Foods To Avoid During This Phase

We recommend avoiding this list in its entirety during a true “detox” period regardless of your eating habits outside of a structured “detox” period. Please eliminate for at least 21 days:

  • Any food that you know you are allergic/sensitive or have an intolerance
  • Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt, butter), margarine, shortening 
  • Grains, including all gluten-containing grains, but also corn, rice, and other “gluten-free” flours
  • “Gluten-free” pre-packaged foods like pastas, baking/pancake mixes, breads, etc. (Any boxed, canned, wrapped, packaged, or processed foods)
  • Tomatoes and tomato sauces and all nightshades (including potato [sweet potatoes are not a nightshade], eggplant, and peppers) unless prepared very specifically per the EPIC Lectin-Preparation Guidelines
  • For a comprehensive list of nightshades, please check out: https://www.phoenixhelix.com/2013/06/23/nightshade-free-survival-guide/
  • Peanuts and most nuts and seeds unless prepared very specifically per the EPIC Lectin-Preparation Guidelines or specifically allowed otherwise
  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine (1-2 cups black coffee and black teas approved)
  • Special Note About Coffee: Almost 100% of the coffee sold in the USA is contaminated with a poison called Ochratoxin-A, or OTA. OTA toxicity has been shown to be related to kidney failure, neurological diseases, and immunological disruption (as in Autoimmune activation, e.g.). Every other country in the world has OTA limits set in their food guidelines - but not the USA. One brand that tests for OTA (and other impurities) is Bulletproof, so if you are drinking coffee, please be sure to use this brand. If this is unavailble, choose Organic, Single-Farm, Mountain Top, South/Central American brands and the OTA will be at least limited.
  • Sweeteners (sugar, corn sugar, natural/organic sugar, honey, agave, HFCS (high fructose corn syrup), syrups, and sugar-alcohols (like erythritol, mannitol, etc.) as well as any and all artificial sweeteners like Splenda (sucralose), Equal (aspartame), and Saccharine (how is this product even legal to buy?)
  • Stevia and Monk Fruit sweeteners may be allowed in small amounts, but please know these may cause some GI-upset/loose BM’s/gas/bloating
  • Soy products
  • All legumes unless prepared very specifically per the EPIC Lectin-Preparation Guidelines
  • Beef, pork, conventional/preserved cold cuts (e.g., Oscar Mayer), preserved bacon, hot dogs, canned meat, sausage or processed meats, vegetarian meat substitutes
  • Fried food 
  • Breaded food
  • Dried fruit as well as fruit and vegetable juices (certain home-made vegetable juices are fine, like celery)
  • Fruits, in general, other than the berries listed and even then in smaller quantities (Keep at least under 30 g of sugar daily from all food sources total)
  • Industrial/processed oils including (but not limited to): margarine, hydrogenated oil, partially hydrogenated oil, shortening, vegetable oil, rapeseed oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, soybean oil, peanut oil, cottonseed oil, and corn oil.



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