If you need a detox that presses the reset button on your gut health, the Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox does just that! Let’s talk about how to conquer it and live our best lives!
If the plant paradox diet or healing your gut is on your list of things to try this year, check this out!
Dr. Gundry created a diet and lifestyle program designed to promote gut-health and fight inflammation.
The Plant Paradox is a standard elimination diet to help you heal through food.
It is not a plant-based diet.
This post is about is all about how the detox works and what you can expect.
Plus a few tips from me and my Plant Paradox experience!
Read more for a full list of Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox “Yes List” foods.
Stay until the end for my BEST tip!
This post may contain affiliate links and I may earn a small commission when you click on the links and purchase at no additional cost to you.
What is the Plant Paradox and Why is it Important?
Steven R. Gundry, MD. wrote The Plant Paradox, The Hidden Dangers in “Healthy” Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain.
He talks about how the Standard American diet is the culprit behind chronic inflammation. An ailment most of us struggle with even before we recognize it!
If chronic inflammation goes unchecked it can lead to some of America’s most prevalent diseases!
Gundry discusses how seemingly small choices we make daily eventually lead to diseases like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease.
But as for his biggest claim…
Not all “healthy” foods are good for you.
I know, it shocked me too!
We eat healthy foods believing that they help us heal and lose weight, but the reality is that a lot of these healthy foods are actually doing more harm than good! Especially if your gut is compromised!
That is what makes it the Plant Paradox.
Gundry created a 3-phase program to help us repair and restore our gut health and it begins with Phase 1, the Detox.
Disclaimer: I am not a certified health professional. Any information presented here is for entertainment and educational purposes only. Read my full disclaimer here.
Why is the Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox Helpful?
Phase 1 is the detox phase of the Plant Paradox Lectin-Free diet. It helps you prepare your gut by starving the harmful bacteria that can cause inflammation in your body.
Dr. Gundry says to imagine your gut as an empty lot full of weeds. To turn that weed-infested lot into a thriving plot of land, you have to do what first?
That’s right!
Clear out the weeds! And the phase 1 detox does just that!
Your gut contains both good and bad bacteria.
But when you are experiencing inflammation, that is your sign that the bad bacteria are running the show.
Now you see why you can eat plenty of healthy foods and still not see the results you are looking for? No matter if you are trying to lose weight, reduce the pain and stiffness in your body, or increase your energy levels.
Your microbiome can be a completely different environment in just a few days but, you have to eliminate the foods that feed those harmful bacteria!
While the 6-week Plant Paradox program will give you the best results long term, the detox on its own holds tons of benefits!
What Can I Eat During The 3-Day Plant Paradox Detox?
You can find a list of foods for the entire Plant Paradox Diet on Dr. Gundry’s “Yes Please” List by clicking Here.
But what do we eat during phase 1?
Your main foods will consist of the following for the next three days.
- Leafy Green Vegetables
- Cruciferous Vegetables
- Garlic, Onions, Leeks, and Chives
- Avocados (1 per day)
- Herbs
- Wild-Caught Fish
- Shellfish
- Pasture-Raised Chicken (4 oz per serving)
- Hemp Tofu
- Quorn Products (Chik’n Tenders, Ground, Chik’n Cutlets, Turk’y Roast, Bacon-Style Slices)
- Avocado Oil, Macadamia Nut Oil, Walnut Oil (Avoid Extra Virgin Olive Oil until week two of Phase 2)
- Nuts (No peanuts or cashews.)
- Lemon Juice
- Vinegar
- Mustard
- Coffee, Black or Green Tea
- Stevia or Just like Sugar (chicory root)
Download The Phase 1 Detox “Yes List” by Clicking the Link Below.
It’s not too hefty of a list compared to what is available once you make it to phase 2. But it does make it simple when it comes to meal planning!
Print it out! Stick it on your fridge, screenshot it in your phone, just so you don’t have to keep referring to the book about what you can and can’t eat.
When I was on the 3-day detox, I misunderstood the assignment and made Ralph’s breakfast scramble with pasture-raised eggs, but hey! I still had pretty good results in the end.
Since this is an elimination diet the main goal is to avoid eating the foods that aren’t going to help!
Which means staying away from the foods on the no list.
You can find Dr. Gundry’s “No” List Here.
Now that you know what you can and can’t eat during these 3 days, here are some things to keep in mind!
The Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox is optional.
While the detox will challenge you the most during the program, the results are worth it! You do not need to do the detox to see results,
However,
I recommend you at least try it out!
In my post about the steps you need to take before taking on the Plant Paradox, I mention creating an “out plan”.
Plan a meal that will help you transition if you decide that the detox is too much for you. This is the best way to change your eating habits without leaving your body in a state of shock!
Plan a meal that will help you transition if you decide that the detox is too much.
Kayla Sharee, Tending Your Transformation
I saw results so fast after the three-day detox.
I was down 5 pounds already, out of the total 20 pounds I lost, which inspired me to keep going!
I had broken my sugar addiction, my clothes felt looser, and I even began to crave healthier food.
All that work I had done to starve my gut of the bad bacteria made me excited to get to phase two just so I could seal the deal.
I still eat a few phase one meals here and there to help reset my body.
Get the Cookbook and Make Your Own Meal Plan.
I cannot stress this enough!
You will not survive the detox if you don’t plan your meals yourself. Only you know what you like, and quite frankly, the phase 1 meal plan in the original book is bland.
Yes, I said it, BLAND.
And it doesn’t have to be. Not when you have access to all seasonings and herbs! Gundry is a doctor, not a chef. You should add your own special touch to some meals.
The Plant Paradox Cookbook has delicious meals adaptable for every phase! The Plant Paradox Family Cookbook is great if you plan on cooking for lots of people!
It was the book I first started out with. It’s the perfect resource to help you get creative and make a meal plan you can be excited about.
Creative in My Kitchen has a fantastic meal plan for Phase 1 you can find it HERE.
Also, keep in mind the time it takes to make each meal. Your energy will spike once you reach phase 2 but, the withdrawal from sugar will have you feeling a little sluggish!
You Will Feel Hangry Despite Eating All Day Long.
When I tell you, you will be eating all day, I mean it!
Before the detox, I used to skip breakfast and not eat until 1-2 pm most days. Then I started on the Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox and it whipped my gut into shape!
I was ready for breakfast at 9 am by day 2.
When you start your detox, you will eat meals with whole foods and vegetables that are delicious and very filling. But I guarantee even after a full meal, you will still want that dinner and the snacks!
Not only will you be eating every meal, but you will still be “hangry”.
At least for the first 3 or so days. This is because your body is going through withdrawal from all the sugary, greasy, unhealthy foods that it’s used to having.
You may be irritable, have headaches, and still feel slightly “hungry” after recently eating.
It’s all part of the process, it’s your brain’s way of telling you that it’s craving those dopamine-increasing foods!
Tip: Drinking lots of water and even green, black, or herbal teas can help to curb some of the cravings.
A Food Processor Will Save Your Life.
In the Plant Paradox Cookbook, Gundry recommends a food processor as one of your kitchen staples.
I have to admit, I started to pinch pennies when I saw my grocery bill increasing from all the new ingredients.
But I wish I’d invested in a good food processor from the beginning! I had a small one from Kroger that barely fit a stalk of celery. I recently upgraded mine to the Kitchen Aid 13-Cup Food Processor and it is saving me so much time and money!
Chopping the vegetables takes up tons of time, and pre-chopped vegetables are expensive and rot almost immediately!
When it comes to these recipes, it will help you get in and out of the kitchen so much faster!
It comes with multiple attachments that slice the vegetables in a few different ways. It slices heads of cabbage, celery, onions in just seconds. Saving time is crucial when you are responsible for making every meal 3 times per day.
Take the “Gentle Laxative” At Your Own Risk.
Gundry recommends taking a “gentle laxative” on the first day of the Phase 1 detox to help the process along. This is an optional step.
In the book, he recommends Swiss Kriss, a gentle herbal laxative only for the first day of phase 1.
I recommend you definitely know your body and how it responds to laxatives before deciding to do this. I’m not sure how it works for everyone else, but with all of these veggies, I definitely didn’t need it!
Take Supplements That You Are Comfortable With.
While I’m positive that they work just fine and give you a little extra oomph!
The supplements Gundry markets are not necessary to succeed on the plant paradox! However, it can be difficult to diversify our diet enough to get the full range of nutrients we need. So add in supplements here and there as you see fit.
If you suffer from IBS, autoimmune disease, or leaky gut, Gundry recommends adding in any of these supplements during phase 1.
- Oregon Grape Root Extract (Berberine)
- Grapefruit Seed Extract (NOT Grape Seed extract)
- Mushrooms or Mushroom Extracts
- Fungi & Parasite Killing Spices (Cinnamon, black pepper, cloves, wormwood)
But he recommends everyone take.
***These links are the best supplements at the lowest price point from healthline.com.
If you take any of these make it Magnesium! Magnesium was the only one of these supplements that was new to me and I felt brand new after adding it to my regimen.
Plan on Going to Bed Earlier.
Yes, sleep is part of the program. We love a well-rounded health journey!
Make sure you get your 8 hours in! This is especially true if you are a late-night snacker!
Yep, you know who you are. And I’m right there with you.
The three-day detox will have your cravings through the roof! Creating a solid sleep schedule will save you from night cravings. Plus, your body will thank you for giving it the time to do the work it needs to heal.
Step Into A Healing Mindset.
As with anything in life, you will not succeed if you do not embody the right mindset!
With any food journey, you have to stop and check your mindset.
Why are you doing this?
It’s more than losing weight. When you are doing any cleanse or detox, you are looking to heal!
Throughout this program, you have to keep in mind the WHY.
Why did you choose The Plant Paradox? What about your body led you to it? What convinced you that you could do it? How do you imagine yourself feeling after?
Write it on your mirror, on a vision board, or better yet, leave a sticky note on your fridge! The more you heal your gut, the better your brain can function, and the better quality of life you can live!
Enjoyed this Post?
Subscribe for Updates from Tending Your Transformation!
[…] BUT The meals are a little outdated, and a lot of them can be kind of bland! Especially the Phase 1 Recipes!Read More: How To Conquer The Plant Paradox Phase 1 Detox! […]