Recently I was diagnosed with adult onset diabetes with a heart complication. My alternative doctor wanted me to change my diet and try to manage/reverse the condition that way. So I tried the Paleo diet but after a week, it was clear that it really wasn’t the right approach for me.
A friend told me about JJ Virgin and sent me her newest book, The Virgin Diet. As soon as I read the cover and JJ’s theory and approach, I was hooked.
It just made so much sense to me! She recommends eliminating the 7 high inflammatory foods out of our diet for 21 days to give us time to heal, repair and rebalance.
Inflammation is the underlying cause of most all our ailments, diseases, aches and pains. And most of our inflammation is started in our gut and digestive track.
Then, after the elimination period, we reintroduce them one food category at a time one per week to discover how our body reacts to them. If they cause no symptoms, then yea! We can eat that. Our body tolerates it well.
If they DO cause a reaction (bloating, gas, painful joints, blood sugar spikes, headaches, etc), then our body is telling us in no uncertain terms that that it’s not okay with that food yet. Remove it from your diet for another 3 – 6 months, then try it again.
The recipes are easy and delicious, I’m eating better than I have in a long time, most all my cravings for sweets have gone.
My chronic fatigue is improved. My memory is sharper. I feel stronger. My vision is clearer. My blood sugar is almost normal now.
AND, I’ve effortlessly dropped almost 15 pounds in only 5 weeks. What’s not to like about this diet?
I highly recommend this book and JJ’s approach. She’s awesome! Check it out:
And let me know what you think. Leave a comment below:
I couldn’t find much on what she recommends eating. After years of studying nutrition, the one thing that made the biggest difference is the type and amount of fats consumed. Interaction between fats and cereal grains affect our levels of insulin and leptin, both of which affect our ability to stay healthy and reduce inflammation.
There is controversy on the Paleo diet; clinical results suggest that it is most beneficial to people who are immuno-compromised, are older or have some clinical signs of a nervous system syndrome that implicates inflammation, like Multiple Sclerosis. I am not convinced that it is of benefit to younger people or people without clinical signs of nervous system inflammation.
I couldn’t find much on what she recommends eating. After years of studying nutrition, the one thing that made the biggest difference is the type and amount of fats consumed. Interaction between fats and cereal grains affect our levels of insulin and leptin, both of which affect our ability to stay healthy and reduce inflammation.
There is controversy on the Paleo diet; clinical results suggest that it is most beneficial to people who are immuno-compromised, are older or have some clinical signs of a nervous system syndrome that implicates inflammation, like Multiple Sclerosis. I am not convinced that it is of benefit to younger people or people without clinical signs of nervous system inflammation.
I certainly agree regarding your assessment of the Paleo diet, however, the Virgin Diet is very different. It is about eliminating the foods that cause inflammation in the body. It’s not about fats, grains, etc – it’s about eating healthy high quality foods that don’t cause inflammation and all the other illnesses so many people suffer from.
JJ Virgin has included exactly what to eat in the book, in a lot of detail. Her recipes and protocol are well thought out and explained, the foods are excellent, delicious and the diet (lifestyle plan) is easy to follow. I invite you to get the book and see for yourself!
Val
I certainly agree regarding your assessment of the Paleo diet, however, the Virgin Diet is very different. It is about eliminating the foods that cause inflammation in the body. It’s not about fats, grains, etc – it’s about eating healthy high quality foods that don’t cause inflammation and all the other illnesses so many people suffer from.
JJ Virgin has included exactly what to eat in the book, in a lot of detail. Her recipes and protocol are well thought out and explained, the foods are excellent, delicious and the diet (lifestyle plan) is easy to follow. I invite you to get the book and see for yourself!
Val
A raving fan of JJ Virgin for years, I was thrilled to get into her newest book, “TheVirgin Diet”. I was very surprised at the number of items I found when cleaning out my cupboards and refrigerator that were eliminated. Now I can easily assemble healthy foods from everything that is on-hand. While my friends thought I was crazy to be so strict the first 3 weeks in particular, they noticed that I looked better and thinner. Glad you you too are enjoying the healthy treats. Yes, kale chips are tasty. Who knew?
A raving fan of JJ Virgin for years, I was thrilled to get into her newest book, “TheVirgin Diet”. I was very surprised at the number of items I found when cleaning out my cupboards and refrigerator that were eliminated. Now I can easily assemble healthy foods from everything that is on-hand. While my friends thought I was crazy to be so strict the first 3 weeks in particular, they noticed that I looked better and thinner. Glad you you too are enjoying the healthy treats. Yes, kale chips are tasty. Who knew?
Val, I am reading JJ’s book and find a lot to like about this diet. I plan to start next Wednesday after company over the weekend. I have already eliminated peanuts – did not replace when I ran out – and don’t miss them. And I had been having a lot of gas and without peanuts that has largely disappeared.
It will be very interesting to see how I do without the other 7 foods for the 21 day elimination period and which of the foods I can add back to my diet. My blood sugar has been running higher than I like recently I was diagnosed with type II diabetes back in 2005 and have never taken meds for it. Recently I got a bit careless with the sweets so this make sense to me.
I love the idea of shakes for breakfast. I love meal replacement shakes.
Her approach makes so much sense – the more I read the book the more hopeful I become that I too will lose the weight and feel better.
Val, I am reading JJ’s book and find a lot to like about this diet. I plan to start next Wednesday after company over the weekend. I have already eliminated peanuts – did not replace when I ran out – and don’t miss them. And I had been having a lot of gas and without peanuts that has largely disappeared.
It will be very interesting to see how I do without the other 7 foods for the 21 day elimination period and which of the foods I can add back to my diet. My blood sugar has been running higher than I like recently I was diagnosed with type II diabetes back in 2005 and have never taken meds for it. Recently I got a bit careless with the sweets so this make sense to me.
I love the idea of shakes for breakfast. I love meal replacement shakes.
Her approach makes so much sense – the more I read the book the more hopeful I become that I too will lose the weight and feel better.
I’ve been on the diet just over 3 weeks now. I lost 5 pounds the first week and a total of 10 pounds the first three weeks. The best part for me is that my blood sugar came right down close to normal range the first 10 days and has remained there and gone lower. It is now testing in normal range all the time which is wonderful.
The first couple of weeks were pretty rough but it gets easier.
I love shakes for one and often two meals a day. It is wonderful not to bother with cooking.
I am now in phase II where I challenge some of the foods I have eliminated. I am testing wheat this week and so far so good.
I’ve been on the diet just over 3 weeks now. I lost 5 pounds the first week and a total of 10 pounds the first three weeks. The best part for me is that my blood sugar came right down close to normal range the first 10 days and has remained there and gone lower. It is now testing in normal range all the time which is wonderful.
The first couple of weeks were pretty rough but it gets easier.
I love shakes for one and often two meals a day. It is wonderful not to bother with cooking.
I am now in phase II where I challenge some of the foods I have eliminated. I am testing wheat this week and so far so good.