Transitioning to Stage TWO: Body Ecology Diet
Tara Carpenter, NC.
Nutritional support for people on Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.).
Originally published on April 6, 2024.
I coined Stage TWO, The Way Out. This is your light at the end of tunnel! You got this far on Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.) and I hope you are encouraged to continue. By now, you will feel much better from any health condition(s) that brought you to diet. Have faith you will get where you are going with a plan in place (B.E.D. book, B.E.D. Support with Tara 🙂 and cheered on by like-minded others like myself and those on Facebook Private Groups (Body Ecology Recipes & Ideas, B.E.D. for Kids, etc.).
You worked hard to get where you stand; like an oak tree strong and sturdy, rooted securely into the foundational principles of proper food combining, 80/20, cleansing, etc. As you enter Stage TWO, you are literally branching out from this firm-rooted place; ready to expand your food repertoire with more variety, taste, flavor, and texture.
Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.) is a foundational system of health and healing and while Stage ONE (Oh Not Easy) is tough to master, you have! You have developed focus and discipline – stamina – to continue, whilst being attentive to healing part(s) of yourself. I hope you are in a position to fly, soaring in excitement with each “feel better” milestone. Maybe you have less or no more skin rashes, bloating, or headaches …. all possible signs you are ready to move to Stage TWO.
Stage TWO Food List for People on Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.)
How do I know I am ready?
When you have regular, well-formed bowel movements, feel mostly better from any health condition(s) that brought you to diet, and pack your own food wherever you go (or know how to find food out in the world that you can eat to stay on your healing journey with B.E.D.) then be reassured that the core center of your being, your inner ecosystem likely feels better too.
When you master food combining and make/consume unsalted cultured food like coconut kefir and cultured vegetables. Many people say “well, I have histamine issues”. I say, okay get that under control, then make and eat them. Then you are ready to move from one stage to next. Ideally, you also do enemas, colonics at-home or with an I-ACT Hydrotherapist.
Donna Gates, founder of B.E.D. defines Stage Two readiness as “your inner ecosystem has healed and during this time, you may still be healing in other areas of your body, like your liver, and will want to continue a step-by-step process. Body Ecology acts as a roadmap for a healing journey.” 1
I did this diet for three consecutive years to heal a systemic yeast infection and help my children restore skin and gut issues. I know not easy. I know the denial and daily sacrifices to endure to keep in line where we intend to go. In Stage ONE, the initial healing phase of B.E.D. gut healing protocol, you avoided loved foods (i.e., burgers, sandwiches, beer, peanut butter) to return your body to a state of homeostasis, internally and externally.
On Stage 1, you learned to enjoy simple ingredients sweetened with stevia and monk fruit, or a recent product, BE Sweet (powder/liquid); a sugar that does not feed blood sugar (diabetic-safe) or yeast, bacteria, or viral organisms living in excess in your body. Saying “no thank you” to common sugar and other loved foods means that over time you tightened a muscle you may not have known you had~ I applaud you wholeheartedly 🙂
Stage TWO Food List for People on Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.)
Though we are animals. we are fully capable to discipline our lives to regain our health. You achieve success in this way of eating by hitting that bulls-eye every meal, every day with your eye on the prize to give your self the best chance at coming into balance. One day there will be a time when you are ready to go further; find a way out of the confines of a dietary regime and into more freedom with more flavor, texture, and diversity!
As you come into balance, you may crave foods not on stage 1. This is normal and may show your readiness for more. Maybe your health issues are lifting! You want to expand and branch into a bigger world of more foods to eat because you feel more lightness and space inside without so many body symptoms. Keep food combining and 80/20, etc. because they are backbone of B.E.D. and guideposts to follow. Your body may need more time without refined sugar and pasteurized dairy as they hit hard.
I created a proper food combining chart that fits the side of most refrigerators …. click here to buy.
Most people take 3-6 months on B.E.D. stage 1 for the digestive and immune system to regain natural strength and balance. We each come to this diet at different stages of life with different health issues. Let your body guide you to the next level of eating with a wider variety of food. Some start B.E.D. in good health, others with severe disease and illness. Generally, the longer you had the issue(s), the longer to heal.
Your health may be improving if you have1:
- stronger digestion
- fewer cravings for sugar
- more energy
- fewer colds
- clearer skin
- better sleep
- improved symptoms of any health issue you came to diet with.
The above are all potential signs your body may be re-establishing and organizing itself into “better”. This is good as we are self-regulated organisms. Once you have been on stage TWO of the diet for a minimum of 3 months and consistently feel sign(s) of improvement you may be ready to introduce stage TWO foods …. one new food at a time. Observe how you respond to each one giving some time in-between each new food. You may feel eager to enjoy many new foods at once. Taste-bud lift-off!
As with any exciting moment, we may need to reign ourselves in so as not to get ahead of one’s self with temptation and desire.
If you have outdone yourself and can see you are not ready for a specific food then dial back in, center, be honest with yourself. Rome was not built in a day. Step by step like a turtle …. on you go, introducing each new food.
Congratulations getting this far in your healing journey. Please reach out with any questions or concerns to my email at tara@happybellies.net. I have professionally consulted people on Body Ecology Diet since 2014 and offer worldwide nutritional consultations via phone. Plans/prices here.
References
1 https://bodyecology.com/articles/7_steps_to_great_health_part2-php/
This post may contain affiliate links for “body ecology” which means I may receive a percentage of any product you purchase using the links in my posts. You pay the same price for all products and your purchase helps support my ongoing research and work. Thank you for your support!
Disclaimer: Content here is in the form of opinions, ideas, recipes, and dietary advice I provide for general information only; primarily educational in nature; and not a substitute for the medical advice of your own doctor or any other health care professional that you, the reader, may require for any cause whatsoever, now or in the future.
Lunchbox List for Kids on B.E.D.
Stage TWO Food List for People on Body Ecology Diet (B.E.D.)
Cultured Butter: In My Kitchen
