154 Diet Wise
cases I am afraid that doing so will invite scorn and hostility, which you
must be prepared for. Also, don’t expect much helpful advice, because most
medical practitioners are simply not trained in this technique; their opinions
would rest only on the popular prejudices and misconceptions about food.
Having said that, your doctor is your doctor, and if you are not prepared to
do what he or she says don’t go to the office in the first place!
Withdrawal symptoms
It may be worth pointing out that if you should experience withdrawal
symptoms, although this can be quite unpleasant, it does point to food
addiction and therefore a satisfactory outcome. You may begin to suspect
certain foods because of what it is you are craving. You must not give in, of
course. But it can be useful to observe, say, a craving for coffee – the feeling
that if only you could have a cup, just one cup, you’d feel OK again – it tells
you that coffee is almost certainly something you are reacting to.
You may not have suspected it for all those years.
It is astonishing how these effects creep up on us unnoticed. The
body gradually learns over time to steer you into taking a “fix” of whatever
it needs to settle down. You just think it is something you like. You may
even turn to it unconsciously when you meet a stressful situation. But be
careful. A tea or coffee craving might really be your body’s demand for milk
or creamer! A gin and tonic “fix” may really denote a wheat allergy!
Preparation
It is a good idea to prepare for a fast with a few days of good, nutritious
eating. For this reason it is not recommended that you fast following
a period of severe restrictions on your food intake such as might occur
while experimenting with elimination. If that applies to you, return to a
full eating program temporarily. This does not mean that junk food must
be reintroduced, but simply that you should consume a proper balance of
protein, carbohydrates and fat.
The only exception to this advice is when reactions on the
elimination diet are so severe that it is easier just to give up eating altogether
and slip into a fast for a few days. This usually cuts short the suffering – a
process which can be further speeded up by taking Epsom salts, one or
two teaspoons in half a glass of warm water, to clear the bowel. Vitamin
C (two to ten grams a day) also appears to help, as it often does with toxic