
Dr. Alejandro Junger is a cardiologist, New York Times best-selling author, and founder of The Clean Program. The Clean Program is a 21-day diet that aims to eliminate common food allergens and toxins from the body, allowing it to naturally heal itself. The program includes colon cleanses and tonics, and participants are advised to consult a doctor before starting. Dr. Junger recommends avoiding processed foods, choosing organic foods, and removing bad bacteria from the gut. The diet also suggests eating plenty of nutrient-dense foods, such as fruits, vegetables, nuts, and grains. So, are sweet potatoes allowed on the Clean Diet?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Diet Creator | Dr. Alejandro Junger |
| Diet Type | Elimination Diet |
| Diet Goal | Eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance in the body |
| Diet Duration | 21 days |
| Foods to Avoid | Sugary foods, gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee, alcohol, beans, corn, nightshades, soy, refined sugar, shellfish, white rice, eggs, beef, chicken, lamb, turkey, unripe fruit |
| Foods to Eat | Fruits, vegetables, grains, lentils, fish, lean game meat, duck, chicken, turkey, brown rice, millet, quinoa, berries, pineapple, apples, watermelon, mango, cucumber, carrots, squash, broccoli, asparagus, leafy greens, zucchini |
| Beverages | Water, green tea, rice milk, almond milk |
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What You'll Learn

Sweet potatoes are listed as an acid-forming food to avoid
Dr. Junger's Clean Program, also known as the Elimination Diet, is a 21-day diet created by Dr. Alejandro Junger, a successful New York City cardiologist. The diet aims to eliminate common food allergens and toxins from a person's diet, allowing the body to naturally heal itself and improve overall health. The program includes colon cleanses and tonics, so it is important to consult a doctor before starting.
The program suggests cutting out certain foods, including gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee, and alcohol. Additionally, nightshades, such as potatoes, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplants, are listed as toxic triggers, and Dr. Junger suggests testing them separately. He recommends including these foods in the initial phase and then avoiding them if you do not feel any improvement.
While sweet potatoes are not allowed on the Clean Program, there are still plenty of nutritious options available. Most fruits and vegetables are included, such as leafy greens, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, squash, and berries. Several grains, such as brown rice, millet, and quinoa, are also permitted, along with lentils and beans. For protein, the diet suggests limiting or avoiding certain foods, such as nuts and soy, while including approved sources like beef, bison, and elk.
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Nightshade vegetables are common toxic triggers
Dr. Junger's Clean Program is about eliminating the most common food allergens, such as gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee, and alcohol. The program encourages the consumption of foods filled with vital minerals, nutrients, phytonutrients, and healthy fats.
Nightshade vegetables are a botanical family of foods and spices that contain chemical compounds called alkaloids. Alkaloids are nitrogen-containing substances typically found in the leaves and stems of nightshades. They are often very bitter and function as a natural insect repellent. Nightshades are unique because they contain small amounts of alkaloids.
Nightshade vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and potatoes. Tobacco is also in the nightshade family. While nightshades are a rich source of nutrients, some believe they can trigger inflammation and immune dysfunction. Nightshades are common toxic triggers, and Dr. Junger suggests testing them separately. He recommends including nightshades in phase 1 of his program and observing how you feel. If you're still unwell after following the food list for phase 1, try avoiding nightshades to see if your condition improves.
Some preliminary research suggests that nightshades may not be suitable for people with certain inflammatory and auto-immune conditions like arthritis or inflammatory bowel disease. However, nightshades don't directly cause inflammation. They may increase existing inflammation. Experts recommend eliminating nightshades from your diet for a few weeks and then reintroducing them to determine sensitivity. If you feel worse after reintroducing nightshades, you may have a sensitivity to them.
If you're concerned about the high alkaloid content in nightshades, there are ways to reduce their concentration. In potatoes, the highest concentration of alkaloids is in the skin. One study showed that peeling potatoes before cooking removed up to 70% of the alkaloids. Baking potatoes in the oven may also reduce alkaloid content more effectively than boiling or steaming. Storing potatoes in a dark, cool place can prevent them from producing more alkaloids before consumption.
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The diet focuses on removing toxins and restoring balance
Dr. Junger's Clean Program, also known as Clean 21, is a 21-day diet created by the New York City-based cardiologist Dr. Alejandro Junger. The program aims to eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance in the body, which is believed to improve overall health and reduce symptoms.
The second pillar, the restore phase, involves consuming nutrient-dense foods, including fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The diet encourages filling the body with anti-inflammatory nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids from fish, polyphenols from berries, and plant-based compounds that boost liver detoxification. It also recommends buying fresh, seasonal, and local produce whenever possible.
The third pillar focuses on self-care and stress relief. The program suggests drinking Eliminate, a magnesium mix with warm water before bed, to promote healthy bowel movements and natural stress relief. Additionally, Dr. Junger recommends incorporating exercise into the daily routine, as it has cleansing properties and improves overall health.
By following these pillars, the Clean Program helps to reset the body and mind, boost energy, improve digestion, and reduce inflammation. It is designed to be a holistic approach to improving health and well-being.
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It's a 21-day program to improve health and lose weight
Dr. Junger's Clean Program is a 21-day diet designed to improve health and lose weight. It was created by Dr. Alejandro Junger, a successful New York City cardiologist and author. The program focuses on eliminating common food allergens and toxins that can cause various medical conditions, such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, allergies, depression, fatigue, and insomnia.
The Clean Program is centred around three pillars. The first pillar involves removing toxins from the body by avoiding processed foods, choosing organic options, and removing bad bacteria from the gut. This includes cutting out common allergens such as gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee, and alcohol. It also involves reducing sodium intake, which can lead to better heart, kidney, and overall health.
The second pillar is the restore phase, which focuses on consuming nutrient-dense foods. This includes a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, grains, and protein sources. Dr. Junger recommends eating mostly vegetables, with 80% of the diet consisting of leafy greens, zucchini, cucumber, carrots, squash, broccoli, and various fruits. For protein, the program suggests limiting or avoiding certain foods, such as nuts, soy, and beans, and instead using beef, bison, or elk if they work for the individual.
The third pillar of the program includes self-care rituals, such as taking pre-packaged supplements of vitamin D3, EPA-DHA, digestive enzymes, and probiotics. Additionally, drinking Eliminate, a magnesium mix with warm water, is recommended at night to promote healthy bowel movements and natural stress relief.
The Clean Program also encourages participants to add exercise to their daily routines, as it has cleansing properties and further improves overall health. While the program offers a variety of nutritious options, it is important to note that it may be costly due to the recommended use of meal-replacement and cleansing shakes.
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It includes colon cleanses, so talk to your doctor first
Dr. Alejandro Junger's Clean program is a 21-day diet that aims to eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance in the body. It involves cutting out certain foods, such as gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee, and alcohol, to help the body heal itself. The program includes colon cleanses and tonics, so it is important to consult your doctor before starting.
The Clean program is not just about losing weight, but also about improving overall health. It is designed to help people with medical conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, allergies, depression, fatigue, and insomnia. Dr. Junger attributes these problems to toxins that form in response to consuming unhealthy and unclean foods.
The diet involves removing toxins from the body by avoiding processed foods, choosing organic foods, and removing bad bacteria from the gut. It also includes taking nutritional supplements and pre-packaged supplements like vitamin D3, EPA-DHA, and digestive enzymes. Additionally, it recommends drinking Eliminate, a magnesium mix with warm water before bed, to promote healthy bowel movements and natural stress relief.
Before starting the Clean program, it is important to be aware of any potential risks or side effects. As it includes colon cleanses, it is always advisable to speak to your doctor first. They can help determine if this program is suitable for your individual needs and health status. This is especially important if you have any existing medical conditions or are taking medications, as the colon cleanse may interact with them.
Additionally, the Clean program may not be suitable for everyone, and some people may find it restrictive or challenging. It is important to ensure that you are still consuming a balanced and varied diet, even while eliminating certain food groups.
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Frequently asked questions
Sweet potatoes are listed as one of the acid-forming foods to avoid or minimise on Dr Junger's Clean diet.
Dr Junger's Clean diet, also known as Clean 21, is a 21-day elimination diet created by Dr Junger, a cardiologist in New York City, to help patients with certain medical conditions, including irritable bowel syndrome, headaches, allergies, depression, fatigue and insomnia.
The Clean diet involves eliminating common food allergens, including gluten, dairy, processed sugar, coffee and alcohol. The diet also cuts out other foods that may be harder on the body, such as caffeine, corn, nightshades, soy, shellfish, white rice and eggs.
Dr Junger's Clean diet includes a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, grains such as brown rice, millet and quinoa, and lentils and beans. It also includes fish, lean game meat, lamb, duck, chicken and turkey.
Dr Junger's Clean diet is said to help eliminate toxins and restore a healthy balance in the body, improving overall health. It is also meant to help with weight loss, boost energy, improve digestion and reduce inflammation.




























