At Chiro+Merge Chiropractic Center, we believe that healthy eating is as important as a healthy nervous system that is free of subluxations.

Are there any special concerns for children on this diet?

While the basic concepts of the Hallelujah Diet are ideal, there are some nutritional areas each person should be aware of.

Children are in a growing state and need more good fats and proteins than we as adults need. Good sources are raw nuts and seeds (best if soaked prior to consuming), whole grains, sprouted seeds, freshly ground flax seed, avocados, and Udo`s oil. Children may need something like oatmeal (rolled organic oats - 1 cup organic apple juice heated almost to boiling, remove from heat and add 1/2 cup rolled organic oats, cover and let stand 20 minutes and then enjoy) for breakfast. We do not encourage young children to skip solid foods in the mornings and we encourage them to eat freely of the good fats and proteins.

As a diabetic, can I do this diet?

Many people with blood sugar problems (both hypoglycemic and diabetic) have gone on the Hallelujah Diet and lifestyle almost overnight with outstanding results. Others have found they could not handle the carrot juice and fruits initially. Many have been able to dilute the carrot juice with green leafy lettuce juices and/or distilled water, and add a little Udo`s oil to each glass and handle it very efficiently. Others juice the green leafy lettuce and other vegetables for a while, until the body cleanses out the fats from the animal products. Then they are usually able to go fully onto the program with excellent results.

The following study (at "http://www.pcrm.org/research/diabetes.html") on a vegan diet and diabetes may be of interest to you.

Can the body handle the sugar content of carrot juice?

Carrot juice has well over a 50-year track record of nourishing the body in such a way that it can rebuild and overcome the most serious of physical conditions.

The Gerson Institute has been using eight 8-ounce glasses of carrot juice (with about 1/2 Granny Smith Apple to a glass) for over 50 years in successful treatment of terminally ill cancer patients. The body seems to be well adept at handling the natural occurring sugars in carrot juice. I know of no scientific evidence to support the idea that the sugar content of the juice has a negative impact on the body.

Can I use sea salt?

Table salt and processed sea salt are deadly poisons that should not be consumed. The processing of theses salts removes all of the natural occurring elements and adds back a chemical anti-caking agent resulting in 99% sodium chloride.

Fortunately there is an alternative for those desiring a salt for seasoning. Celtic Sea Salt is naturally occurring with all 84 minerals as found in the ocean with as little as 84% sodium chloride in the course ground salt. There are no chemicals added to this natural occurring salt. See our Product Page.

Do we need calcium supplements?

When we eliminate the five killer foods, which are leaving an acid ash, from the diet and follow the Hallelujah Diet, which leaves an alkaline ash, the body no longer experiences calcium depletion. Once this former calcium loss has been eliminated and the body is nourished with an abundance of raw foods, fresh juices, and Barleygreen, we should be getting an abundance of easily absorbed calcium. 

How do I get my children to eat The Hallelujah Diet?

Many families have the best success when they transition slowly into the Hallelujah Diet. Remember that it is a big change, especially for children and teenagers who are under intense peer pressure to not be different.

Many mothers and fathers make the transition for their children by insisting that they eat what the parents eat at meals but by also letting them make other choices (usually bad ones) when they eat out or visit friends. Many children learn to enjoy Barley Max and start taking it without being forced to when they recognize the benefits they`ve seen from it. This is especially true for children and teens that have acne or ADD or asthma, which often improves dramatically when they eat properly and have daily Barley Max.

How does someone who can`t afford a juicer or Barley Max practice the Hallelujah Diet?

It`s possible to live a good part of the Hallelujah Way on a limited budget. For example, it doesn`t cost anything to cut out meat, dairy, white flour, sugar, salt, and junk food and to instead eat uncooked fruits and vegetables and brown rice and whole-grained breads and pastas and so on.

This approach costs most families less than what they spend on the traditional weekly food budget for meat and soda pop and processed foods. Indeed, many find that doing the above for several months allows them to save enough for a juicer and Barley Max. Additionally, used juicers can often be found at garage sales for wonderful prices. If you can`t afford a quality juicer you can often get an inexpensive juicer at K-mart or Wal-Mart that will serve until more funds are available. Adding daily carrot juice to the routine makes a huge difference, and we recommend it very highly. We don`t think anything replaces freshly extracted carrot juice.

How do I stay on The Hallelujah Diet when I travel?

Traveling does present some difficulties for those on the Hallelujah Diet but not insurmountable ones.

Your best bet is to carry Barley Max with you and to double up on that when you can`t get fresh carrot juice. Lunch is easy – Barley Max and fresh fruit, available most anywhere. For dinner, find the best steak house in town because they`ll usually have excellent salad bars and baked potatoes.

If there`s nothing on the dinner menu that fits into the Hallelujah Diet in a restaurant, tell the waitress you`d like the chef to steam you some veggies and put them on top of brown rice. You`d be surprised at how many chefs will do this and even charge you less than the usual entree.

Stopping at the health food store or big supermarket and stocking up on fruit and distilled water each day is another alternative. Carrying dried fruit and nuts in a baggie as a snack also helps keep one from giving in to temptation when surrounded by people snacking on donuts and candy bars.

Use your imagination and be creative and plan ahead and you won`t have any problems. 

How do I stop cheating on the diet?

I can`t stop eating the wrong foods. Don`t think of cheating as a weakness and don`t tie it into morality. Not always eating ideal foods and living the way you know you should is really just a simple matter of habit and long-term food addictions.

Just try to do a little better each day. A step forward is a step forward. And a step backward is a step backward. Nothing more.

Just keep taking those steps forward and don`t beat up on yourself for the steps backwards. Keep telling yourself, "Tomorrow I`ll try to do a little better because I know I`ll feel healthier if I do."

And then forget about the step backward and move ahead.

How much carrot juice should I drink?

First let me say I am not a medical doctor and cannot tell you how much juice, etc. you personally need. Most people on the Hallelujah Diet for general maintenance with no serious known health challenges are trying to get two to three 8-ounce glasses of carrot juice daily and building up to 2 to 3 teaspoons of Barley Max (some choose less). Those with serious physical problems are finding six to eight 8-ounce glasses of carrot juice beneficial and 3 to 4 teaspoons of Barley Max.

We try to consume the juices and Barley Max on an empty stomach. This can be worked in at various times of the day. We try to spread the nutrition out throughout the day.

How will I get all the protein and calcium I need on this diet?

All of our fresh raw fruits and juices contain an abundance of protein and calcium. Our bodies are designed to obtain ALL of nutrients they need from our raw foods. Nature doesn`t produce vitamins, minerals, or any other food components in concentrated or isolated forms. They come in a synergistic blend with other components the body needs to assimilate them.

If we look in nature at a cow, we see an animal that can graze all day on green grass and obtain all the protein and calcium necessary to support a 1200 or more pound body. They can even produce a healthy calf and provide adequate nutrients in their milk to nourish that calf until weaning time.

Our nutrients are available in a good variety of raw foods. Those who desire more protein for specific reasons may want to increase the amount of raw nuts and seeds (soaked prior to consuming), whole grains, and legumes in the diet. We purposely keep these foods to a minimum so we don`t get an excess of protein. Most high protein foods leave an acid ash in the body. We want to help the body maintain an alkaline balance.

Is decaffeinated coffee okay to drink?

We don`t recommend decaf because of the way it`s processed with many chemicals to get the caffeine out. Nor are they able to get all the caffeine out. We do like a coffee substitute called Roma, and also Pero, which is available in most health food stores. Herbal teas without caffeine are also acceptable.

What about distilled water?

The controversy over distilled water has been ongoing for many years. My position is that distillation is the best method of purifying water for drinking and that distilled water is the best water for cleansing the body. However, I personally believe the best source of living water is our fresh fruits and vegetables and fresh juices. I drink very little water. (2-4 glasses/day) Some of our earliest health pioneers advocated exclusive use of distilled water: Dr. Norman Walker (lived to be 109+ in excellent health) and Dr. Paul Bragg (killed as a result of a boating accident in his 90s and in excellent health) both advocated the benefits of distilled water. Many believe distilled water cleans the body of harmful inorganic minerals while leaving the useful organic minerals in the body.

For those concerned with long-term use of distilled water, a good filter utilizing ozonation and ultraviolet light and a carbon filter may be a suitable option for purified water.

I encourage you to research both sides of the issue to determine what you find to be truth.

What about vitamin B-12 in our diet?

The B-complex vitamins are produced in our gastro-intestinal tract by our friendly flora if we have adequate colonization. Unfortunately, many factors in our diet and lifestyle have contributed to the destruction of much of these beneficial bacteria and due to the present day sanitation methods our foods are generally void of any friendly flora. It may be necessary to use a good probiotic supplement periodically to ensure adequate population of this vital flora.

Our need for vitamin B-12 is very minimal. However, it has been shown that many vegetarians and vegans are deficient in B-12. For those possibly at risk we suggest a vegetarian supplement.

What are probiotics?

Probiotics are friendly intestinal flora (bacteria). The normal human digestive tract is home for over 400 species of bacteria. Some are friendly and perform various beneficial functions such as: help to manufacture B vitamins and essential fats; clean the intestinal tract, purify the colon, and promote bowl movements; produce antibiotics and antifungals that prevent the over-growth of harmful bacterial and fungi; contribute to destruction of molds, viruses, and parasites; create lactic acid, which balances intestinal pH; breakdown and rebuild hormones; and many other beneficial functions.

What do diabetics need to do to get on The Hallelujah Diet?

Injection insulin-dependent diabetics need to transition carefully to the Hallelujah Diet. Individuals who have done this successfully report that they checked their blood sugar levels many times during the day and adjusted both their insulin and food intakes accordingly. Some had problems with carrot juice and had to either not use it or else use it mixed with distilled water or celery juice.

We encourage insulin-dependent diabetics to work carefully with a nutritionally-aware physician if they aren`t very confident of their own abilities to adjust their food and insulin needs according to their blood sugar readings.

We also encourage them to limit their fruit intake. Some do best by not having any sweet fruits at all, especially when first transitioning.

What do I do about being hungry all the time when I adopt The Hallelujah Diet?

If you get hungry on the Hallelujah Diet and having some extra Barley Max or carrot juice or fruit isn`t enough, it`s okay to snack on raw veggies like celery and carrots and turnips and so on. Having a small handful of almonds in mid afternoon works for a lot of people too. Most folks will lose more weight by not eating nuts, but sometimes the hunger comes first. (No more than four ounces of nuts a day, however.)

Other foods to snack on include dried fruits, though they are high in sugar and may slow weight loss or stop it altogether.

Some folks ease their hunger by having a pita pocket sandwich for lunch, stuffed with lots of good veggies.

Manual laborers and those doing intense brain work may also require more carbohydrates, which can be gotten from whole grained breads and pastas and so on. Having oatmeal for breakfast, for example, will slow down the detox process, but it will also provide extra energy during the day.

I snack during the day on Cocoa or Almond Standard Bars from Standard Process Inc. If you are interested in these vegetarian health bars, call our office at (908) 753-0144.

Each person has to determine for him/herself the routine that works for his or her particular body and circumstance.

Most people, after the first week or two on the diet, find hunger actually goes away as their cells become satisfied with the high quality nutrients found in Barley Max and carrot juice.

What do you recommend for a beginning exercise program?

Regarding exercise, I recommend brisk walking as being the best of all. To start a program, measure off a one-mile course. Then look at your watch and walk your one-mile course. Write down how long it takes you to cover the distance. The next day, try to cover the mile in a little less time. Keep doing this until you can walk the mile in 15 minutes. When you can do that, start on a second mile. When you can walk two miles in 30 minutes, add a third mile and then a fourth, with the goal to walk four miles in under one hour.

What is detoxification?

Detoxification or cleansing may produce various symptoms, both physical and mental that appear as a result of beginning a new nutritional diet and lifestyle and discontinuing addictions such as coffee, alcohol, sugar, etc. They may include headache, stomachache, bloating, gas, cough, diarrhea, skin eruptions or rash, congestion, fever, flu like symptoms, run down or feeling irritable. It is not uncommon to experience symptoms of various physical problems you have previously had as the body goes back and deals with unfinished business. These symptoms may be of short duration or may linger causing considerable discomfort. They may come and go in cycles for several months. The elimination of toxins in a timely and efficient manner is vital. The bowel should be functioning well with 2 to 3 good eliminations daily. While the body is cleansing, it is important to realize you are not sick and that the body is simply doing some overdue housecleaning. Get adequate rest and allow the body to do what it needs to do by giving the body as much energy as possible for the cleansing. Plenty of fresh juices and water are also important. Up to six to eight 8-ounce glasses of fresh juice daily on an hourly basis may be of benefit.

Why am I not getting well on The Hallelujah Diet?

We`re sorry to hear that the program hasn`t brought you the results you`re looking for. This does happen in some cases, and all we can tell you is that everyone heals differently and not everyone gets the dramatic improvements that some get. Patience is one of the keys to natural health and healing. This is especially true for those who have undergone surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy or long-term drug usage.

It is also important in the healing process not to forget the importance of a healthy nervous system free from vertebral subluxations. See your chiropractor for a check-up.

Why do I feel bloated and gassy?

Upon making significant positive dietary changes it is not uncommon for the body to start cleansing and for toxins to be stirred up in the gastrointestinal tract for elimination. These toxins, in conjunction with a poorly functioning digestive system, may result in the production of gas and bloating.

It is important that the colon is functioning well so the toxins are eliminated in a timely manner and efficiently. Fiber Cleanse is often very beneficial in the initial cleansing of the colon and the transport of the toxins out of the body.

A good plant-based digestive enzyme may also be beneficial in aiding the body in breaking down foods more efficiently and preventing an accumulation of gas.

Improper food combining may also contribute to the formation of gas and a bloated feeling. Fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach. Fruit requires more rapid digestion and assimilation so that it does not lie in the stomach behind other foods and ferment, and therefore produce gas.

Why shouldn’t I have a big breakfast?

Isn`t it the most important meal of the day? We teach no breakfast to let the body continue to clean and detox until about noon each day. It`s also an excellent way to lose extra pounds rather painlessly. Additionally, most people find they are sharper mentally in the mornings if they`re not using body energy to digest bacon and eggs, cereal and toast, coffee and cream. For most people, a teaspoon of Barley Max makes an excellent substitute for the Standard American Diet`s breakfast. By substituting Barley Max or Barley Max in a glass of carrot juice, you get pure nutrition that the body assimilates almost immediately without a large energy expenditure.

What is the best way to take Barley Max?

Barley Max is best taken under the tongue or mixed in a couple ounces of distilled water or stirred into 8-oz. of carrot juice.

Please do not mix Barley Max with Fiber Cleanse or any other kind of colon cleanser, as doing so will neutralize much of its nutritional value. I also discourage Barley Max being mixed with any fruit juice.

Additional Nutrition Questions

If you have any additional questions with regard to nutrition or chiropractic, please email us at chiromerge@msn.com.