All Recipes/ Articles and Guides/ Cleanse and detox/ Latest Posts/ Popular Guides

3-Day Gut Cleanse. An Easy Plant Paradox Meal Plan to Reset Your Gut

A Three Day Plant Paradox Cleanse Guide

If all disease begins in the gut, where does healing start? This 3-day gut cleanse plant paradox meal plan will reset the balance of your microbiome and help you kickstart the healing process. During these three days, you will eat not only nutritious food but food that is delicious and satisfying.

Can a 3-day gut cleanse reset your microbiome?

It’s not your fault that you are sick, tired, or overweight. 

The bad bacteria in your gut have hijacked the relationship between your microbiome and your brain, making you crave the foods they need: sugars, unhealthy fats, junk food, and fast food. Generally called “dysbiosis”, which means an imbalance in your gut, this happens when your bad gut bacteria take over the good bacteria. 

To re-establish the balance of your microbiome and give your digestive system a chance to reset, you need to feed your gut with the food that the bad guys don’t like but that the good guys thrive on.

Studies have shown that a 3-day gut cleanse can completely change the bacteria that inhabit your gut. However, the same studies have shown that the good guys leave within ten days of reverting to old dietary habits, making space for the bad guys again. (L. Thompson, Ph.D. – What Does a Three-Day Dietary Cleanse Do to Your Gut Microbiome?)

So, while the 3-day cleanse is exceptionally efficient at resetting your microbiome and kickstarting your healing journey, you will have to stick to clean eating habits and healthy lifestyle choices to improve your health and maintain vitality. 

All disease begins in the gut.

Hippocrates

What to expect from this 3-day gut cleanse meal plan?

While I’d love to tell you that all your health problems will magically disappear in these three days, that would not be true. Each person will react differently, depending on their current health status.

Some will feel the benefits immediately: weight loss (mostly water), lower inflammation, fewer GI symptoms, less pain, more energy and clarity of mind, and a stronger immune system.

I did feel all these when I started the plant paradox in August 2017. However, I also had episodes of sugar withdrawal symptoms: mostly weakness and dizziness. Hang in there; all this will pass.

Move your body during this gut cleanse, but please don’t do any strenuous physical activity. Walking in nature, light yoga, Thai chi will benefit you the most.

If you feel dizzy or weak, drink plenty of water with added salt or electrolytes. I can’t stress enough how important it is to drink enough water. Your body will eliminate toxins during these days, and you want them flushed out of your body, not recirculated into your system. And that requires proper hydration.

If you feel hungry, you can eat more food from the approved list, but keep the animal protein to 8oz max a day and have a maximum of one avocado a day. Also, keep the nuts to 1/4 cup a day.

Boring (and not so healthy) cleanses

The problem with short-term cleanses is that they are boring and leave you so sad and unsatisfied that you will not want to continue after three days. I cringe when I see the boring salads with green lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, and peppers, and maybe some grated carrots and a side of rice crackers as the ultimate “detox food.”  

The food you will eat during this 3-day plant paradox gut cleanse is not only healthy but tasty and satisfying. It’s real, nutritious food that will give your body the nutrients it needs to kickstart the healing process.

While you might still experience some form of sugar withdrawal, depending on your addiction level, you will feel like eating healthy is not that bad, and you will want to continue that way, especially if you have a strong motivation for regaining or maintaining your health. 

What is the plant paradox?

The plant paradox is a healthy lifestyle guideline created by Dr. Steven Gundry, outlined in the book The Plant Paradox – The Hidden Dangers in Healthy Foods That Cause Disease and Weight Gain, published in April 2017. The lifestyle is constructed on a few premises:

  1. Lectins, large proteins found in plants and animals, can cause toxic or inflammatory reactions. Gluten is a type of lectin. Avoiding lectins, at least for a while, will help heal leaky gut and restore the balance in your gut. 
  2. Sugar and seed oils are highly inflammatory. 
  3. You are what you eat, ate. Animals not fed a natural diet and raised in natural conditions appropriate to their specie are not a good source of protein. 
  4. Other health disruptors are wreaking havoc in your body, and your exposure to them should be limited as much as possible. They are antibiotics, NSAIDs, stomach-acid blockers, artificial sweeteners, endocrine disruptors found in cosmetic and cleaning products, artificial fragrances, heavy metals found in food and water, and pesticides. Toxic packaging and cooking ware are a source of endocrine disruptors and heavy metals.

When you do a gut cleanse, do your best to detox from all the disruptors, not only unhealthy food. 

For a complete understanding of the role lectins play in gut health, and why the plant paradox is a solid foundation for a healthy lifestyle, I recommend reading the book. 

So, what’s on the menu (the ‘YES please’ foods)

Back to the 3 day gut reset cleanse; what’s on the menu? While I will give you plenty of suggestions for meals and preparation methods, you can personalize this plan, as long as you stick to the below list of foods. 

This 3-day gut cleanse is a 100% whole foods based cleanse. Prioritize organic, locally grown, best quality produce and animal protein you can get. 

From a macros perspective, this 3-day gut cleanse is:

  • high in fiber and prebiotic foods
  • moderate in complex carbohydrates (all the vegetables are carbs)
  • low in protein
  • high in anti-inflammatory foods
  • moderate fat (healthy fats)
  • low in calorie
  • nutritionally dense

While calorie counting is not part of the plant paradox program (on the contrary) – the cleanses are based on the premise that a regular, short-term, calorie-restricted cleanse has enormous benefits for your mitochondria. You can read more about a 5-day fast-mimicking cleanse in this article:

This cleanse is also Whole30 compliant.

Protein

  • Pasture-raised chicken and wild-caught salmon (maximum 8oz a day, weighted cooked).
  • Your best bet to find pasture-raised chicken is local farms or health grocery stores. Otherwise, check this article for more information on pasture-raised chicken and where to find it. If you can’t find wild-caught salmon, small, wild-caught fish, like sardines, is an option, even if they are canned.
  • Avoid fish high in mercury, such as tuna. 
  • Vegan options: mushrooms, hemp seeds, asparagus

Vegetables, fruits, herbs, and spices 

  • Cruciferous vegetables are high on the priority list. Have any type of cabbage, bok choy, broccoli, broccolini, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, or mustard greens. 
  • Any type of lettuce, and green leaves vegetables like Swiss chard, chard, spinach, dandelion
  • The chicory family: Belgian endives, curly endive, frisée, radicchio
  • Other non-starchy vegetables: asparagus, artichokes, jicama, garlic, all types of onion, okra, kohlrabi
  • Fruits: avocado, lime, and lemons (no other fruit is allowed for the 3-day cleanse)
  • Others: mushrooms, seaweed
  • All herbs: thyme, rosemary, oregano, mint, parsley, cilantro, etc
  • Spices: keep it simple; you can use good quality spices such as peppercorns, coriander, turmeric, ginger, cumin
  • Salt: generously use a good quality salt naturally rich in iodine and other trace minerals, like Himalayan pink salt and Redmond real sea salt. You can also use a good quality iodized sea salt (without dextrose or other fillers). You need salt because when you remove all processed foods, you will remove the main source of salt in your diet. 
  • Fermented foods like sauerkraut or fermented mixed vegetables

Fats, oils, seeds, and nuts

  • Avocados and olives are great sources of healthy fats for the 3-day cleanse.
  • Kalamata olives tend to be the best choice as they usually don’t have seed oils or preservatives added. Go for a jar version, where you can read the ingredients instead of the olive bar. 
  • Use avocado oil, coconut oil, macadamia nut oil, sesame seed oil, MCT oil, perilla oil, hemp seeds oil, extra virgin olive oil
  • Nuts are only approved as a snack if you need something between meals, but only 1/4 cup. 
  • Hemp seeds are allowed and are a great addition to all your meals, especially if you are doing a vegan version of this cleanse. 

Seasonings and condiments

  • You can use any of the above oils, herbs, spices, apple cider vinegar, or another good quality vinegar.

Beverages

  • Drink about 100oz (3 liters) of filtered, mineral, or spring water daily. You can drink warm water or room temperature water, but avoid drinking iced or cold water.
  • You can drink black coffee, tea, and herbal teas.
  • Green smoothies are your breakfast if you decide not to fast. 

Supplements

I prefer you take supplements based on your particular deficiencies, but there are a few general ones you can look into or continue to take during this cleanse. A good prebiotic probiotic supplement will help support your good gut bacteria. Magnesium will prevent you from having cramps, and electrolytes will keep you properly hydrated. Vitamin D3 + K2 is always a good idea, especially if you are doing this cleanse in the winter or live in a place where you don’t have much sun exposure. Also, a good quality fish oil with a high amount of DHA per serving size (above 500mg) is essential.

Don’t take any of these supplements on an empty stomach. Best to take them with or after meals.

An avocado split in two halfs

What’s OFF the menu (the ‘NO please’ foods)

While some of these foods are included in the plant paradox lifestyle, they are OFF the menu for the 3-day cleanse:

  • all processed and packaged foods
  • eggs
  • dairy
  • fruits, other than the ones on the YES list above
  • all starchy vegetables
  • all vegetables from the nightshade family
  • all legumes and beans
  • all grains and pseudo-grains
  • all high lectins and gluten foods
  • all inflammatory vegetable oils
  • all sugars and sweeteners
  • while very healthy, starchy vegetables like sweet potatoes should be kept off the menu for these three days

Suggested meal plan for 3-day plant paradox cleanse

Day 1 meals

  • Day 1 Breakfast: Green smoothie 
  • Day 1 Lunch: Salmon with capers-lemon sauce with roasted Brussel sprouts on a bed of lettuce
  • Day 1 Dinner: Chicken with roasted cauliflower and garlic, with Romaine’s hearts

Day 2 meals

  • Day 2 Breakfast: Green smoothies 
  • Day 2 Lunch: Avocado and salmon boats with arugula and broccolini (or leftover roasted veggies)
  • Day 2 Dinner: Buddha bowl with chicken, Swiss chard, cabbage salad, and avocado

Day 3 meals

  • Day 3 Breakfast: Green smoothie
  • Day 3 Lunch: A big bowl of salad with greens, veggies, and leftover chicken
  • Day 3 Dinner: Turmeric cauliflower rice with mushrooms and salmon

Vegan meals suggestions:

  • replace animal protein with mushrooms, hemp seeds, and add more vegetables to your meals
  • Sprinkle hemp seeds on all your meals

Planning, meal preparation, and storing: cooking fish and chicken

While you can freshly cook your animal protein every day, it’s also ok to batch cook it if you have limited time and want to save your energy for other things.

You can cook your fish on the first day of the cleanse, before lunch, and have warm fish for lunch. Then you batch-cook the chicken before dinner and have chicken for dinner.

Please use only cast iron, ceramic coated, glass, or stainless steel for cooking. Don’t use non-stick cookware or anything that has scratches on it.

Save the remaining two servings of fish and chicken and store them in air-tight glass containers in the fridge. Both chicken and fish can be reheated, mixed with other meals, or eaten cold.

You can also store leftovers of roasted, steamed, or sauteed vegetables if you have some left.

In the next two days, you will have lunch and dinner made with the leftover salmon and chicken in different combinations with the vegetables on the YES list or the ones I suggest in the shopping list below.

You can just throw everything in a big bowl of salad and call it a day. This plan allows for a lot of flexibility, and you can adapt it to suit your lifestyle.

Make sure you pick three days when you don’t have important work projects, events, visitors, or social events planned.

Remember that health is not all about food. Practice mindfulness, meditation, yoga, or whatever makes your soul happy. Eat slowly and chew well. Be grateful. Connect with nature. Sleep well.

Your breakfast. The green smoothie recipe

The green smoothie will be your breakfast for the three days. You can use my green smoothie recipe – Green Dream, the Plant Paradox Smoothie. For the 3-day gut cleanse, I would skip the coconut oil and replace it with MCT oil.

I recommend making it fresh every morning, but if you don’t have time, you can prepare a double or a triple portion at once.

Ingredients for the green smoothie in a blender
Two jars with the green smoothie

You can check my store with plant paradox pantry items here

Shopping list

Considering all my recommendations for meals, these are the main items that you can include in your shopping list:

  • 12oz wild-caught salmon
  • 12oz pastured chicken
  • One avocado for each day
  • One romaine lettuce for each day
  • Cabbage, any type (I prefer purple because it adds some color)
  • Swiss shard
  • Portobello mushrooms or other mushrooms (as sides or to replace the animal protein if plant-based)
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Asparagus
  • Cauliflower
  • Artichokes
  • Broccolini or broccoli
  • Mixed olives (that are not marinated in non-compliant oils)
  • Arugula
  • Red onions
  • Garlic
  • Iodized sea salt
  • Avocado oil
  • Grass-fed ghee (optional, can be replaced by avocado oil)
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • A good quality vinegar
  • Lemons (organic if you want to use the zest)
  • Limes
  • Capers

Recipe: Salmon with capers-lemon sauce

Cut a 12 oz wild-caught king salmon fillet into three equal portions, or use 3 fillets. Cook it in a cast iron pan (or any ovenproof skillet) in avocado oil, skin down for about 4 minutes, and transfer it to the oven at 375F to finish cooking for another 15-20 minutes. The time depends on the thickness of your salmon. Make sure you don’t overcook it. You can have the first serving warm, and store the other two for the next meals.

For extra flavor, make a capers-lemon sauce by warming 4 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil in a saucepan, and add 1 tablespoon of capers, one minced garlic clove, zest from one lemon, 1 or 2 tablespoons lemon juice, a few tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley. Add the sauce to your cooked salmon.

Lunch for day 1: Salmon with capers-lemon sauce with roasted Brussel sprouts on a bed of lettuce

To make lunch for day one, roast Brussel sprouts and mushrooms at 375F, in avocado oil, salt, and pepper, for about 30-40 minutes and add to your salmon, on a bed of greens (I like romaine lettuce crispy hearts for this).

For a vegan version, pair the lemon-capers sauce with your choice of mushrooms and sprinkle hemp seeds on top and serve with roasted vegetables and salad.

Meal Prep: Salmon with lemon-capers sauce
Meal Prep: Salmon with lemon-capers sauce
Salmon with capers-lemon sauce with roasted Brussel sprouts on a bed of lettuce
Salmon with capers-lemon sauce with roasted Brussel sprouts on a bed of lettuce

Recipe: Oven-baked chicken with herbs

Use about 4oz of chicken for each meal: breast, thighs, or a combination. You can even cook a full chicken, split it into 4oz portions and freeze it for later meals. For the 3-day cleanse, you will need 12oz of pasture-raised chicken (weighted without bones, cooked).

Rub the chicken with a mix of herbs and spices, such as dry or fresh rosemary and sage, mustard powder, rosemary, sea salt, and pepper. Add lemon juice, lemon zest, and avocado oil, and let marinate in the fridge for one hour or so. Cook at 375F in the oven for about 30 minutes, depending on what pieces you use and how big they are. You can check if ready by cutting with a knife next to a bone or on the thicker side of the breast and make sure the flesh is white, not pink.

Dinner for day 1: Chicken with roasted cauliflower and garlic, with Romaine’s hearts

While the chicken is cooking, you can roast cauliflower florets seasoned with sea salt and pepper, with smashed whole garlic cloves and drizzled with any of the approved oils. 375F works perfectly for cauliflower and garlic. It takes about the same time to cook as the chicken. I used one head of cauliflower and about eight garlic cloves, skin on.

Meal Prep: Oven-baked chicken with herbs
Meal Prep: Oven-baked chicken with herbs
Roasted cauliflower and garlic
Roasted cauliflower and garlic

Lunch for Day 2: Avocado and salmon boats with arugula and broccolini (or leftover roasted veggies)

For the next day’s lunch, fill one or two halves of avocado with one of the salmon fillets, add on a bed of greens, like arugula and spinach, drizzle olive or avocado oil, lemon, salt, and pepper. Add fresh or marinated red onions and a few capers. You might have some leftovers Brussel sprouts, and/or mushrooms to add to your bowl.

This is a big portion, and you may not be able to eat all in one go; keep the leftovers and have them later when you get hungry (you probably will).

Another side that goes really well with salmon is sautéed broccolini (baby broccoli). Just sauté them in avocado oil, with one smashed garlic clove, covered (they only need a few minutes, they cook nicely and quickly in their own steam). If you can’t have avocado, add more veggies to your plate.

If you can’t find broccolini, you can use steamed or sauteed broccoli.

Avocado and salmon boats with arugula and broccolini
Avocado and salmon boats with arugula and broccolini
Sauteed Broccolini
Sauteed Broccolini

Dinner for day 2: Buddha bowl with chicken, Swiss chard, cabbage salad, and avocado

Another meal I put together using the pre-cooked chicken was a bowl of sautéed swiss chard (you find the recipe for the sauteed Swiss chard here), half avocado, a few olives, marinated red onions, and one of my favorite salads ever, cabbage salad (I used purple but the white one can be as good). To make the salad, finely slice the cabbage, massage it on the cutting board with salt, add it to a bowl, add avocado or olive oil, apple cider vinegar, and pepper (all to your taste).

Chicken with roasted cauliflower and garlic, with Romaine's hearts
Chicken with roasted cauliflower and garlic, with Romaine’s hearts
Buddha bowl with chicken, Swiss chard, cabbage salad, and avocado
Buddha bowl with chicken, Swiss chard, cabbage salad, and avocado

Marinated red onions are great for toppings

Finely slice two halves of red onion and add them to a jar with extra virgin olive oil, a good quality red wine vinegar (about one tablespoon), and lots of dry oregano. Keep it on the counter for a few days, and use both the onions and the marinade to top every meal.

Okra chips, cauliflower, and artichoke hummus

If you have time for more experimentation and cooking, I recommend okra chips, cauliflower, and artichoke hummus.

To make the okra chips (which have powerful anti-lectin properties), wash and dry them, cut them length-wise in half, season with salt and pepper, and if you want some garlic powder, bake for 20 minutes at 450F, on parchment paper.

Cook them first open face down for 15 minutes, flip each piece and cook for another 5 minutes, but keep an eye on them as they will burn easily).

I have posted the cauliflower and artichoke hummus previously, so you can find the recipe here.

Okra chips on a plate
Artichoke hummus

More meal ideas for the 3-day plant paradox gut cleanse

Turmeric Cauliflower Rice with Mushrooms and Salmon

Slice mushrooms and add them to a skillet with avocado oil, and cook for a few minutes until they start releasing moisture. Grate a thumb-size turmeric root, add it to the mushrooms, add the cauliflower rice, and cook for a few more minutes (3, 4 minutes). Add the shredded pre-cooked salmon at the end, and some salt and pepper to taste.

Serve with a romaine salad with red radishes, half avocado, red marinated onions, all drizzled with olive oil and lemon.

Sautéed Bok Choy with Maitake Mushrooms

This meal is perfect for when you don’t feel like having animal protein or if you make this cleanse vegan: Sautéed Bok Choi with Maitake Mushrooms (or Hen-Of-The-Woods).

You will need two skillets for this as the bok choi takes a lot of space. Sauté the bok choi in avocado oil, for about 8-10 minutes, with a lid on.

Sauté the mushrooms in avocado oil, with one whole (peeled and smashed) garlic clove, until golden brown (it takes about 8 minutes). Covered the pan with a lid while cooking. Finish with a drizzle of Modena balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper.

Serve with half avocado, and marinated red onions, and drizzle with lime and olive oil.

Turmeric Cauliflower Rice with Mushrooms and Salmon
Turmeric Cauliflower Rice with Mushrooms and Salmon
Sautéed Bok Choy with Maitake Mushrooms
Sautéed Bok Choy with Maitake Mushrooms

Mushroom and cabbage steak with asparagus

Mushroom and cabbage steaks can be prepared in the oven, in the same dish/pan: season with salt and pepper, add some fennel seeds to the cabbage and cook with avocado oil for about 25 minutes at 400F. Finish with a 3-minute broil at 450F. Asparagus can be broiled at 450F in avocado oil for about 5 minutes, with salt and pepper. You can serve this dish with balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

Mushroom and cabbage steak with asparagus on a plate
Mushroom and cabbage

Salmon Avocado Tartare

And if by any chance you want to go super fancy during the cleanse, you should try this Salmon Avocado Tartare recipe. It’s delicious and, believe it or not, makes for a good candidate for a plant paradox cleanse.

Salmon avocado tartate on a plate

An Ayurveda-inspired 3-day cleanse

Maybe this Ayurveda-inspired cleanse resonates more with you. There is only one dish you need to prepare – a low-lectin kitchari recipe – which you will eat for three days. This meal is soothing and provides a great digestive reset. It’s a 100% plant-based cleanse, and if you strictly follow the three plant paradox phases, it’s phase-3 compliant.

*This post contains affiliated links, which means I get a small commission if you choose to purchase something via one of my links, at no extra cost to you.

gundrymd ambassador shop

Stock a gut-healthy pantry

You Might Also Like

106 Comments

  • Reply
    Taylor
    July 16, 2018 at 11:02 pm

    I have been doing plant paradox for about 2 months now and just found your site! Im loving it-you have so many amazing recipes! Quick question-how come you say that you never use Quorn or Tempeh for the substitute protein in the cleanse as it is listed as acceptable in the book? Just a personal preference or is there something I missed?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      July 17, 2018 at 12:23 pm

      Hi Taylor, thank you so much. Good question, Firstly the exact compliant Quorn and Tempeh, never seen them in any store around me (there are others that are not compliant. Secondly, when I do a vegan fast, I’m happy to replace my protein with a real mushroom and some some hemp seeds. I guess I just don’t feel the need to replace with something that resembles meat if I want to go meatless. It is personal, and I would probably try out of curiosity if it was easier to find. I always wanted to try hemp tofu though, but that’s another one I can’t find in any shop. I even looked it up on Amazon once and it was out of stock.

      • Reply
        Taylor
        July 17, 2018 at 2:55 pm

        Thank you so much for your response! That makes perfect sense. I am unable to find pastured chicken near me so I use the approved quorn products ( I can only find the cutlets) in place of chicken and it is actually pretty good! But I love portabellas too! I just wanted to make sure I hadn’t missed something!! It seems a lot of the meatless products are either out of stock on amazon or very overpriced!

  • Reply
    Sophie Marier
    July 17, 2018 at 7:18 am

    Wow! This is so complete and well explained. I won’t be doing it this time around, as we just sold our house, and are moving in an apartment for a year while we hunt for our dreamland/house. Not a good timing for the cleanse. But I am really glad to have the info online, as my PP book is stored away in a box somewhere! Merci merci Claudia!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      July 17, 2018 at 12:25 pm

      Thank you so much Sophie, and you are right, moving is definitely not a goof time for a cleanse. You don’t want to add more stress to your life :D. I hope everything goes well for you and you find your dream forever home <3

  • Reply
    Naz
    August 8, 2018 at 9:13 am

    Is coconut milk allowed on the 3 day detox program?

    Thanks

    • Reply
      Claudia
      August 8, 2018 at 9:35 am

      Hi Naz, is recommended coconut products are to be avoided during the three day cleanse.

      • Reply
        Laurie
        August 17, 2018 at 12:27 pm

        I’m confused. The breakfast smoothie that is recommended on the cleanse has Coconut Butter in the recipe. Are we not supposed to use the breakfast smoothie or do we change the recipe?

        Thanks,
        Laurie

        • Reply
          Claudia
          August 21, 2018 at 4:39 pm

          Hi Laurie, please check the third bullet point – BREAKFAST – after the link of the recipe I explain what can you do if you don;t want to use the coconut oil. Let me know if it’s clear.

  • Reply
    Jillian
    September 3, 2018 at 8:00 pm

    Are freshly juiced vegetables allowed on plant paradox including peppers/cucumbers? I’m assuming the seeds and skins are removed as pulp but not sure if it’s totalky compliant?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      September 4, 2018 at 8:37 am

      Vegetable juices are ok if made with compliant vegetables, but smoothies are recommended because you keep all the fiber content. Cucumber and peppers are not ok. You can try reintroducing them in small quantities in phase 3 skinless and deseeded, and see how you react. Usually lectin food reintroduction is done once you are completely healed.

  • Reply
    loretta
    September 16, 2018 at 7:15 pm

    thank you for a simple beautiful and inspiring menu to get me stared

    • Reply
      Claudia
      September 17, 2018 at 9:53 am

      My pleasure <3. Keep me updated with how it goes. xx

  • Reply
    Tara
    September 18, 2018 at 10:47 am

    Starting the Plant Paradox Phase one (cleanse) then immediately beginning Phase two as suggested, in three weeks. Spending this time researching and planning (and most importantly trying to find these unique ingredients where I live). My husband and I are doing this together, but need to get our overweight 10 year old on board and I am very worried. Hopefully doing recon work will help us prepare and get everyone on track in my family – my 14 year old is not going to cleanse but rather start with Phase two as best possible. Curious on if anyone else has had children do this cleanse and or PP lifestyle with success? Claudia do you have any other “breakfast” recipe or ideas? Your blog was very enlightening and I appreciate you sharing your experiences!

    • Reply
      Dayna D. McMullan
      October 31, 2018 at 8:46 am

      Thank you so much for sharing & deconstructing Phase 1 for me. Everything looks amazing!

  • Reply
    Sarah Mills
    October 29, 2018 at 12:37 pm

    Hi! This is awesome and we are just starting. My husband is allergic to avocados. Is there a substitute that you can recommend?
    Thank you!!
    Sarah

    • Reply
      Claudia
      October 29, 2018 at 12:47 pm

      Hi Sarah, glad you are starting, good luck! There is nothing quite like avocado, just make sure you get enough fats (replace with raw extra virgin oil) because that’s the purpose of avocado, getting some healthy fats. Since avocado is also a rich source of potassium, make sure you balance out with other foods that provide potassium. But he can totally do it without.

  • Reply
    Michelle Merwin
    October 30, 2018 at 2:46 pm

    I’m trying to start the Plant Paradox and I’m a little confused because in the Plant Paradox Book under the 3 day cleanse it has olive oil in the dressing for the salad but in the Plant Paradox Cookbook it says to avoid extra-virgin olive oil and coconut oil during the cleanse and the first 2 weeks of phase 2. Is it because he learned this information later on?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      October 30, 2018 at 4:57 pm

      Hi Michelle, I this this was a contradiction in the first book, my assumption is that the person who made the menu (is the founder of Catalyst Cuisine) didn’t know about the olive oil rule and included it in the recipes. Then everything got overlooked. Yes, it’s true he says to avoid evoo in the first two week, however I didn’t and I’ve experienced the benefits of PP (but I didn’t have leaky gut). I’d say if you have big digestive issues avoid the two oils for the first two weeks. Just replace evoo with avocado oil.

  • Reply
    Jessica
    November 24, 2018 at 7:09 pm

    I really love your site and thank you for offering all of this amazing information (and fabulous pictures) for people like me! am about to start the 3 day cleanse with my husband, but he has been told NOT to eat a number of the foods that are main staples of the cleanse, like cauliflower, cabbage, onions and yes, avocado. Do you have suggestions for substitutions for the cauliflower and cabbage?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      November 25, 2018 at 8:23 pm

      Hi Jessica, thank you so much. I see why it seems difficult. Is it all the cruciferous he can’t have, or only cauliflower and cabbage? Assuming he can’t have any cruciferous, I would say go with endives, green lettuces, swiss chard, asparagus, spinach, arugula, artichokes, seaweed and kelp, all herbs, celery, radishes, fennel, maybe lacinato kale if he can have that. Is broccoli ok? What about brussels sprouts? You can email me if you want to chat more. I would replace some of the cauliflower and cabbage with a dish of swiss chard (I have a recipe and it’s super tasty), I also have a recipe for artichoke spread, it has mayo but for phase 1 you can just use extra virgin olive oil (although Dr. G mentions we should avoid evoo in the cleanse, but honestly he has not much left..) . You can add this spread to romaine lettuce or endive boats and eat in place of guacamole. Use avocado oil in place of evoo (depends how much gut damage your husband needs to heal). Also, did you know that if you cook cruciferous really well, they can be tolerated? Unless he is allergic. I hope this helps xx

  • Reply
    maureen
    December 18, 2018 at 2:57 am

    is tumeric ok on the cleanse?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      December 18, 2018 at 7:51 am

      Yes, it is!

  • Reply
    Lisa Hurt
    December 23, 2018 at 6:51 pm

    I love your recipes being a chef myself. I was so excited to start this cleanse but realized almost every recipe has avacado in it and I am allergic to avacado. I can always go without because truthfully we are allowed to eat more food on this cleanse than any other diet I have ever seen. But was just wondering if you might have a suggestion for an alternative because I will be doing this with my wife. Green bananas? 😝

    • Reply
      Claudia
      December 24, 2018 at 9:24 am

      Hi Lisa, thank you so much. You can totally do without avocado. I would just try to get more healthy fats in to make up for the fat in avocado. Have some few more raw macadamia nuts (not too much though if you want to lose weight), and one thing I like to make is an artichoke dip. You can mix artichokes (the ones in a jar) and roasted cauliflower, maybe some roasted garlic, mix in a food processor, add some avocado oil, salt pepper and lemon, maybe some tahini, and use that paste as a replacement for avocado. You can make the romaine lettuce boats filled with this mix. Write me on email if you want to talk more.

  • Reply
    Lisa Hurt
    December 25, 2018 at 10:08 pm

    Thank you Claudia,
    I will try these ideas and maybe even come up with some new ones. After reading the book I saw a testimonial of a woman who desensitized her nut allergy . I am hoping the diet will help me do the same for avacado. I will let you know how it goes.
    Thanks again and happy holidays!
    Cheers,
    Lisa

  • Reply
    Remy Tennant
    January 2, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Epic post with some great insights, well done! When I was starting the PP diet it was tough to follow the program bc it’s so prescriptive (worth it though!). I put together a detailed guide with all the meals and recipes linked up nicely, including the three days cleanse. Makes it easier to get started. Enjoy!

    https://humanfoodbar.com/plant-paradox-recipes/

  • Reply
    Melizza
    January 7, 2019 at 12:43 pm

    We are starting our 2nd cleanse today, finding this is so very helpful to have some great tips and twists to enjoy! I’m even more inspired. I love finding new creative ideas to change things up. I’m thinking this cleanse will be even better than the last and I likely will continue beyond the cleanse to make many of the recipes included. Thank you so much!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      January 7, 2019 at 2:27 pm

      Thank you so much Melizza, good luck with the cleanse, and don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. xx

  • Reply
    Sujatha Sridhara
    January 13, 2019 at 9:51 am

    I’m thrilled to find this blog. I have so many questions and all of them begin with Phase 2. I did the 3-day cleanse from December 30 – January 1. It went well and I was excited. Then, I got completely deflated by the meal plan for Phase 2. I couldn’t find many ingredients in the stores in PA and I wasn’t sure how to replace the plan. Then, I decided to create my own plan based on YES and NO list and using recipes from the first two books. While my lunch and dinner options are working out fine, I am struggling to cook something for breakfast that does not have to be eaten every day. The green smoothie is fine and may become my staple if nothing else works, but do you have any breakfast suggestions? Also, what are some other smoothies I can create? Further, can I drink regular coffee with almond milk as part of my breakfast?

    I am vegetarian in that I eat dairy products (cheese) and eggs. I don’t eat any meat, chicken or fish. I was considering tempeh and have bought it, but I have to eat it to decide if I like it. I want to know if I can eat dals (yellow moong dal, green moong dal, urad dal or tuar dal) if they are pressure cooked. Thank you in advance for your help and the recipes you have already posted here. I am super excited to make the Cauliflower Artichoke Hummus. Hopefully, I’ll pick a compliant marinated bottle of artichoke.

    • Reply
      Claudia
      January 13, 2019 at 10:16 am

      Hi Sujatha, thank you so much for your message and congratulation on starting the plan. What you did is the best strategy, we need to be able to adapt this lifestyle to our own situation, and with time it will become a second nature. So go ahead and make your own plans based on what you find in your stores. I personally only decide what I will cook (most of the time) once I’ve paid a visit to the store or market and I see what’s available. That’s how it should be. About dals… I suggest you spend 6 weeks in Phase 2, do all the possible healing you can, and after 6 weeks, start reintroducing pressure cooked legumes, in small quantities, and observe how you feel. Then you can decide if it’s worth staying more in Phase 2 or starting Phase 3. Most probably you will be able to rentroduce legumes if they are pressure cooked. Let me know if you liked the hummus :). All the best with the plan and don’t hesitate to write me if you have more questions. Oh, wait I forgot the breakfast part, check my breakfast section, you can try making the granola, and have it with non-dairy milk or yogurt, I like it with cold hemp milk. Have medium boiled eggs ready (if you can’t prepare them in the morning) and have one with half or full avocado. maybe some greens next to it. That being said, a big part of PP is intermittent fasting, try to increase the time period between the last meal of the day and the next one. In time you will not feel like eating early mornings and your first meal will be your lunch. It’s so liberating to not have to think of what to eat 3 times a day. Plus, you will get all the benefits of fasting. xx

    • Reply
      Claudia
      January 13, 2019 at 10:22 am

      Hi Sujatha, I forgot the question about coffee. Yes, black coffee with compliant non-dairy milk is ok.

  • Reply
    Sujatha Sridhara
    January 13, 2019 at 11:34 am

    Thank you so much for replying so quickly. I’ve been diagnosed with ulcerative colitis and I wanted and needed a natural way to heal. I’m eager and excited to do the Plant Paradox Challenge. I may ask more questions later but I’m ready to get started again.

  • Reply
    DEE
    February 18, 2019 at 10:07 am

    Hi. Thank you for putting this site together It really adds another dimension to the PP. I’m reading the book first and now to the cleanse part. I want otoread and will dive into your site more before I start this. I have rheumatoid arthritis that is under construction nitrile wig Methatrexate 15=mg. Dr said I will be on medicatu N forever but already I had food sensitivity testing by my allergist via blood drawn at a lab and I am sensitive to so many foods on the PP NO list ! So I’ve eliminated foods already and looking forward to the PP

    • Reply
      Claudia
      February 18, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Thank you so much, happy that you found PP, hopefully you will get well after changing your diet and you won’t be needing medication anymore. Wishing you all the best and please stay in touch. You can always write me if you need any help. Kind regards xx

    • Reply
      Iramy
      October 11, 2020 at 11:22 am

      Hi Claudia, this will be my second time on the Plant Paradox plan. I did very well the first time. I remember you had an easy three day three meal to follow but I can’t find it. Can you send me the link. Thank you

      • Reply
        Claudia
        October 12, 2020 at 5:42 am

        Hi Iramy, this post where you are commenting right now is the only three day plan I have. best, C.

  • Reply
    Dee
    February 18, 2019 at 9:07 pm

    I’m so sorry for the typos !,,

    • Reply
      Claudia
      February 18, 2019 at 10:58 pm

      Oh, don’t worry, we’ve all been there. Our computers and keyboards have a mind of their own :))

  • Reply
    Miriam
    February 28, 2019 at 11:05 pm

    Can vegan eggs be eaten on 3 day cleansing diet ?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 1, 2019 at 10:17 am

      Hi Miriam, no they are not part of it.

      • Reply
        Miriam
        March 3, 2019 at 6:43 pm

        Hi Claudia ,
        I am confused because the cook book stated the recipe Ralph’s breakfast scramble was a good breakfast recipe for Phase 1 . I replaced the egg with VeganEgg it’s a plant base egg replacer . It’s actually a powder but they package it in an egg crate for marketing purposes. I did not like the powder at all . Won’t ever buy that again . But still It’s Not eggs , so did I break the 3 day cleansing eating that nasty powder egg replacement ? The suggestion for that breakfast is on page 44 of the cook book . Your blog is awesome. Glad I found it .

        • Reply
          Claudia
          March 3, 2019 at 7:15 pm

          Hi Miriam, you are right, just checked the book now; honestly is the first time I hear / see vegan eggs as beeing part of the PP cleanse. Was either an overlook, either it was true at the time, because I heard the compliant vegan eggs have now soy and not compliant anymore. So not sure what to say, never buy them , never eat them. Don’t worry too much, a vegan egg is not going to do much damage, compared to how long we have been eating the wrong things. Just keep the cleanse simple, my rule is only whole foods. But now that I think of, the vegan processed stuff was used for phase 1 recipes, even in the first book, so it must be compliant. I would personally not use it, and replace it with whole foods like mushrooms and walnuts, but that’s just me. I hope this helps. xx

          • Miriam
            March 3, 2019 at 9:25 pm

            Yes I agree with you, process foods are not good. I have another question on your balsamic chicken salad dressing . I love balsamic vinegar but they do have some kind of sweetener . I saw on the one I have the nutritional facts says Sugars 2g % DV 0. but on the ingredients part it says wine vinegar, concentrated grape must, caramel color . Thought we should stay away from sugar ? It’s hard to do most everything has some kind of sweetener .

          • Claudia
            March 4, 2019 at 10:44 am

            Oh right, in this case is more like you should stay away from any kind of coloring. Not all balsamic vinegars are made equal, like any product really (usually a balsamic vinegar is expensive, because of the way it’s made). You have to check the ingredients. Added sugars and coloring are not acceptable in a vinegar. My balsamic vinegar only has cooked grape must and wine vinegar as ingredients. Naturally occuring sugars are ok. Naturally occuring sulfites are to be avoided, but if they don’t bother you it can be acceptable.

  • Reply
    Stephanie
    March 3, 2019 at 8:15 am

    I love everything I have read so far that you have on here! Awesome! I just started pp and wondered if you (or anyone reading this) has had hypoglycemia when beginning this diet because of cutting carbs and sugar? I run a lot and this morning was at the gym and almost went down with low blood sugar I am sure is from the diet change, so just wondering how to keep some carbs in me for workouts-or maybe just not run during the cleanse? I was also intermittent fasting -16:8 (which I already do often). I just don’t think I had enough carbs yesterday.

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 3, 2019 at 10:35 am

      Hi Stephanie, thank you so much, and YES, I had what I call sugar withdrawal symptoms in the first week of PP, one night I remember waking up shaking, I though I was gonna die, haha. I had some dry figs and some nuts, drank a lot of water, and then made sure I have something with me all the time in case I felt that again. After few weeks my body got used to the no sugar situation, I became fat adapted and since then never felt that again. I hope this helps. xx

  • Reply
    Miriam
    March 4, 2019 at 4:37 pm

    Hi Claudia,

    Can we eat strawberries and blue berries in part 2 of diet ? Also I am Hispanic and wanted to know if a root starch called Malanga and the other one called yucca aka cassava can be eaten on this diet ? What about pumpkin ?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 4, 2019 at 9:07 pm

      Yes, apply the fruit rule to berries, in season, small quantities. I personally allow myself blueberries out of season, but rarely and small amounts. Both roots are ok, all yams are ok. No pumpkin in phase 1 and 3, can reintroduce in 3 pressure cooked (no seeds, not skin).

  • Reply
    Miriam
    March 5, 2019 at 9:38 am

    What’s small amounts half a cup , 1 cup of blue berries ? Book doesn’t define small amount. Also how much millet, or rice is a portion ? what isortion of root starches ? By the way I lost 4.7 pounds on the 3 day cleanser . I don’t feel like I did but the scale says so . This is very encouraging for me ! You are awesome !!!!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 6, 2019 at 9:26 am

      Hi Miriam, the amount differs depending on each individual, where they live, what health problems they have, how old are they, depends on the season… The book can’t define everything because of bio-individuality. We are all unique and in so specific and unique situations, we have to figure it our for ourselves. You can experiement with different serving sizes and see what works for you. If you feel pain, cravings, gaining weight or not losing if that’s your goal, it means something is not working… The way I like to think about it, if blueberries were not available in the supermarket, and I had to pick them in order to eat them, how much and how often would I be able to do it? Same with everything else. Experiment with different quantities and see how works for you. And if you apply the most important rule – most of your plate should be made of plants and healthy fats, then there is only little space for the rest of the food. I hope this helps you.

      • Reply
        Miriam
        March 8, 2019 at 6:23 pm

        Hi Claudia,

        Thank you for your response . Do you happen to know In which phase can wine can be had with food?

        • Reply
          Claudia
          March 10, 2019 at 3:44 pm

          Hi Miriam, any phase except the cleanse.

  • Reply
    Miriam
    March 13, 2019 at 4:27 pm

    Hi Claudia ,

    Thank you for all you answers . I have 1 more question . Is coconut palm sugar allowed in the plant paradox diet ?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 13, 2019 at 4:52 pm

      Hi Miriam, my pleasure, as always. And no, no sugar is PP compliant. xx

  • Reply
    Danielle Robinson
    March 17, 2019 at 3:31 pm

    Hi Claudia I just started the 3 day cleanse. One thing I noticed is that the books does not tell you what you can drink during your meals. Do you have any suggestions of what I can drink during my meals?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 17, 2019 at 3:36 pm

      Hi Danielle, good point. Water in general is recommended, not only during the cleanse. However, drinking during meals should be restricted, as interfers with your digestion enzymes. Or if you need to, make it just a few sips. Resume drinking water one hour after you ate.

      • Reply
        Danielle Robinson
        March 17, 2019 at 4:12 pm

        Thank you so much for your quick response. Can I drink tea as well. And if so what type of tea?

      • Reply
        Danielle Robinson
        March 17, 2019 at 4:14 pm

        Thank you so much for your fast response. Can I drink tea during the 3 days cleanse? If so what type of tea can I drink?

        • Reply
          Claudia
          March 17, 2019 at 4:20 pm

          Oh, yes you can! Any tea you love, make sure it’s a good quality so you avoid contaminants.

  • Reply
    Danielle Robinson
    March 18, 2019 at 7:32 am

    During the cleanse can I eat fruit as well and if so what kind of fruit

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 18, 2019 at 8:21 am

      No, no fruit during the cleanse, except avocado, lemons and limes.

  • Reply
    Charity
    March 21, 2019 at 6:46 pm

    I have bad gas when I eat cabbage. I wonder if I need to heal and build up my gut first before I try again?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      March 23, 2019 at 12:27 pm

      It will go with time. Also, adding caraway or fennel seeds to you cabbage will help.

    • Reply
      Ute
      April 28, 2019 at 11:16 am

      Try adding caraway seeds

  • Reply
    Linda
    April 10, 2019 at 3:23 pm

    Hi i am going to start the plant paradox. But the pills they suggest and i am retired and can’t afford them. Do you have any suggestions. I am enthusiastic about this diet

    • Reply
      Claudia
      April 13, 2019 at 12:09 pm

      Hi Linda, do the best you can. A clean diet is the most important thing and the priority. <3

  • Reply
    Colleen Adrian
    May 2, 2019 at 6:12 pm

    Hi Claudia, I’ve been doing the PP diet (phase 2) since December 2018, but just now finally getting around to doing a Phase 1 cleanse. Thank you so much for these amazing recipes, and for your practical suggestions for Phase 1. Because I have autoimmune issues, I’m trying to be as strict as possible for Phase 1, hoping to get maximum benefit from the cleanse. I’m wondering if you’ve found any reference material that confirms that olives are still allowed in the Phase 1 cleanse? (even though Dr. Gundry said to omit olive oil and coconut oil from Phase 1, and continue that for a further 2 weeks into Phase 2). It seems like a contradiction, but maybe there’s something different about eating olives vs the olive oil??

    • Reply
      Claudia
      May 6, 2019 at 2:37 pm

      Hi Colleen, is not really clear, but to be on the safe side don’t include them in the first two weeks.

  • Reply
    Danielle
    June 10, 2019 at 8:04 pm

    I fell off the plant paradox plan hard these last 2 days with lots of sugar and carbs. I’m going to do the detox again starting tomorrow. After that, I wondered should i not eat more then one avocado a day for weight loss? I like a whole one in my smoothie and then sometimes eat another half on salads or meals. What about nuts. 1/4 cup a day? Carrots for snacks ok even though with their sugar content? I know I can be successful on this cause I LOVE VEGGIES!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      June 17, 2019 at 2:16 pm

      Hi Danielle, veggies are awesome, however we need to be careful with overeating some of them. I would keep avocado one 1/2 day, max 1 but maybe not every day. Avocados are high in histamine and you can become sensitive to it if eating too much. And yes, if you want to lose weight, 1 1/2 avocado / day is probably too much. Nuts, yes, 1/4 day, but again, depends how much you want to lose and what else do you eat. Keep it balanced and varied, and don’t over eat anything.

  • Reply
    Maureen Franklin
    July 3, 2019 at 5:35 pm

    Hi Claudia. All the questions and answers have been great. I’m on the last day of the cleanse. I’ve been feeling quite nauseous off and on, and not a lot of energy.

  • Reply
    Monica
    July 29, 2019 at 4:02 pm

    Dear Claudia,
    Thank you SO MUCH for answering my prays… I am new on the lectin-free diet, I’m not very fond of cooking and I have a 17 y old son who loves to eat. – Finding and cooking food have been such a huge challenge. I love you for doing this blog! You have no idea of what a relief and a (literally) life-saver this is. THANK YOU!!!! Please never stop. Warmest regards, Monica

    • Reply
      Claudia
      July 31, 2019 at 12:47 pm

      Monica, thank you so much for taking the time to comment. It makes me so happy and motivates me even more. I hope you will love cooking more and more every day :))

  • Reply
    Barbara Chamberlain
    July 29, 2019 at 5:47 pm

    I am beginning third week of the plant paradox. I’m suffering with overwhelming exhaustion. I have had fatigue off and on for years, and was hoping to feel better by now. I am barely functional. Any ideas?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      July 31, 2019 at 12:54 pm

      Hi Barbara, I’m sorry to hear that. The body is going through a lot of changes, hang in there. Make sure your meals are nutritious, satisfying, that you eat plenty of food that gives energy like healthy fats, cruciferous, resistant starches, green leaves, even fruits in season,like blueberries, in moderation, nuts. Whatever you feel gives you a little bit of extra energy. Drink a lot of water. The next step would be to find a good doctor who can make all the necessary tests to find out what are your imbalances and address that directly. Otherwise is a lot of guess work. I hope you find some strenght soon. xx

  • Reply
    Lisa
    August 17, 2019 at 4:32 pm

    What if you don’t like avacodos? I just can’t stomach them!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      August 25, 2019 at 11:24 am

      Hi Lisa, if you don’t like avocados just don’t eat them. Drizzle some more olive oil on your meals.

  • Reply
    Laurie
    August 24, 2019 at 11:06 pm

    Hello, I love all your recipes. I’ve been doing stage 2 for a few weeks now but have to travel for the next week. When I return I’m going to start again in phase 1. I love to grow my own sprouts…alfalfa sprouts, broccoli sprouts and radish sprouts…I eat them a lot in salads. Are they an acceptable food for phase 1? Thank you, Laurie

    • Reply
      Claudia
      August 25, 2019 at 11:23 am

      Hi Laurie, all the microgreens and sprouts of the approved vegetables are ok. Alfalfa is a legume, so not compliant.

  • Reply
    Shannon
    August 26, 2019 at 12:50 pm

    Thank you for all of your info! Do you know where the new Impossible Burger and/or Beyond Meat offerings fall in the good vs. bad lists?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      August 26, 2019 at 1:07 pm

      Hi Shannon, that would be on a NO list, for any healthy eating program. Too much bad stuff in it.

  • Reply
    Dottie
    September 10, 2019 at 6:02 pm

    I live in an apartment, neighbors would not appreciate a blender going at 4:00am. What else could I have for breakfast?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      September 13, 2019 at 2:11 pm

      What about making the smoothie in the evening? Or fasting in the morning? Otherwise, you can have a salad with eggs, avocado, it really depends what your health goals are. I don’t have smoothies in the morning and never eat before 10am anyway.

  • Reply
    Carole Jevons
    September 23, 2019 at 10:59 am

    Hi Claudia,
    The 3 day clease recipes was fantastic and very easy to follow. Do you have specific recipes for Phase 2? Carole

    • Reply
      Claudia
      September 24, 2019 at 4:46 pm

      Hi Carole, thank you and so happy it helped. Everything else on this website is phase 2. I have no phase 3 recipes, not YET anyway. xx

  • Reply
    C Chapman
    October 9, 2019 at 11:18 am

    Thank you so very much for this post! I have been on the Gundry plan since February but have really struggled with finding compliant, affordable food. Also due to work schedule finding time to prepare proper food has been difficult. I have lost 35 pounds but dont want to loose anymore and am, at this point, starving and have had to eat things I shouldn’t from time to time. Still struggling with my gut but this post is going to be right by my side for the next several months, at least. Thank you for all the wonderful information and all the questions and answers. I really feel like I can do this now… thank you, thank you!!!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      October 11, 2019 at 9:52 am

      So happy I could help and well done on your progress! Eat more vegetables and fat if you are hungry, and if you are still hungry add more protein. You shouldn’t feel starving / hungry on this program. But the more your eat non compliant food, the more hungry you will get, so it’s a vicious cycle. All the best xx

  • Reply
    Gwen E
    December 2, 2019 at 1:14 pm

    I started the cleanse yesterday. I did Ok until evening and had a small bowl of generic Rice Crispy cereal with Almond Milk ( low sugar) and stevia. I am doing well today, do I have to start over? Also where I live it’s very hard to find some of these items. But I love the concept of this diet. Thanks for your info!
    What we grow in our garden will be different next year!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      December 4, 2019 at 9:06 am

      Hi Gwen, well done for starting! It’s ok to ease into it and take it one meal at a time. Would be great to be able to stay on track for at least the 3 days cleanse, but it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. If you all the time ahead you to switch to a healthier lifestyle and understand how your body works and what’s acceptable and what’s not acceptable for you. Good luck <3

  • Reply
    APRIL Krawiecki
    January 15, 2020 at 9:06 am

    hi there i’m hoping to start the PP diet shortly and your site is proving to be extremely helpful. I havent found any documentation or parts of the book that go over what supplments, vitamins, probiotics etc to add in. I see there are some you recommend but what what is recommended to start and how many times a day? thanks so much!!

    • Reply
      Claudia
      January 16, 2020 at 12:56 pm

      Hi April, are you refering to specific brands or just types of supplements, in general? Dr. G has a comprehensive list in his book The Longevity Paradox. You will find all the supplements he takes and recommends, and for some of them even recommendations on how much. I hope this answers your question. Also, a functional medicine practitioner can help with doing some tests to identify your specific deficiencies and address them in a more targeted way. I am pro this approach.

  • Reply
    Shelly Herrington
    January 15, 2020 at 12:15 pm

    Thank you so much for this awesome article. My husband, 27 year old son, and I will be doing this starting our cleanse tomorrow. I really need to keep it simple since I will be prepping everything for them. My question is, I see a lot of folks have specific diagnoses they are hoping this plan helps them with. Both hubby and son need to lose weight. My husband has had a stint due to blockage, but other than that no real diagnosis of anything else. We are using this plan specifically for a healthy way to lose weight. Do you feel this is good for weight loss? I had gastric sleeve four years ago and eat very similar to this regularly. Thank you for your help.

    • Reply
      Claudia
      January 16, 2020 at 12:53 pm

      Hi Shelly, congratulations on getting your family on board! I personally started PP for weight loss (I was eating what I thought was healthy so I couldn’t figure out why I continue to gain weight) and I lost everything I needed to in just a few months (about 20lbs). Of course, we are all different and we start from different places, so it will depend on the root cause of your weight gain. But generally speaking it does work! Wishing you the best of luck and keep us updated <3

      • Reply
        Shelly Herrington
        January 19, 2020 at 12:48 pm

        Claudia,
        Thank you for your response. So, we finished the 3-day cleanse with a few funny stories to tell, but we finished. My husband was a trooper with the smoothie, my son on the other hand could not get it down. He drank it on day one with gag reflexes in full force. Day two it got warm in his car (he is a police officer) before he could finish it so of course that made it worse, no way he was drinking that and day 3 he just said, “I cannot”! LOL! Today starts the next phase. I wonder if you could enlighten me on a few things? We all know “white carbs” are addictive and bad for us. How are things like cassava flour different? Is it because they don’t allow you insulin levels to spike? I have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that any flour is okay to use and how much I too much? I know in your blog you are an advocate of also removing the toxins from our homes. Thankfully, I did that last year with Melaleuca.

        • Reply
          Claudia
          January 19, 2020 at 9:03 pm

          Shelly, thanks for the update and the stories :))). The smoothie is not for everyone, that’s for sure. Well done the three of you for doing it though! Ok, so the carb thing… cassava flour is not ok to have all day every day… like any baked goods. These are treats, eat them on occasion, to celebrate something. Moderation is key. The difference between the approved carbs and the non approved ones… while the approved ones don;t have lectins, what you called white carbs are lectin bombs; also, the approved carbs are slowly absorbed, so they have a lower impact on your blood sugar and insulin levels. But the amount we eat really depends on each person. For example, someone who needs to lose 100lbs and has insulin resistanmce or diabetes, will have to be much more careful than someoen who only needs to lose 10 lbs and has normal glucose or insulin levels… So while one can have an approved treat every day, other should only have it once a week. Listen to your body. I hope this helps, keep us updated with your progress <3

  • Reply
    Elca
    June 30, 2020 at 7:21 pm

    Hi! Thank you so much for all your recipes , responses and all of this incredible generosity !
    I wondered: I am an intermittent faster since three years ( 16-8) but started 20-24 lately… can I start the plant paradox diet right with all the stages without eating breakfast and/ or lunch? By keeping my intermittent fasting habits? Thank you !

    • Reply
      Claudia
      July 2, 2020 at 1:58 pm

      Thank you for your kind words! Yes, you can start and eat as much as you want and when you want as long as you stick to the yes list. As long as it feels good for you, of course. You should not feel weak or hungry. Careful with being in ketosis for too long, that can have unwanted consequences on your health. I hope this helps. xx

  • Reply
    Lauren Bolden
    August 3, 2020 at 12:53 pm

    Ran out of lemons for salads dressing, can I use lemon concentrate?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      August 6, 2020 at 1:42 am

      I’m not sure. If it’s pure lemon juice, yes, if it has other ingredients, you have to check against the Yes and No lists.

  • Reply
    Ruxandra
    September 1, 2020 at 3:38 pm

    Hi Claudia. Thank you so much for the article. I hope I can start my 3 day cleanse soon. I can’t wait to check out the recipes.
    I have a problem understanding why Dr Gundry recommends iodine salt when it’s well known that iodine salt it’s only necessary for people who have iodine deficiency. Wouldn’t iodine salt be bad for people with thyroid problems or autoimmune hypothyroidism? Wouldn’t Himalayan or Celtic salt be better for everybody? Thank you.

    • Reply
      Claudia
      September 9, 2020 at 1:29 pm

      Hi Ruxandra, I don’t know for sure the reason behind this recommendation, but I think is coming from the fact that we must be deficient in iodine, as a population. I’m not sure what Dr. G would recommend in your case, but that would be an interesting question to ask him (he answers on Twitter and Facebook lives). Ancient sea salt and hymalaian sea salt are in fact naturally rich in iodine. I rarely buy iodized sea salt because they contain dextrose, but I think and hope I get my iodine from the ancient sea salt from Redmond (naturally occuring). Now that I am in Romania, I found iodized Hymalaian pink salt without an anti caking agent and I’m using that. I hope this helps. Better to consult your doctor in your case anyway.

  • Reply
    Ruxandra
    September 10, 2020 at 1:41 pm

    Thank you so much Claudia. Have fun in Romania.

  • Reply
    Sam
    May 21, 2023 at 8:05 am

    Thank you so much, Claudia! I was just about to do Phase I again, so when I received your email newsletter, I was happy about it, which led me to this post. I am curious to see if you take any pre/postbiotics like Biocomplete 3?

    • Reply
      Claudia
      May 21, 2023 at 12:52 pm

      Hi Sam, no I don’t take any at the moment, but I’m thinking to try, whenever I get the chance to get some in Europe. Good luck with your cleanse! xx – Claudia

      • Reply
        Sam
        May 22, 2023 at 1:51 pm

        Thanks, Claudia.

    Leave a Reply