Eat to Live: The Lifestyle Edition [Week 1 Day1]

So, that long awaited day has finally arrived.
It is now time to start this diet which could change how I live my life!

As discussed with Dr. Benson, the first 3 weeks are going to be the most restrictive part of the diet...aka, the "Elimination Diet." The idea behind the Elimination Diet is where we can create a baseline of the foods that don't aggravate inflammatory symptoms, then after a while, we start introducing different kinds of food (a little at a time) to find out if a particular food item can or cannot worsen the arthritis. When introducing a food item, it would take about 2-3 days to notice a difference in how it affects my body. And introducing food items should be done one at a time. I'm totally looking forward to the 4th week because the Elimination Diet is really really restrictive and super hard!

Elimination Diet Protocol:

• AVOID: gluten (wheat, barley, rye), oats, dairy, meats, eggs, poultry, seafood, all nuts, soy, citrus fruits, corn, nightshade vegetables (white/red potato, peppers, tomatoes, eggplant), celery, sesame seeds, parsnips, coriander, and parsley.
• Avoid salt and high sodium foods
• Avoid oils 
• Avoid sweeteners (sugar, artificial sweeteners, agave, honey, high fructose corn syrup, etc.)
• Avoid other processed foods such as foods with white flour (cookies, cakes, crackers, white bread, bagels, etc.), white rice, rice cakes, etc.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and fruit juices
• Use anti-inflammatory herbs for seasoning food such as turmeric, cumin, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary, marjoram, basil, ginger, cilantro, thyme, dill, etc.
• Fresh or frozen vegetables and fruit are all acceptable.
• Eat raw, unsalted seeds (1-2 handfuls permitted daily with meals)
• May eat avocado (1/2 permitted daily with meals)
• Cook all mushrooms (even lightly steamed is acceptable)

This is pretty much what I had today:

BREAKFAST

-Mango

-Water

LUNCH:

- Mango/spinach smoothie

- Watermelon

- Apple

DINNER:

- Steamed vegetables with mushrooms

- Carrot juice

- Cucumber slices in vinegar & black pepper

...this is ONLY day 1!! AHHH!!! 

Prayin for strength! :]