In addition to the environment, poor dietary choices cause the accumulation of wastes and toxins in our intestines, which filter into the bloodstream and throughout the entire body. As a result many people are experiencing weight gain, sluggishness, congestion, allergies, headaches, and digestive issues. The American culture typically consumes too much meat, dairy, sugar, processed grain, chemical infused artificial junk foods, caffeine and alcohol. Much of our meat contains hormones, steroids, and antibiotics. Our drinking water is laden with heavy metals, fluoride and chlorine. Often, we eat fruit and vegetables bathed in pesticides and herbicides, which have been linked to many diseases and illnesses. Additionally, much of our produce has been grown in soils that are depleted of vital nutrients.
The good news is, the human body functions brilliantly. Our body’s natural response is to adapt and protect our vital organs from damage, by storing toxins and impurities in our fat cells. Our body will actually manufacture excess water and excess fat to coat and encapsulate these toxins and pull them away from our vital organs. However, as a result, many are left with extra pounds of fat, predominately around the torso. We diet and exercise and often lose some of this excess fat, only to gain it back. This is because the actual cause has not been properly addressed. If this is your experience, it’s a very good indication it is time to cleanse. Even if you are thin and feel healthy, cleansing is still recommended. You may look and feel healthy, but your internal organs may be clogging and you may not even know it. Although there is not much you can do to change the environmental toxicity present in our modern society, you can change the environment inside of your body, thus improving your immune system function and its response to the external environment.
There are a variety of ways in which to cleanse and detoxify the internal body. However, they all have two main objectives in common. First, cleansing gives the digestive system to a break, which allows the immune system to work more efficiently. Second, cleansing lightens the load of the liver, one of the major detoxification organs in the body.
A cleanse can be done any time of the year, but it is most recommended during the change of seasons. Many cultures and spiritual traditions encourage some kind of fasting or reduction of certain foods during the spring and the fall. Another function of the liver is to aid in facilitating the digestion and absorption of dietary fats. During the winter, we eat heavier, richer foods to keep warm through the colder months. Eating excess fat can be taxing on the liver if continued into the spring. During the spring, many people experience hay fever and allergies. If your liver is working over time and is clogged, it cannot filter out environmental irritants as effectively. This is why as we move into the spring season, it is a wonderful time to cleanse. Ever notice, as the weather warms up, you begin to crave lighter foods and a lighter feeling altogether?
During the early autumn, as it begins to gradually cool down and everyone settles back into a more structured routine after a fun filled summer, you may notice felling a desire to “clean up” your diet and lifestyle. Summer brings travel, parties, vacations and play, all of which typically include a more relaxed approach to eating. People also tend to drink more alcohol and consume more sugar during the summer, which eventually takes it toll on the body.
There are a variety of different ways to cleanse and rebalance the body. Determining which type of cleanse is best for you depends on your existing dietary choices, lifestyle and experience with cleansing. Anytime you engage in any type of cleanse, you’ll want to ease into and out of it. Do not binge on desert and alcohol night before you begin your cleanse. Doing so could make the cleanse feel difficult, and may increase the likelihood of experiencing detox symptoms such as headaches, nausea, sugar cravings, dizziness, mood swings, etc.
Here are three different levels of cleanse, so you can decide where to begin:
Level 1
If you are currently eating a Standard American Diet (aptly S.A.D.), your food generally consists of mostly meat, potatoes, refined grains, bread and other processed foods, dairy, sugar, caffeine and alcohol, and you eat little to no vegetables. If this is the case, you are at level 1. A great cleanse for you would be to simply reduce the former and increase the later. It would be incredibly cleansing for you to eliminate caffeine, alcohol, sugar and all processed foods for at least one week. Processed food includes packaged convenience foods and anything man-made, from a box, carton, or can, which does not come straight from the earth. Next increase whole foods. This means fresh vegetables, salads, fruit, legumes, nuts, etc., anything that comes from Mother Nature before it is changes, adulterated or denatured. A great place to start would be to make a list of anything you can think of that’s whole, real food. If it’s in question, think about where it originated and what it had to undergo before it became the “food” it is now. As a level 1 cleanser, do your best to adhere to the following:
• Eliminate caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods
• Decrease or eliminate meat, dairy, animal and wheat products
• Increase fresh colorful vegetables, particularly green vegetables
• Some fruit is ok in the morning or eaten alone as a snack
• Begin each morning by drinking hot water with lemon on an empty stomach
If you are feeling brave, then you could attempt a level 2 cleanse. Go for it!
Level 2
I suspect most people who are reading this article are level 2 eaters. You generally try to eat healthy, or go on kicks or phases of healthy eating, but then fall off the wagon from time to time. You eat fairly well during the week, and then it all goes out the window on weekends. You often say to yourself, “Diet starts Monday.” (You know who you are.) The following is what I recommend as a cleansing protocol for you.
First, slowly eliminate caffeine, alcohol, sugar, wheat, dairy, animal products and all processed foods for a few days. Remember, caffeine, alcohol and sugar are like a drug, so you may experience mild withdraw symptoms while you wean yourself off of those substances. Once they are out of your system, the symptoms should subside and you will no longer crave them. Now you are ready for your first official day of your cleanse. Begin each morning by drinking warm water with lemon on an empty stomach. This is a very cleansing tonic in it own right.
Day 1 – eat only local fruit; avoid tropical fruit
Day 2 – fruit in the morning or eaten alone as a snack; raw salads with lemon; lightly steamed vegetables in an array of color, especially dark leafy greens; sea vegetables; no grains, fats, or proteins
Day 3 – add a healthy fat. i.e.) cold pressed extra virgin olive oil or avocado
Day 4 – may add a whole grain such as slow cooked oatmeal in the morning
Day 5 – add a small amount of whole grain, such as brown rice or quinoa
Day 6 – add legumes (beans)
Day 7 – may add nuts and seeds in moderation; may add a light animal protein, such as wild caught fish (not farm raised), or free range organic chicken if you feel like you need it
Remember to ease on and off of the cleanse. Slowly eliminate unhealthy foods and slowly add them back in, if at all. See if you can maintain this style of eating for at least three weeks. You will experience more energy, easier digestion and a lighter feeling overall. Plus, you will likely release those stubborn extra pounds. After eating this way for a period of time, you may feel like reserving the unhealthier foods for special occasions and taking on this way of eating as your new healthier lifestyle. Doing so is the best way to maintain your results.
Level 3
First of all, congratulations for taking such great care of yourself and your health. You already understand the value and benefits of clean eating. You generally eat the foods on a level 2 cleanse as your current lifestyle. You may even be a vegetarian or eat very little animal food. If you do eat meat, it’s almost always organic or at the very least, natural. Now it’s time to kick it up a notch. Ready? I know you are.
The most beneficial cleanse I can recommend is an organic, living foods, raw vegan cleanse. This includes daily fresh pressed green juices, wheatgrass shots, green smoothies, some seasonal local fruit, an abundance of raw vegetables, green soups, cleansing salads and spouts. It also includes super foods such as blue-green algae, sea vegetables, young coconut, and certain cleansing plants and herbs. On this cleanse, nothing is heated beyond 115 degrees. Once food is heated beyond 115 degrees, it loses much of it’s nutrient content and crucial digestive enzymes are destroyed. Eating raw, vegan, living foods optimizes nutrient absorption and enzymatic function, balances digestion, and rapidly facilitates the elimination of toxins and impurities. You will be amazed at how creative you can be, how delicious this foods is, and how incredible you will feel on this cleanse. I highly recommend this cleanse. After the cleanse, as you ease out of it, you can begin to include soaked nuts and seeds, and sprouted whole grains and legumes. This cleanse requires a few simple tools, and taking some classes and/or seeking guidance from a holistic nutrition counselor or raw foods professional is extremely beneficial.
Whether you are a novice or an expert at cleansing, no matter what cleanse you choose, the following factors should be taken into consideration:
• Determine a length of time in which to cleanse (3 – 30 days or more)
• Eliminate caffeine, alcohol, sugar and processed foods
• Decrease or eliminate meat, dairy, animal and wheat products
• Increase fresh colorful vegetables, particularly green vegetables
• Some fruit is ok in the morning or eaten alone as a snack
• Begin each morning by drinking pure, clean water with lemon on an empty stomach
• Make sure everything is organic and local when available, not conventional. This includes animal protein as well.
• Chew your food well and slowly; aim for 20-50 chews per mouthful. Count!
• Drink plenty of pure, clean water – at lease half of your body weight in ounces. ie.) 75oz. per 150lbs of body weight.
• Non-caffeinated herbal tea is fine.
• Journal during your experience. You may feel a heightened sense of awareness and clarity during your cleanse. You may also have some emotional issues surface. This is all part of cleansing. I recommend writing your feelings down, rather than taking them out on your loved ones.
Most of all… Get support! Find a friend to participate in a cleanse with you. Enroll your family, friends and co-workers and let them know what you are up to.
________________________________
Christine Lucas, HHC, AADP
Holistic Health and Nutrition Counselor
Complete Mind and Body
New York / Boston / Marblehead
in person or by phone
646-382-8900; 781-990-3899
christine@completemindandbody.com
www.completemindandbody.com
Schedule Your Consultation today!
