My wife and I recently finished what amounted to a month long health program presented in the book “Clean.” As stated on the program’s website, cleanprogram.com, “The Clean Program cleanse was designed by cardiologist and cleanse specialist Dr. Junger M.D. to be easy to follow and safe to conduct.”
I know what you are thinking. Why is this columnist discussing The Clean Program in the business section of the paper?
Health affects all that we do, and as this program suggests, food is the principal culprit that negatively affects our health. Everything that touches our body affects us in one way or another. From the water we drink to the cleaning agents we use in our home every day. Everything affects us.
If health affects everything we do, then it obviously affects our working hours, thus impacting our business and our ability to conduct business. Our anxiety, our lethargy, depression, motivation, nervousness, hunger, temperament and focus are all impacted by the foods we eat.
And so, just before the Fourth of July, my wife and I found ourselves emptying our refrigerator and pantry, giving certain items to our neighbors and everything else to the local food bank. We needed everything out of the house, a clean start for our clean program.
The Clean Program is simple really. You aren’t required to consume special products, you aren’t promised immediate weight loss and you don’t have to spend any money to participate. The effort you’re required to put forth relates specifically to the food you consume.
During the first week of the program, you simply eliminate entire categories of foods from your diet: no sugar, no caffeine, no red meat, no dairy. Corn, bananas, peanuts and oranges are out. So are nightshades, including tomatoes, peppers and eggplant. Other items, like alcohol, are excluded as well.
The author of the program explains why these items and others are banned, but I suggest these items are disallowed for a few simple reasons:
1. These items trigger an allergy to someone in the world; therefore, they might also affect you.
2. These items cause mucus.
3. These items cause inflammation.
The program isn’t overly concerned with calories, fats or cholesterol. Rather, the focus is on encouraging individuals to eat nutrient, protein and fiber-rich foods. Whole fruits and vegetables.
My wife and I were among a group of individuals who signed up for this program. We are all connected to Savannah Power Yoga in one way or another. Savannah Power Yoga coordinated weekly meetings in which the group was able to discuss the program via Skype with Dr. Junger, the Clean Program creator.
After the “elimination” week, we transitioned into a three-week cleanse. Each morning we prepared a liquid shake for ourselves; for lunch we would consume a nutrient, protein and fiber-rich meal; and for dinner we would have another liquid, either soup, shake or juice.
I am happy to say I stayed with the program and survived. I shed weight (15 pounds), and more important, I gained focus.
Others in the group found the effort life altering: “More energy.” “Less anxiety.” “No more acne.” “No more hot flashes.” “The end of constipation.”
My wife and I are generally healthy, fit and active, so the impact was more obvious on our mental state and ability to focus. At work, I have been more active and engaged. I am clearer in thought and much more patient and attentive. I have become a much more active listener. I find myself sleeping much more soundly.
Now that the program is complete, I am faced with a decision: Do I go back to caffeine or do I continue with the new diet that I created for myself?
I think I will continue with the limited diet.
If you are facing health issues, focus issues or something else in your world just isn’t right, maybe focusing on the foods you eat might be worth serious consideration.
My ability to focus, listen, sleep soundly and remain attentive throughout the workday is extremely important to me.
And as for the 15 pounds, each one of those pounds was important to me too, but I am happier without them.
Jake Hodesh is the executive director of The Creative Coast, a not-for-profit organization that promotes the creative and entrepreneurial community within the region. Jake can be reached at 912-447-8457 or jake@thecreativecoast.org.