1. Include more raw foods Yes, absolutely include more raw foods, which are easy to digest, nutrient-dense, and keep you full and healthy. Greens are the foundation of the raw diet, so be sure to check out my easy green smoothie recipe and start trying one every day for breakfast or lunch. 2. Avoid all dairy products Dairy is pasteurized and very difficult to digest and uses up many of our precious enzymes. It is also mucus and acid-forming. It is my personal experience that it is very difficult to lose weight while eating dairy. 3. Avoid all "fake" sugar Splenda, Sweet 'n Low, Equal, etc. are very difficult for your body to recognize and break down. 0 calories mean it's not healthy. 4. Stay hydrated Drink plenty of water for 20 minutes on either side of a meal, but in small amounts with meals (so the digestive enzymes are not diluted). 5. Practice yoga Besides the profound spiritual and emotional benefits, I have personally found yoga to be one of the most rewarding and beneficial physical exercises. Routines are fast-paced and can get your heart rate up. Furthermore, your muscles will be strengthened and toned. 6. Food composition matters If you are going to eat cooked food, do not combine protein with starch. Instead, combine protein with greens, such as a salad or a side of vegetables. Protein and starch are really hard to break down together. For example, eat fish with salad or spinach. Sushi- a combination of fish and rice, very hard on the system. I never thought about food combinations. But when foods are well-integrated and easy to digest, minerals are more easily absorbed and toxic waste can be easily flushed out of the body. When the opposite is true, backup occurs and is usually associated with weight gain and/or difficulty letting go of the excess weight. 7. Avoid all sodas Avoid it all, especially diet cola. It is highly acidic and deprives you of your B vitamins and minerals. 8. Try to eat 1-3 lemons per day You can squeeze them on top of salads, in water, etc. Lemon helps in bile formation to revitalize and support your liver. Since your liver is your main fat-burning organ, lemons promote optimal fat metabolism. 9. Don't eat fruit for dessert after you eat a cooked meal Simple sugars in fruit break down much faster than dense cooked foods and cause backups and fermentation in your digestive system (see #6). 10. Chew really well Be a slow eater. It is important to liquefy your food with enough chewing. Not only will you be able to extract more nutrients from your food, but you'll feel full before overeating. 11. Eat a fibrous filling salad for dinner Try my hearty and super-nutrition-dense kale salad recipe, which I eat for dinner several nights a week. It is so satisfying and delicious. Pro Tip: Balance your digestive system and get the most from your diet by incorporating digestive enzymes and probiotics into your daily routine.