Like I mentioned yesterday, my number priority is answering your questions and getting you the info you need to live a super healthy life (not to mention look awesome in the process). So when I shared the free report “The Fundamentals of Digestion and Colon Health” by Yuri Elkaim, tons of questions came pouring in.

“Isabel, what do you think about colon cleansing? Do you think I should do a cleanse before I start the DSP?”

Well, the answer is yes and no (don’t you just hate it when someone answers your question like that?)

I say no because in essence, following the DSP way of eating will help you cleanse your body of toxins, processed foods and any other yucky sludge you may have living inside your body. Many people tell me that just after the first few weeks on the DSP, their digestion has never been better, not to mention more regular trips to the bathroom (if you know what I mean).

But I also say yes because some people have not been so kind to their bodies for many, many years and it will take a good cleaning out to get certain digestive organs moving the right way. I’ve had clients tell me they only go to the bathroom (and I’m not talking pee here) once every 2-3 days. This is NOT healthy and a clear sign of extreme constipation which can lead to a long list of health problems. Besides the fact that these are the same people who feel bloated and lethargic all the time. Of course they feel bloated…they’ve got days worth of poopoo stuck in their system and it has to make its way out of their body.

The problem with most cleanses advertised in stores and on the internet is that almost all of them require a long list of supplements, powders or special drinks…most of which are really just all a hoax anyway. But I’ve seen many clients fall for these claims because they’re not only desperate to lose weight, they’re desperate to get their organs moving the right way…and yes I’m talking about poop again here.

This is where my friend Yuri comes in. Yesterday I told you about how I met Yuri at a conference and right away I could tell him and I both shared many of the same views when it comes to nutrition and health. It’s always so refreshing to meet another professional who is on the same page as me since our approach is a bit “unconventional” and even nicer when that professional is so willing to pass on helpful information.

I was so excited to hear about Yuri’s cleansing program, The Total Wellness Cleanse and he so kindly shared his entire program with me for my review.

What did I think of Yuri’s cleansing program?

What do you want first?

The good news or the bad news?

Ok, I’ll start with the good news since I’m a positive person.

By far, what I love about Yuri’s approach to cleansing the body is that he does it through food! That’s right – he’s not a fan of using silly supplements or “magic formulas” that promise miracles in just a few days but have no long-term promise. So not only do Yuri and I agree that pills are not the answer, the focus of his program is using real natural foods (certain foods in certain ways) to cleanse the body of the toxic sludge it may be holding on to. These are foods that are easy to make and readily accessible, so there is nothing complicated about it. I’ve known people to buy special shakes and crazy ingredients and spend half the day preparing their ridiculous concoctions just to clean out their systems. That’s just not realistic; especially in today’s times when we’ve got jam packed schedules and way too much to do every day.

The second thing I love about Yuri’s program is that he tells you exactly what you need to eat and drink at every meal of the day. There’s no guess work here. If you want to follow this cleanse, Yuri makes it super easy by giving you the step by step game plan…basically he lays it all out for you.

And no, it doesn’t just say snack on carrots and celery and drink some lemon water every now and again. There are real, delicious recipes included and part of each day. Recipes like Almond Sunflower Cereal, Rockin’ Moroccan Warm Salad, and Roasted Rosemary Sweet Potatoes make this cleanse tasty and easy to follow at the same time.

Between the meal plans, the recipes, the food lists and the incredibly helpful information on understanding cravings and addictions…Yuri makes cleansing as easy as can be.

“So Isabel what is the bad news?”

Ok, it’s not really bad news, per se, it’s more like Yuri and I do disagree on one point. Yuri is not a very big fan of animal meats (although he does say that if you’re going to eat it, go for the natural, grass fed, free range kind). I think protein is an essential component of weight loss and I have no problem including animal meats into my or my clients’ fat burning meal plans. Actually, in many cases it’s not only essential but it’s the missing link to many people’s fat burning efforts. If you’re not fueling your body with the right muscle building nutrients, you will have a hard time putting on fat burning muscle. So don’t be afraid of animal meats…of course, always choosing the most naturally raised meats possible.

But…in the case of cleansing I do believe Yuri has a point. When you are trying to rid your body of toxins and processed foods that may be backed up in your intestines and has been there for quite some time, minimizing the amount of animal proteins during this time (2-4 weeks) is a good idea. If you’re anything like 90% of the population and you only visit the old commode (toilet that is) less than twice a day, a good cleanse just might be in order. You’ll not only get your digestion working properly but you’ll also get rid of tons of GOOK that’s been accumulating in your intestines for years.

Even us healthy people (and I say us because I have been living the DSP lifestyle for over 10 years now) could use a good cleaning out sometimes. I remember 3 years ago when I did a very similar whole foods cleanse, the stuff that came out of my body was borderline frightening…but I’ll spare you those gory details (and when I say gory, I mean gory).

You can learn more about Yuri’s Total Wellness Cleanse here:

http://totalcleanse.thedsp.info

If you’re looking for a natural, safe way to get the old sludge and toxins out of your system, I highly recommend Yuri’s program, not only because it’s super effective but because Yuri makes cleansing an incredibly easy process and simple to follow.

http://totalcleanse.thedsp.info

As you may or may not know, things over here at the Diet Solution are always super busy (but that’s a good thing right?) Busy or not, one of my highest priorities every day is listening to my readers.

We read every single comment, email, and question that comes our way. It’s the best way I know to make sure that I’m always giving you the information you want and need.

Yes…we get plenty of specific food questions. But you know what else we get a lot of?

Digestion questions!

Oh yes…from food combining, to gas and bloating and even the taboo topic of constipation. While most of my readers have seen incredibly positive changes in their digestion when changing to the DSP way of eating, there still have been those who have gone through a bit of an adjustment period where their stomachs and intestines are yelling…

“Huh? What happened to the chips and sugar? What is this…fiber? What am I supposed to do with this?”

Remember, if you’ve been feeding your body the not so go stuff for many years, it may take a few days, even a few weeks for your body to clean out the bad stuff and let the good stuff nourish your body the right way.

But digestion issues can be a real pain…literally. There’s nothing worse than a bad stomach ache or gas and bloating (especially when you’re out in public…just not cool) and the worst of all…constipation…painful and uncomfortable to say the least.

I could write an entire book on constipation alone and have written several newsletters about it, but I just got done reading a very helpful report on how to improve digestion and intestinal health by a friend of mine – Yuri Elkaim. I met Yuri at a conference several months back and realized right away that we both follow many of the same non-conventional principles when it comes to nutrition. He had some pretty interesting information when it came to digestion and told me he would send me some more info.

In fact, he’s allowed me to share it with you and my other subscribers – for free! (something he’s never done before!)

http://tinyurl.com/DSPdigestion

This 27-page report reveals 9 powerful techniques to improve your digestion so that you can combat that bloated, gassy, and tired feeling, and even how to not feel excessively full after a meal ever again. (I personally loved the 3 Quick References Guides he’s provided – makes these principles so easy to remember and apply).

He also discusses

• how to end constipation for good.
• how to combine your foods for maximum nutrient absorption (a topic I myself am still learning a lot more about and appreciate his input on the subject).
• 3 specific nutrients that will keep your colon squeaky clean (and healthy).
• how to prevent (or overcome) 2 “intestinal” conditions that you may not even know you have.
• and so much more!

The report is a quick 10-15 minutes read, there’s no fluff, just great usable information:

http://tinyurl.com/DSPdigestion

Enjoy and I’ll be back tomorrow with some more great digestion info for you!

With the increased number of questions, emails and comments we’ve been getting here at the Diet Solution, I’ve decided to share a few valuable and f-r-e-e resources today that will be incredibly helpful to anyone suffering from any type of back pain.

I know it may be a little surprising to hear that a “Nutrition” website get questions about back pain, but so many people are not able to participate in any kind of an exercise program because they are limited by their back pain. This, of course, affects how easily and quickly they’re able to lose weight and they, then, come to us for some help.

This is also a topic that is quite near and dear to my heart because my husband, Stewart, has been battling back pain since his college years. Changing Stewart’s diet (as you are going to read below) has dramatically improved his back pain (not to mention his knee pain as well) and he would be the first to tell you that of all the things he has tried in the past, changing his eating habits has been the most effective and long lasting relief he’s ever gotten for his back and joints.

But before I share the exact lists of foods that will be the first step in you experiencing the same relief in your back pain, I want to give you the link to a f-r-e-e book that I think is one of the most important books I have ever read about living pain free.

The principles in this book are so simple and yet so critical to understand to make sure that you live your life without back pain, neck pain or any other type of physical pain.

The book is called “The 7 Day Back Pain Cure” and the author of the book Jesse Cannone, is actually giving it away right now for f-r-e-e for a limited time.

Check out what he’s doing and how you can get a copy by clicking on this link:

http://NoMoreBackPain.thedsp.info

And after you’ve grabbed your f-r-e-e book, be sure to read this important article by Steve Hefferon, from the Healthy Back Institute. I love how he gives a detailed chart on exactly which foods to eat and which foods to avoid to control inflammation. As a result, controlling inflammation will help to alleviate back pain. He also goes into some other great “lifestyle” tips that are absolutely necessary, not only for pain control, but healthy weight loss as well.

You can read the article here:

http://inflammationfoods.thedsp.info

Got that?

F-r-e-e Book on how to relieve Back Pain here:

http://NoMoreBackPain.thedsp.info

Awesome article on exactly which foods to eat and not eat to relieve back and joint pain here:

http://inflammationfoods.thedsp.info

I’m pretty used to people coming to my home and saying “Wow, this place is so super healthy. I can’t believe it,” but last week was the funniest.

As you may or may not know, it does take quite a few people to keep the Diet Solution Program running. Last week I had a bit of a “retreat” at my house where I invited 3 of our employees to come and work from my house and spend some time together.

I always try and be the “hostess with the mostess” and in my best Martha Stewart impression I asked “Can I get anyone anything? Some food or a drink?”

One of my employees replied, “Yes, I would love some juice please.”

As I did everything in my power to hold back the look of death, I said “We don’t have any juice. How about water or a tea?”

Without going through the entire conversation, this particular employee couldn’t believe there was no juice in the house. Moreover, she absolutely could not believe that my son does not drink juice and only drinks water (and yes, I did let her keep her job).

She has, of course, read and knows the DSP inside and out, but she admitted that she really didn’t believe that I completely lived my life that way until she saw it with her very own eyes.

But back to the juice…

Juice is one of those drinks that many people perceive as healthy, especially when it’s labeled natural or organic and it says it is made from all natural ingredients. Let me clear this up right now…Juice is NOT part of a healthy eating plan unless you are freshly squeezing it right in your kitchen with your own hands or through a juicer.

“But Isabel. My juice says its organic, natural, 100% juice with no sugar added. Is that ok?”

Well, I spent a significant amount of time reading the label of almost every single juice container, juice box, and juice product and they all came up the same…with tons of SUGAR. Read the label clearly and you will see that every gram of carbohydrate contained in the juice directly comes from sugar.

“But Isabel. All the carbs from fruit are from sugar too right?”

Yes, fruits are almost entirely sugar (coming from fructose), but a whole fruit also contains plenty of fiber and vitamins that are lost when you make a juice, bottle it and store it for any amount of time.

“But Isabel. My juice is fortified with calcium, Vit D and iron (or whatever they are fortifying juice with these days).”

When you “fortify” any food or drink with a vitamin and/or a mineral, your body is smart enough to know that this is not the real version of this particular nutrient. So much so, that it will choose not to use it. Yes, all of these fortified products are not giving you the vitamins and minerals you need. You must obtain these from natural sources like real fruits and vegetables (i.e. real food).

So if you’re a juice lover like many people are or have fallen for the “juice is healthy” trap, here are a few strategies to help you get your juice fix while simultaneously following a healthy eating plan.

1. Buy a quality juicer and make your own juice. There are so many different delicious and nutritious juices you can make in a juicer that will give you a super boost of vitamins/minerals and super nutrition. One of my favorite is carrot, apple and ginger. Be careful though! If you’re anything like me and sensitive to too much sugar at once, I would suggest having a serving of 4 oz or less or mixing your 4 oz with some water. I would also suggest juicing primarily vegetables and not as many fruits. This is a great way to get in some serious nutrition without having to eat vegetables all day long (a great option for children). I would also combine your fresh juice with a protein and healthy fat to keep your blood sugar balanced.

It is best to drink freshly made juice right away, as the longer it is stored, the more it will decline in nutrition. You can put your juice in a glass jar with an airtight lid and fill it to the very top. There should be a minimum amount of air in the jar as the oxygen in air (air is about 20 percent oxygen) will “oxidize” and damage the juice. Wrap the jar with aluminum foil to block out all light. Light damages the juice.

2. Make my favorite “tea juice“. If you haven’t seen this recipe in the Diet Solution Recipe Guide, here it is again:

5-6 bags caffeine-free herbal tea (e.g., peach, mint, chamomile, or fruit tea)

3 quarts boiling water

Stevia powder (or liquid) to taste

Pour water over tea bags in a large pot. Add stevia while tea is hot. (Adjust amount
according to the desired sweetness.)
Let the tea cool, remove tea bags, transfer tea to a serving pitcher or individual water bottles, and refrigerate.

3. Make your own DSP approved lemonade. My business partner loves this and drinks it almost daily (be careful if you’re sensitive to citrus or too much lemon.) Mix the juice from half a lemon, 5 drops of liquid stevia and 12oz of water in a large cup. Add more stevia or lemon based on your taste. This drink is a great alternative to people who need a bit more flavor than plain water all day.

So what did I end up serving my thirsty employee? Water! (And she bought juice when we went out to lunch). Oh well, I tried.