Fast and Simple :: Holistic Healing :: Detoxification and Cleansing

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Fast and Simple
by author Nomi Shannon

Summer is in full swing and both markets and gardens are brimming with luscious ripe fruits and vegetables! If you’ve ever thought about embarking on a cleansing program, now is the time to do it!
But what exactly is a cleanse?

Simply put, when your body does not have to constantly attend to the complex tasks of digestion, assimilation and elimination, it is able to attend more efficiently to some of its other functions, the most important being cleansing and healing. There are several ways to do this.

Water fasting is the most extreme form of cleansing. At one time I considered water fasting to be foolhardy. But after several seven-day, water-only fasts (along with plenty of bed rest), I changed my mind. Water fasting can be an extremely profound and beneficial form of cleansing and healing. However, most water fasting experts feel that bed rest is a very important component.

Since this would be impractical for most people, it’s nice to know that wonderful results can also be had with juice fasting. It’s a good idea to lead up to a juice fast gradually by cutting out flesh, dairy and wheat foods while adding more raw fruits and vegetables to your daily routine two to three weeks before you begin your cleanse.

This will greatly minimize any adverse detoxifying symptoms such as headache, fatigue, lightheadedness or nausea. These symptoms are indications that stored-up toxins are rushing to exit your body. With the gradual lead-up, you should be able to maintain your normal daily activities while on a juice fast. But it would be nice if you could get more rest and sunshine than usual during this time as your body is doing a lot of cleaning out. Resting would assist the process.

Juicing extracts the oxygenated liquid from the food, leaving the pulp behind. Your digestive system rests from the constant work of food metabolism while nourishing the blood and body organs. A typical juicing plan would consist of drinking as much freshly made juice throughout the day as you want. If you like, you could start your day with fruit juices and switch to vegetable juices in the middle of the day.

Many people use carrot juice for their fasts, however I would recommend 50 percent carrot juice and 50 percent juices from green sources such as cucumber, celery, spinach, kale, cabbage and romaine lettuce. Carrot juice contains a great deal of sugar, so with the addition of greens, the blood sugar levels tend to remain more even. The chlorophyll in greens is an excellent internal and external cleanser and healer. Greens also contain protein; the darker the green, the higher the protein.

All raw fruits and vegetables contain enzymes, minerals and vitamins, so along with flushing out toxins, you are also supplying the best nutrients as you rehydrate with these high water content foods.

Mono-Meals Detoxify

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Nomi Shannon is a well-known proponent of natural health and healing, a raw foods chef and a certified Hippocrates health educator.

Source: alive #226, August 2001

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