Spotlight on the ReNew Food Plan
The following article is adapted from the ReNew Food Plan Comprehensive Guide produced with permission by the Institute for Functional Medicine.
May 4, 2019
What Is the ReNew Food Plan?
The ReNew Food Plan prescribed by a Functional Medicine practitioner is a therapeutic, short-term approach followed for a specific amount of time, often used as a first step in:
- Ridding the body of the most common foods that cause inflammation
- Identifying food allergies, sensitivities, intolerances, and triggers
- Eliminating foods with potentially addictive and harmful components
- Providing nutritional support for the body’s detoxification systems
The ReNew Food Plan focuses on removing processed foods with sugar, grains, and dairy—the main sources of most food allergies and intolerances (also referred to as food sensitivities)—as well as artificial sweeteners and processed chemicals. As a result of eliminating these foods and chemicals from the diet, the body will be better able to repair tissues and eliminate toxins.
The following questions may help to determine if the ReNew Food Plan is right for an individual:
- Do you routinely consume and crave fast food, packaged foods, and processed foods with sugar or flour?
- Do you regularly eat fruits and vegetables that are nonorganic?
- Do you eat fewer than five servings of fresh fruits or vegetables per day?
- Do you consume lots of animal products every day (e.g., meat, milk, cheese, and eggs)?
If a person answers “yes” to one or more of the questions above, he or she may have an addiction to sugar or processed foods, may be exposed to a high level of potential food triggers or allergens, or may have a high total body burden of toxins.
One of the most important aspects of the ReNew Food Plan is the emphasis on consistent intake of foods that help optimize function of the primary organs of elimination and reduce stimulation of the immune system. The gut needs to work efficiently to provide one to two well-formed bowel movements daily. Without proper movement of the bowels, fewer toxins are excreted from the body. Some of these excreted toxins are processed by the liver and are released through the bile. Adequate daily dietary fiber intake (at least 35 grams daily) from colorful, phytonutrient rich, non-starchy vegetables also aids in elimination of endotoxins in the stool. Some converted toxins are also eliminated through urine, which is why proper hydration is essential for optimal detoxification.
The ReNew Food Plan is designed to support not just the gut, but also the liver, the hub of detoxification processes. When neglected through lack of nutrients or overburdened by an increased toxic load, the liver’s capacity to detoxify becomes compromised. By implementing this food plan, an individual will decrease toxin intake and experience better digestive function, improved immune function, and enhanced liver detoxification.
Related: IFM Food Plan
Some individuals may need to follow this plan (or a variation of it) long term. A Functional Medicine practitioner can personalize the plan, advising individuals on how to add certain foods back into the diet while maintaining exclusion of others.
The ReNew Food Plan is a nutritional pathway to health for those who have autoimmune, gastrointestinal, neurological, and other chronic health conditions. This plan is designed as a “whole systems reboot” to set an individual on a renewed path to wellness.
Why ReNew?
The ReNew Food Plan is a nutritional pathway to health for those who have autoimmune, gastrointestinal, neurological, and other chronic health conditions. This plan is designed as a “whole systems reboot” to set an individual on a renewed path to wellness. It helps support healing by removing common food triggers that are contributing to metabolic dysfunction while providing the essential nutrients that are needed for health and vitality. The ReNew Food Plan is a way of eating that reduces intake of all sweeteners and processed foods, lowers inflammation, and improves the body’s ability to eliminate harmful substances. It places a strong emphasis on eating clean foods for life and avoiding those foods that impair the body’s ability to
function properly.
The path to health and wellness is not a sprint, but rather a journey. This Comprehensive Guide supports an individual’s journey in following the ReNew Food Plan by providing tips on how to get started, what to eat, what to watch for, and how to provide the body with the right nutrients for improved utilization, elimination, and detoxification.
Download the ReNew Food Plan
Comprehensive Guide
Weekly Planner
ReNew Food Plan
Compare Food Plans
Are you curious how the ReNew Food Plan compares to other food plans? Use this chart to review the features of the foundational food plans offered through the Institute for Functional Medicine.
Since 2010, Richmond Integrative and Functional Medicine has been helping people to restore their health and hope with an integrative approach to conventional and alternative medicine that’s entirely science-backed. We at RIFM believe everyone is made for health. We offer a comprehensive, in-person patient membership program to ensure you get access to the care you need to thrive.