Bananas

Although they may not taste as sweet as oranges or strawberries, they actually have a lot of sugar! It has a higher glycemic index and carbohydrate content than most fruits. They can cause rapid blood sugar spikes which can often allow the body to store energy as fat verse pull it and progressively add weight over time if consumed regularly for some people.

Mushrooms 

Most studies show that mushrooms are anti-inflammatory but with mushrooms falling into the "medium" range of histamine (responsible for responding to sensitivities) concentration response and the wide varieties available, it is best to keep it off the level 1 food list until a baseline is established through the restoration of your gut health. 

Tropical Fruits 

High amounts of natural sugars found with these fruits can pose potential problems during Level 1. Studies have shown these fruits have the ability to cause diarrhea, nausea, and greater amounts of menstrual bleeding for women. Once again, the high glycemic index can create weight gain complications.

Nightshades 

Of the over 2,000 varieties of nightshades, Betr recommends only 3: tomatoes, eggplants, and peppers. This is due to their studied affects on clients mood, sleep, energy, sensitivities, and even their pre/post labs. These are staple foods in a wide variety of cultures and they make great prebiotics. They are packed with vitamins, minerals ,fiber, and antioxidants.

There are differing opinions on whether or not nightshades are anti- or pro- inflammatory but the truth is: every body is unique. Tomatoes may be inflammatory to one person's gut but not another's. The best way to find that out is through the elimination process in Level 1.  Working with thousands of clients, we have found our Level 1 nightshades to be successful for most people.  One of the many goals of this phase is to try out food combinations and set temporary barriers that will clear any gray areas of which foods do and do not work for you. Trust the process.
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​Almonds & Walnuts

Of all tree nuts, walnuts have the highest antioxidant content of all the tree nuts. Eating a cup of walnuts gets you double the amount of antioxidants you'd get from having a cup of any other tree nut. This provides greater care for bone health. They are also a rich source of healthy monounsaturated fats.  Almonds are full of omega 3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein to fuel your body with sustainable energy for a productive day. These nuts also have the highest calcium content of the nut family. 

Why cottage cheese but no other dairy?

Cottage cheese is fresh rather than aged (otherwise known by the maturation process) or artificially colored. It's drained instead of pressured to be dried out so it keeps all of its nutritional content and natural flavoring. With roughly 13g of protein in 1/2 cup of cottage cheese, it is an excellent source of concentrated protein and an excellent activity fuel.

Why just zucchini squash?

Because zucchini is a type of squash, it has things in common with other commonly eaten winter squashes but one difference is that zucchini’s water content is higher, making it lower in calories/starch/sugar.  Other squash score higher on the glycemic index and our goal is to keep a more even blood glucose level to avoid spikes that store energy and instead stay in the fat burning zone.  Improves thyroid and adrenal glands, additionally regulating insulin levels. Eat with skin still on it for more antioxidants! Other types of squash have a high potassium level which may be harmful in large amounts. Having too much of a good thing is possible, even when it's vital nutrients to fuel your body. (Don't think we need this section.)

Why avocado and sweet potato for only activity fuel?

Avocados, while low in protein, are the perfect food to provide good monounsaturated fats to fuel your system, keeping you full and focused during a workout. Their nutritional makeup also help with nutrient absorption from other foods. Sweet potatoes contain primarily complex carbohydrates for added energy but also contain unique proteins, called sporamins.  Recent research suggests that these proteins may have antioxidant properties so they can build more muscle in addition to sustaining what you've already developed, which reducing inflammation.. Boiling sweet potatoes makes it easier for your body to absorb the nutrients too! 

Why no iceberg lettuce?

Iceburg lettuce is mostly water with little nutrient value!  It's very low in calories and doesn't necessarily have any negative impacts on the body.  However, it lacks the nutrition density of romaine, spinach and other lettuce varieties holds. Not a fan of romaine or spinach?  Try kale or arugula to up your consumption of leafy greens.