A Time To Cleanse!

Most of us have heard the terms "cleanse," "toxins," and "detox" but what do they mean and why and when should you do them?

The term "cleanse" means to purge toxins from one's system. This can be done in a number of ways, including modifying one's diet for a set period of time. This is my favorite and can be one of the kinder and more gentler techniques. Why would you need to cleanse? Frankly, our world is full of chemical and environmental toxins - from the air we breathe, to the chemicals we come in contact with, to the food on our tables. Food supply??? Wait - that's a bit scary if you think about it - pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, allergens, synthetics, oh and don't forget all the pharmaceuticals that folks conveniently flush down their toilets...water treatment facilities are only capable of cleaning up so much you know. So what can you do to minimize the exposure?

Grow your own food organically, buy organics when not cost prohibitive, but especially for thin skinned things like strawberries and green peppers. Use bottled spring water for your drinking source as well as when preparing food. For those who can't handle the afforementioned lifestyle, cleanses are VERY important to do on a regular basis. I would suggest quarterly - at the turn of each season, unless you have a specific health crisis occurring that warrants otherwise.

What are "toxins" and "detoxing"? Toxins are the poisons we pick up in our daily lives as mentioned above - and detoxing is the process of getting the body to naturally purge them.

Ayuvedic medicine practices a water-only fast to give the digestive system a break and keep things running smoothly. I like this practice for people who have the ability to drink water throughout a full day at home. It also gives you a nice recharge to take yourself offline for a day-cay.

Identify possible irritants in your diet - here's a few that are very prevalent in our society - wheat/sugar, uric acids, and common food allergens such as milk and nuts. Let's look at each one:

1) Wheat/sugar - these are in just about everything prepackaged/processed and lead to yeast overgrowth - candida in the blood stream. Been feeling lethargic? Can't seem to lose weight? You may have a yeast problem. It's actually very common and sadly left untreated. The yeast takes over the blood and then attacks major organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, which eventually shut down. If you suspect candida, remove all wheat and sugar from your diet. Use only agave nectar or stevia for your sweeteners, and drink plenty of water. Exercize - try walking - it's easy and free. Buckwheat flour can be used safely as buckwheat isn't a grain, but a member of the rhubarb family. Use quinoa in place of white rice. Work up to removing all refined white foods and sugars from your life - including corn syrups.

2) Uric acids - this is a message especially to people with arthritic conditions including rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and may also be helpful to folks who suffer from fybromyalgia. Uric acids are major irritants to arthritis sufferers. Modifying your diet to exclude red meats, limit white meats (or go vegetarian), eliminate high fructose corn syrup, and minimize/exclude all nightshades (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, eggplant, tobacco, and belladonna) as well as high fructose corn syrup. Oddly enough, coffee is helpful in reducing uric acid levels in the body. I used to wake up in clenched pain everyday - friends with fibromyalgia thought I had it too - then I went vegetarian and am now virtually pain-free.

3) Food Allergens/Intolerances - These occur from the over-use of certain ingredients in prepackaged food. Milk and nuts have proven to stand out in the crowd for irritants, in some cases causing severe reactions including death. Corn will likely be next, as it and its derivatives are being used as thickeners and sweeteners in countless things. MSG, a flavor enhancer and also big offender can cause breathing problems. Aspartame triggers headaches. High fructose corn syrup is known to be indigestible...the list goes on and on. I have also learned that the best dietary change an asthmatic can make for themselves is to become vegan. I personally went this route and not only did my asthma improve, I also cleared up my sinusitis and rarely ever experienced a sinus infection or sinus headache.

So what does all of this information have to do with cleansing? One of the best things you can do for yourself after a cleanse is to adhere to a healthier eating habit! Explaining how to do a general cleanse will help illustrate this:

Ease into your cleanse - If you are a meat eater, that's elimination number one. You don't have to give it up forever - that's up to you. What we are doing here is taking the hardest to digest foods out of your diet ever other day. The next to eliminate would be dairy and eggs. Then bread & vegetables, then solid fruits. Switch to fruit only smoothies, then juice and if you're up for it, water. Then coming back out, you would do the same in reverse. NEVER jump back into hard to digest foods when coming off a cleanse!!! Each phase may last only a day or may be extended to 2 to 3 days depending on how you are feeling. LISTEN to your body!

Here's a mapping of how it is best done (remembering that water is allowed at all times):

Phase 1: Eat only vegetables, bread/grains, fruits, milk, cheese, and eggs.
Phase 2: Eat only vegetables, bread/grains, and fruits
Phase 3: Eat only bread/grains and fruits.
Phase 4: Eat only soft fruits.
Phase 5: Drink fresh fruit-only smoothies and juices.
Phase 6: Drink only juices - (fresh squeezed orange juice is great)
Phase 7: Drink only water.
Phase 8: Drink only juices.
Phase 9: Drink fresh fruit-only smoothies and juices.
Phase 10: Eat only soft fruits.
Phase 11: Eat only fruits and breads/grains
Phase 12: Eat only vegetables, breads/grains, and fruits.
Phase 13: Eat only vegetables, breads/grains, fruits, milk, cheese, and eggs.

You can hereafter reincorporate clean meats if desired. Definitely incorporate any dietary changes you have decided to bring into your life and keep permanent, and leave behind the bad habits you wish to end. It is also helpful to keep a journal as you cleanse to make note of how you are feeling. The number one detox complaint is a headache - which can extend to flu-like symptoms. This is natural as your body purges the toxins and goes away on its own in a few days.

Now, if you are having specific issues or wish to target certain areas of the body, incorporating fresh herbs and teas can assist in this endeavor. If you feel like you need a heavy metal cleanse, eat cilantro! This little powerhouse will sweep away the latent heavy metals in your body and boost your liver's health in the process! Wish to make your kidneys love you as well? Eat parsley! A great natural diurhetic that is also good for blood pressure is celery. Help your body eliminate harmful cholesterol from your arteries by increasing your EFAs (essential fatty acids) with walnuts, avacadoes, flax (ground), cashews, and olive oil...these will also help you shed fat.

One last note - I've heard of people in my area being prescribed B-12 shots for deficiencies. These are not vegetarians - sounds more like an absorption issue to me. I would recommend incorporating nutritional yeast into your daily diet. It is a natural plant source for B-12 and because it is a plant source, it is easier digested than animal B-12.