Cultures have been using food as medicine and to aid healing for centuries. The oldest documented medical practices from around the globe have rich histories of food use for therapeutic aims: India’s Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine from the East, and even Europe’s nutritional therapy is at least two thousand years old. In fact, in 400 B.C., Hippocrates, known as the “father” of Western medicine, stated “Our food should be our medicine. Our medicine should be our food.”

And it’s no secret that as we have gotten further and further away from our ancient health care traditions, the cost of health care has skyrocketed. Our ability to produce and process food has certainly contributed to our ill health. We now run the risk of taking in more food that has been modified, altered, and otherwise denatured than food that we know is good for us: the raw, organic, whole foods that our ancestors ate and thrived upon.

It’s worth mentioning that dietary factors are associated with at least five of the ten leading causes of death, including coronary heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, stroke, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Unfortunately, most people erroneously believe that they can eat whatever they want, whenever they want, and not suffer the consequences of ill health. And as a result, prescription medications are written, filled, and consumed, and in some cases, surgeries are performed to remove damaged tissues or organs.

Isn’t it easier to simply eat right to begin with?

While you’re on an Internal Cleansing program, you can maximize your results by steering clear of processed, refined foods that are high in sugar, fat and added chemicals, and by eating more foods that are raw, organic and naturally good for you. Here are some dietary suggestions to help you get the most out of your cleansing experience and to help you maintain wellness once you have achieved it: Drink plenty of plain, purified water every day. While it’s better to drink tap water than no water at all, there are several water filtration devices available all throughout the country and at reasonable prices; save up and buy one…and then use it! Eat plenty of fresh, organic vegetables. Eat them raw as often as you can, and when cooking, don’t overcook them. Vegetables are easy to digest and they provide a host of essential nutrients and fiber. Eat plenty of fresh, organic fruit. Fruit is high in vitamins and easy for the body to digest. It also helps cleanse the body. Eat whole grains and whole grain products (if you can tolerate them). Whole grains are high in dietary fiber and contain a decent balance of proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals and natural oils. Beyond wheat and oats, try adding quinoa, amaranth and brown rice. Steer clear of white rice and white flour products. Eat raw, organic nuts and seeds. These are high in protein, nutritive oils and valuable minerals. Don’t eat more than a handful at one time and remember that raw nuts are more nutritious than those that have been roasted, sugared or otherwise altered. Take a fiber supplement made with all-natural herbal ingredients such as psyllium, flax, barley, oat, rice or a combination of these and other herbs. Fiber is vital to healthy colon health and should be continued in supplemental form even after you have completed an Internal Cleansing Program.

Donna Brooks is a freelancer, online journal editor, e-book author, and mother of 3. She is a member of the National Writers Union and a contributor to various internet health and personal care blogs and forums.

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