Many people who are new the Phase 1 Diet often get confused by which foods to avoid. Sugar is a no-brainer; virtually every diet limits or prohibits sugar all together. But what about whole grains? Aren't those loaded with vitamins, minerals and fiber? Or corn - corn is a plant; it has got to be healthy! It is downright un-American to claim otherwise! What about potatoes and pasta? Aren't those foods that active people such as runners should eat regularly?

Doug has written a number of books explaining why these foods, that are often encouraged by conventional nutritional wisdom (as seen in the food pyramid), are not only unhealthy, but may be dangerous. Fungi and their mycotoxins often contaminate such starchy, carbohydrate laden foods, especially when they are stored in a silo for any length of time. Those mycotoxins are capable of causing very serious diseases. Fungi are also capable of infecting human tissue, and eating foods such as corn, grain, potatoes and pasta give those fungi the very foods they need to survive.

Doug has outlined the way we should eat with his Phase 1 diet. But, if you are like me, and you will eat pretty much anything, you often encounter foods that Doug has neither specifically outlawed or allowed. In other words, there are some questionable foods. You can encounter this culinary gray area anywhere from the produce aisle to your plate at a restaurant.

Over the next couple days, I want to pick out some foods that Doug may or may not have specifically put on the Phase 1 Diet. After all, variety is the spice of life; the more food you can entertain your taste buds with, the more likely you are to stick to the diet. If you have questions about specific foods, leave me a comment and I'll try to answer questions about all of them!