoid eating products that contain hydrogenated, partially hydrogenated, and tropical fats. These types of manufactured fats are often used by food manufacturers in baked and packaged foods because they can create products that are soft, easy to slice, and slow to spoil. Unfortunately, these types of fats are like saturated fats and lack essential fatty acid nutrients. Ingesting hydrogenated fats, therefore, can contribute to many of the same health problems as eating too many saturated fats.

In order to assist your body to continue cleansing away toxins, heal damaged tissues, and maintain normal functioning of your gastrointestinal mucosa and digestive enzymes, it is vitally important to eat foods that offer your body life, energy, and vitality. The healthiest foods are those that are organically grown. This means that they are grown in soil that is free of pesticides, herbicides, and other synthetic chemical agents. Such foods generally contain more nutrients because the soil contains higher levels of minerals.

Many processed foods contain additives, preservatives, excess sodium, and toxic residues that are difficult for your body to process. Many components of these "dead" foods cannot be broken down by your body and instead build up toxic levels in your tissues. This can create excessive acidity that can interfere with the nutrient and mineral balance of your cells and create congestion in your lymphatic system.

A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself whether the food that you are about to ingest will be offering you life and health or if eating it will be creating more stress and dis-ease in your body. Most of the foods that you eat should not need a label. Most of the foods that you purchase in your supermarket should come from the perimeter of store. These foods are the whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and healthy, low-fat proteins. If the labels on the remaining foods that you are tempted to eat list contents that you cannot pronounce or include toxic contents such as artificial colors, additive, and chemical preservatives, it is wise to avoid them. Your body will continue to thank you!

Diet For A Poisoned Planet by David Steinman is an excellent resource guide that gives you the opportunity to take a closer look at the foods that you eat as well as all of the additives, preservatives, and toxins that are often found in those foods.

A big part of preparing healthier food is to use cookware that is glass, or stainless steel, or water-less cookware. Avoid using aluminum, Teflon, or coated cookware. It is also wise to avoid using or storing your foods for extended periods in plastic or ceramic containers. Often the substances used to coat glaze, or decorate these pans and containers contain toxic agents and/or lead that can contaminate even the healthiest foods. Healthier cookware can often be a bit more expensive. Investing in a good set, however, will enable you to derive many health benefits for years to come.

It is also wise to avoid using a microwave whenever possible. Many studies have indicated that the microwave process, although fast and convenient, breaks vital chemical bonds in foods. The electro-magnetic radiation that leaks from most microwave oven during cooking can also be harmful to the body. Many patients have invested in small toaster ovens that may take a bit more time to cook their food but are small, economical, and much healthier to use.