118 Diet Wise
EXPENSIVE EATING
One thing is for sure, eating properly is expensive
compared to eating junk. There is no denying this. Nor
should it be a surprise to find that buying real food costs
more than synthetic substitutes for the real thing.
It is a cost of living and cost of health that must be
borne.
Remember though, this “test” phase of the diet is
designed to last only seven to ten days; fourteen days at
the outside.What shall I drink on the elimination diet?
This is a natural and obvious question. Many people cannot imagine life
without coffee, tea or a gin and tonic.
Water is the number one recommendation: spring water bottled in
glass if you can get it (lots of scam waters; be careful). Perrier, Pellegrino
and “designer waters” are fine, so long as they are pure.
Home filtered tap water may be even better, if you use the reverse
osmosis. Do NOT use distilled water; it is denatured and lacks minerals (any
rumored health properties are due only to the fact it is cleaner than normal
water).
Certain fruit juices are permitted, also in moderation. These are
apple, grape and pineapple, not orange and grapefruit. You must take care
to get brands that say ‘No additives.’ Beware of cute manufacturers who
say ‘No artificial preservatives’: they add what they claim to be ‘natural’
preservatives. This usually means lacto-fermented whey, and on a milk-
free diet this is of course unacceptable. ‘No added anything’ is the kind of
wording you should look for.
Herb teas are also allowed. These are plentiful and come in a great
variety, such as matte, chamomile, peppermint or South African rooibosch (red
bush). I do not recommend mixtures of flavors unless you are very careful.
Many contain citrus zest and that would not accord with the elimination
plan.
There are a few coffee substitutes on the market. While these may
be useful long term, avoid these during the early test stage. Decaffeinated
coffee is definitely not allowed. For one thing, it may have been chemically