As much as sourcing and securing a supply of organic (or as near to organic as possible) fresh food and groceries is an essential part of going organic, we also have to think about foods to reduce and remove from our diet and our lives completely. This is because they build up over time and are difficult to digest which puts a lot of stress on the system.

What are non-alkaline foods?

An article on Cleveland Clinic - What Is the Alkaline Diet, and Is It Safe? - provides a list of problematic food. I think we can clearly see the pattern here with my brackets added:

• [Processed] Trans fats
• [Processed] Saturated fats
• [Processed] Red meat (beef, pork, veal and lamb)
• [Processed] Meats (hot dogs, salami, pepperoni, bologna)
• [Processed] Refined carbohydrates (white breads, crackers, salty snack foods, baked goods)
• [Processed] Sweetened beverages (such as soda)

Whilst this is a good list, it is a singular list that reveals only part of the story. A superb source of reference is a book called Cleanse to Heal which goes much deeper into the serious issue of foods to avoid and why.

Founder and Author of Medical Medium, Anthony William, dedicates a chapter to Troublemaker Foods (on five different levels with a bonus list for faster results when certain foods are banished) and A Wake Up Call chapter to explain other troublemakers we need to be aware of (see below).

What are troublemaker foods?

Cleanse to Heal provide insightful, sensible and indepth insights into problems caused by troublesome foods (especially when we are not well or have declining health). Such foods include eggs, dairy, gluten, suger, soft drinks, excessive salt, pork products, tuna, industrial food oils, corn, soy, lamb, all fish and seafood, vinegar, fermemented foods, caffine (oops guilty), all grains (except millet and oats) and all oils (except raw coconut oil).

Some of these items might seem surprising and some, hard to let go. When you know how these foods cause harm over the long term, it's a question of changing your source of food, reducing your intake of certain items and banning things altogether.

It is wise to learn and improve things over time and enjoy a new journey of discovery - not to mention the health benefits that come quick and fast when you start looking after yourself properly. When you have a reliable frame of reference you can trust, it makes all the difference.

Cleanse to Heal was (and still is) my frame of reference and full of information. Anthony helped me to dispal some myths, fill the gaps and join the dots in terms of my natural health. He confirmed what I knew to be good information and what I was already doing to remain healthy. Most of all, Cleanse to Heal helped me to understand what is good for my body and how to turn my back on problematic foods and products once and for all.

Even if you think your diet is healthy, there will be something for you to learn here. If this information resonates with you, you will feel inspired to take action and make much healthier choices into the future.

What other troublemakers should we be aware of?

Cleanse to Heal explains exactly what we are up against in terms of harmful trace elements, toxins and pathogens that may be stored inside us, and that we are exposed to externally on a daily basis.

However healthy we think we are, there is no harm in knowing what we might be unaware of. Unbeknown to us, toxic trace elements and pathogens that our bodies are unable to digest or get rid of are stored in our fat cells and major organs to prevent them from entering our bloodstream. When we are ill or feel run down, stressed, overloaded or deficient in some way, toxins and pathogens are released causing a myriad of 'mysterious' symptoms.

Other hidden dangers are found in air fresheners, scented candles, laundrey detergent, fabric softener, perfumes, cologne, aftershave, fungicides, gasoline, pesticides, insecticides, herbicides, fertilizers, lawn and garden treatments, EMF waves, plastics, viral waste matter, toxic heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, spray products, unhealthy bacteria, viruses and microbes, chemical neauroantagonists, toothpaste (Flouride, etc), drinking water and petrochemicals.

Is it any wonder our bodies are unable to clear these toxic trace elements on a daily basis without our help? Our bodies are miraculous to have kept us going this long! All these bits and pieces are efficiently stored in our fat cells and essential organs rather than being released into our blood stream and there is only so much a body can take.

How do you cleanse to heal?

My daily cleanse started with Medical Medium’s Celery Juice with nothing added and nothing taken away. I bought a professional juicer that brings out all the goodness and makes this daily tonic more cost effective.

Anthony has written an entire book on Celery Juice (see below). He describes it as a simple herbal extraction with an incredible ability to create sweeping improvements for all kinds of health issues when comsumed in the right way.

Celery Juice is a key important component to Medical Medium's 3:6:9 Cleanse (which I completed a few weeks before the lockdown). It was hard work but I followed each of the steps and have honestly never looked back. I have not been ill or had a cold since.

Cleanse to Heal contains different cleansing protocols and healthy recipes using organic foods, herbs, juices, natural supplements, fruits, nuts and vegetables that you can gradually introduce into your daily routine. Read up on the theory and prepare yourself well to fully cleanse your body safely and enjoy the benefits.

What is the Cleanse to Heal protocol?

A chapter in Cleanse to Heal is dedicated to your body’s healing power and how to recognise and deal with specific symptoms so that you can detox safely, know what to expect and what precautions to take. All the routines are designed to help you remove harmful residents and clear the way for your body to become alkaline so that it can function effectively.

Protocol include foods such as potatoes, courgettes and root vegetables that act as carriers to absorb and remove toxins, parasites and pathogens as they are released into the bloodstream. Starved of the fatty cells, fats, eggs and sugars that sustain them, these intruders break down into waste so that the body can dispose of them safely.

This is how we help our body and transform our health. Our bodies are designed to keep us well and to heal us from the inside. Understand what causes harm, what provides nourishment and healing, and how to integrate organic goodness into your life so that your body can thrive and do its work effectively.

Steps to going organic

Like any other project, a plan set out over a realistic time period is very helpful.

I used Cleanse to Heal for my framework and initial guide. I gradually removed and replaced troublesome processed and mass produced foods and products from my pantry, my fridge, my kitchen, my bathroom, my bedroom, my wardrobe and my bathroom.

Finding organic alternatives takes time and natural foods and products are generally more expensive. It is cost-effective in the long run as well-made things last longer and provide more value having been made with natural health in mind and with quality natural ingredients.

I have found lots of traditional health remedies and natural cleaning hacks that help me to replace problematic products. This can be a lot cheaper as, for example Bicarbonate of Soda which can be used to clean most things with its natural abrasiveness, cleansing power and ability to absorb odours.

I have created some of my own cleansing and nutritional herbal and fruit recipes you might like to try:

Citrus Metal Detox (for deep cleansing over a 3 month period)

Turbo Boost Turkey Tail Tea (for deep cleansing and immunity boost)

Lemon Herbal Cleanse (for every morning first thing)

Refreshing and Cleansing Nettle Tea (for a blood cleansing tonic)

Dandelion Flower Water (for a light and nutritious inner cleanse)

Delicious Barley Water Lemonade (for a nutritious energy boost)

Super Fruit Smoothies (for a nutritional energy boost)

Natural Cold Remedy (for a cleansing immunity boost)

Ask the right questions (and then do the work)

Some questions I would recommend to design a tailored plan for cleansing your body safely and transitioning to an organic lifestyle.

1. What is your health history and where are you now?
2. What is troubling your body and what could be the cause?
3. Which troublemaker foods and products might be causing problems?
4. How many alkaline foods are you consuming dally?
5. What do you need to increase, reduce or elimate from your diet?
6. Which herbs and natural supplements will help to address my symptoms?
7. Where can I source properly prepared vitamins, minerals and other supplements*?
8. Where are my local closest organic producers, providers and supplies?
9. How will I make the transition from my initial audit to a more organic lifestyle?
10. What do I need to find out so that I can make a realistic plan and stick to it?

Do your research

Sourcing wholesome foods and products is a key route to success. On Medical Medium’s recommendation, I buy my vitamins from Vimergy which are available in the British Isles through Aggresive Health which has a huge range of quality stock. These are not affiliate links.

Research involves carefully checking things out, making comparisons, reading labels and knowing what could be harmful to you. It is important to check sources of ingredients, type of processing methods, quality standards, use and non-use of fillers, additives, preservatives, colouring, sugars, sweeteners, plastics, packaging and so on.

Enjoy the journey

Whether you want to enrich, tweek or change your cleansing and ongoing diet, the key is to make it enjoyable. Try out different things, experiment and learn as you go.

Please note that I am not medically or otherwised qualified to give medical advice but wanted to share with you what I have discovered through my own thorough research and what has worked for me. I haven’t been unwell since my initial deep cleanse and I have thoroughly enjoyed adopting a mostly organic lifestyle.

Last word

There is no better time to think about going fully organic for your good health and to support holistic providers and local organic growers who need our help.

Thank you for reading and I hope you enjoy going organic.

I look forward to seeing you soon.