Cleansing detoxifying fasting. Generally we have a notion of what this means. Some type of healthful elimination of waste and toxins from the body. So commonplace that magazine articles list the 10 top foods to help your body and the lasted fad diet includes a weekly fast. But what does it really mean do a cleanse, what does it really entail?
A healthful approach to a cleanse is to take it slow. It's unwise to jump straight in to any program the body needs to be prepared. This isn't complicated but it certainly helps the body from feeling stress. If you are an omnivore i.e. you eat a range of everything the first step is to simplify what you're eating.
Over a week start cutting first red meats (beef lamb pork venison) alcohol and refined sugars. During the second week stop eating all animal protein (chicken, fish and eggs) Eliminate refined carbohydrates like bread pasta and flour based products and stop eating dairy products (milk cheeses eggs) Stop drinking coffee caffeinated teas and carbonated beverages.
As these things are removed eat lots of fruit vegetables cooked and raw and brown rice. Increase your water intake and drink herb teas. Do this for 7 days. This is known as the Brown rice cleansing diet. This diet gives our digestive system a break, allowing it to function more efficiently. All nutritional needs are met with out going hungry. This cleanse is also much easier on the system especially in winter (See handout for more details.)
If you choose to do a fruit and vegetable/ juice cleanse then toward the end of the week stop eating cooked food and only eat raw vegetables and fruit. It's important to mention that at this point going organic is really beneficial because you don't want to eat any chemicals while trying to rid the body of them.
You can continue on fruits and vegetables for 1-2 weeks. This does count as a cleanse. It removes most digestive stress from the body and provides the phyto nutrients the body needs to function. This is simple and relatively easy to do.
If you want to go further at this point you can start juicing your fruit and vegetables. Limit your fruit juices as it is high in sugars. Instead add fruit to your vegetable juices for a sweeter flavour. Adding a hot electrolyte broth 3-5x/day will also be beneficial. If you are doing the juicing do it for 4-7 days.
Some people may want go even further. Adding what's often referred to as the master cleanse program at this point is possible. The Master cleanse is when you remove all food from your diet except for a drink made from maple syrup, lemon juice cayenne pepper and water. You drink this for 10-40 days. This cleanse is best done supervised by a heath care professional. (See handouts for Master cleanse recipe and protocols)
One of the tasks of a cleanse is to Alkalinize your body. Parasites and bacteria's and yeasts find this kind of internal environment hostile. Limiting acid forming foods during a cleanse and after is highly beneficial. Eating with a balance in mind can maintain a healthful state. (See handout). This is especially useful with calcium based conditions like osteoporosis or arthritis.
If we consider eating mindfully it becomes possible to further target compromised areas of the body. E.g. limiting certain foods and focusing on others can work specifically on the liver the lymph system or any other organ (See notes).
Cleanses designed in this way in conjunction with herbs and homeopathy facilitate elimination. These kinds of cleanses are specifically intended for an individuals different needs. This way one can eliminate parasites heavy metals like lead and mercury or cleanse only the liver or simply target lymph drainage. These kinds of cleanses are best done with the supervision of your healthcare provider.
Adding supplementation and detoxifying formulas during a cleanse is helpful with not only detoxification and elimination supplements also support the whole process of cleansing.
The most basic thing to take regularly during a cleanse is some kind of fibre supplement like physillium. This swells in the bowels and helps to absorb and remove waste from the body.
Many herbal formulas are available to facilitate the detox process during a cleanse. Try for products which include artichoke leaf beetroot blessed thistle burdock root dandelion root garlic green tea hawthorn berry kelp cape aloe gel rhubarb root slippery elm bark marshmallow root clover ginger flaxseed and magnesium. Specific formulas can be compounded by you health care provider and can also include stronger herbs.
Also be sure to add acidophilus to replace the friendly bacteria you remove via the cleanse. Pure water up to 3l/day is recommended as water is essential for removing the waste from your body.
Alexis Touyz BA DSHomMed HMC
Bowen Therapist
416-465-2397
www.smartmedicine.ca