Drink minimal fluid with meals.  When too much fluid is taken with food, gastric enzymes can become diluted which will interfere with digestion.  If small amounts of fluids are to be taken with foods it is strongly recommended that you avoid sodas, carbonated beverages, alcohol, coffee and juice.  Water is the beverage of choice.

Increase your water intake to 8-10, 8 oz. glasses daily.  Next to the air you breathe, water is the substance that is most essential for sustaining your life.  Tap water in most communities is filled with so many chemicals and additives that it is not considered safe for the human body unless it is filtered and purified. 

It is best to avoid drinking tap water.  If your drinking water comes from a well or a spring, it is wise to have the water tested.  Many have been contaminated by chemicals in the soil from farming practices, floods or industrial waste run-offs.  It is also wise to drink your water at room temperature.  Cold water can diminish the production of digestive enzymes and alter the PH of your saliva, which can interfere with proper digestion.

Avoid food with toxic contents. It is essential to eat foods of the highest quality that are organically grown, free of hormones, chemicals and pesticides, and if possible, locally sourced.  Such foods contain more nutrients as the soil contains higher levels of minerals.  Cleansing toxins helps restore normal functioning of your gastrointestinal mucosa and enzymes. 

Processed foods contain additives, preservatives and toxic residues that are difficult for your body to process.  These non-live foods cannot be broken down by your body.  Instead, toxin levels will increase in your tissue.  This often creates excessive acidity that can interfere with the nutrient and mineral balance of your cells and fosters congestion in your lymphatic drainage system. 

Most of the healthiest foods you eat should not need a label that lists contents you cannot pronounce. By avoiding these types of “dead” foods, your body will thank you.

Increase your intake of vegetables.  Most vegetables are alkaline and contain lots of water.  Increasing your intake will help you to cleanse your body and reduce the acidity in your tissues that have been created by stress and poor foods.  It is best to eat as wide a variety as possible.

It is important to eat several large servings of vegetables daily.  Because of their healthy alkaline makeup, there is no limit to the amount that you can consume daily. 

It is important to only eat them steamed, baked or cooked. Steaming until they are tender, yet still brightly colored, enables them to retain high levels of nutrients and are easiest for your system to digest.  In comparison, when vegetables are cooked in water, a great deal of their nutrient value is lost.  When steaming, use stainless steel cookware or glass, avoiding Teflon or coated cookware as the coating can contaminate the food.  Avoid using the microwave.  Studies have shown microwaving breaks vital chemical bonds in foods.  The electromagnetic radiation that leaks from most microwave ovens during cooking can also be harmful.

You can eat some raw vegetables so long as they do not adversely affect your digestion.  In time, more raw vegetables can be added.  Once your system has become cleansed, strengthened and revitalized, your digestive mucosa and enzymes become normalized.  Digesting these healthy foods will become easier.

Eat Ripe Fruit in Season. Because of their high water and nutrient content, fruits are very cleansing and easy to digest.  It is best to consume fruits that are ripe and in season.  Eat one to two pieces in the morning as they are best consumed on an empty stomach.  Studies have shown that when eaten in the evening, fermentation occurs during the night.

Avoid combining fruits with other foods, particularly animal protein.  Melons are best eaten alone.  Due to the high acidic nature, citrus fruits such as tomatoes, oranges and grapefruit should be avoided.  Lemons are the exception.

Decrease your intake of animal products to reduce excess protein and acidity that has accumulated in your connective tissues.  In the book, Diet for a New America, John Roberts lists meats and dairy products as the foods containing the greatest levels of toxic substances.  They are also the most difficult to digest. By reducing your intake of these foods, you can help your body to relieve lymphatic congestion and reduce its excessive acidity.

Fish (particularly deep sea fish such as salmon), organic chicken and turkey can be eaten several times weekly in small amounts.  Avoid eating shellfish because they can contain greater amounts of toxins.  The healthiest ways to cook these foods is to bake, steam or broil them.