6 weeks of clean eating:additive-free, whole food

(Mostly) quick and easy recipes, + leftovers, meal plans,recipes, shopping lists

Eliminate sugar and white carbs

Eliminate “the big three” common allergens: gluten, dairy, eggs

Avoid GMOs

• Mostly corn and soy: Get non-GMO or organic! Generally not otherwise listed.
• Contain a gene from an organism called Bacillus thuringiensis, or Bt, which, when expressed, produces a toxin called glyphosate. This is the active ingredient in the insecticide called Roundup, which kills insects by poking holes in the gut lining.
• Linked with birth defects, miscarriages, infertility, behavioral disorders, and even autism.
  
• Glyphosate is a chelator: These plants tend to be low in manganese, zinc, and iron.

Toxins in Meat

• Ractopamine: Added to animal feed in the last few days before slaughter to promote leanness and increase muscle mass. Linked to hyperactivity, behavioral changes, and cardiovascular problems.
• Non-organic chickens are fed arsenic to prevent parasites, bulk up and improve the color of the poultry meat, and decrease the chickens’ feed consumption.
• Farmed fish, in addition to possibly being fed artificial colors to make their flesh more appetizing, is notoriously high in heavy metals, particularly mercury. Fish from the Atlantic are also high in the toxic pesticide PCBs.

DIET: Preservatives

• BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (Butylated hydroxytoluene): Found in prepared and packaged foods, where they are used as a preservative for fat. Linked with cancer in rats, mice, and hamsters. May also induce allergic reactions and hyperactivity in some sensitive patients.
• Sodium Benzoate/Benzoic Acid: Used as a preservative in juices, sodas, and pickles and found in shrimp and fish. When used in beverages containing ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), the two react to form small amounts of benzene, a known carcinogen (cancer-causing agent).
• Sulfites (sulfur dioxide, sodium bisulfite): Preservatives and bleaching agents in some wine, dried fruit, and processed shrimp and potatoes.These are also sprayed on fruit, veggies, and shrimp, and are associated with asthma.Sulfites can cause severe asthma reactions in sensitive individuals and are also a relatively common trigger for migraines.
  
• Trans fats, aka Partially Hydrogenated Oils: Trans fat means that hydrogen has been added to a liquid fatty acid to render it solid at room temperature, increasing its shelf life while also improving texture or “mouth feel.” They are found in margarine, shortening, fried foods, and all kinds of processed foods. Once consumed,trans fats are incorporated into your cell walls, causing poor cell membrane and receptor function, and they also increase “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and lower “good” cholesterol (HDL).This contributes to a number of chronic diseases, including heart disease and cancer.9 Trans fats also lower immune system function and increase insulin resistance. Avoid them completely if at all possible.
  

Nitrates:

• The World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF): “World Cancer Research Fund International recommends avoiding processed meat. This is the conclusion of an independent panel of leading scientists who, following the biggest review of international research ever undertaken, judged the evidence that processed meat increases the risk of bowel cancer to be convincing.This review was done in 2007 and was subsequently confirmed in 2011.”
• Consumption of processed meat products including nitrates and nitrites increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by 68%.
• The American Cancer Society further notes that high consumption of processed meat over a decade is associated with a 50% increase in the risk for bowel and rectal cancers—where “high consumption” for men is about two slices of bacon OR half a hot dog, 5-6 days per week, and for women, a similar amount 2-3 days per week.
  
• You can offset the negative impact of the nitrates and nitrites with some extra vitamin C.
  

Avoid Extra Additives

• Monosodium Glutamate/MSG: Large amounts have been associated with neural damage in animal studies.
• Olestra/Olean: Side effects therefore include diarrhea, cramps and leaky bowels, as well as poor absorption of fat soluble vitamins.
• Potassium Bromate: May be carcinogenic, and linked to nervous system, kidney damage, hypothyroidism.
• Brominated Vegetable Oil: Linked to thyroid trouble, tremors, depression, confusion, and several kinds of cancer.
• Phosphoric Acid: An additive in sodas that strips your body, and your bones, of essential nutrients.