Cleansing
Once
the basics of the diet are understood, one is ready to take control
and make positive changes. It is time to begin the process of detoxification
and cleansing. The most effective way that many individuals begin the
healing process is with a “cleanse.”
Cleansing
is a holistic approach to allowing the body to heal itself, naturally.
The first step to correcting the pH imbalance is to remove the debris
that has built up in the body and provide the raw materials, or building
blocks, for repair. The Cleanse can be accomplished without taking additional
supplements, however there are some which will aid in the process, making
it more effective. It is very important to provide nutrients that will
aid in repair and give the body energy it needs during the cleansing
process; this is not a fast! Vegetable juices and soups, alkaline
water, essential oils, and green drinks are recommended.
The
protocol for the Cleanse follows this section (see below).
It
is important to understand that during cleansing, the blood is actually
“dirtier” than when one began. This can result in feeling
worse before one can feel better. Some “detox symptoms”
may occur, such as: nausea, dizziness, headaches, fatigue, runny nose,
etc. Some call these flu-like symptoms a “healing crisis.”
It’s a good sign! It shows that the cleansing process is effective;
toxins are being expelled from the body and eliminated through wastes,
mucus, etc. The most important thing to do when one exhibits these symptoms
is to hydrate the body with water and green juices. This will allow
the toxins to exit the body and help to decrease some of the discomfort
of side effects. Don’t give up! Cleansing will put one years ahead
in the healing process according to some.
Granted,
each individual’s body responds differently to various stimuli.
Therefore, one must decide how many days to follow the Cleanse, individually.
Generally, a seven to ten day cleanse is recommended. This ensures that
the body has rid itself of harmful toxins, adequately cleansed the system,
and weaned itself off sugar and other acid forming foods which are difficult
to eliminate from the diet.
Upon
termination of the cleanse, one will find it is much easier to avoid
the types of foods that are not recommended on an alkaline diet, like
sugar, meat, coffee, etc. It may be a challenge to pass up these foods
during the start of the Cleanse, but once completed, the body has almost
“forgotten” the sweet taste of these foods and finds enjoyment
in subtler, more natural tastes. Many people comment on the way their
“taste buds have changed” since doing the Cleanse and continuing
on the maintenance diet. It’s surprising how sweet fresh, lightly
steamed vegetables or salad tastes!
The
Cleanse
During
the Cleanse, your intake should consist of the following:
1. Freshly juiced, green vegetables –
Kale, spinach, parsley, celery, cucumber, broccoli, wheat grass, cabbage,
barley grass, collard greens, okra, etc. If this is one’s only
intake, drink 8-12, 8 oz. glasses per day, in addition to 64 oz. to
one gallon of water. If using a green drink in addition to fresh juice,
drink 2-3 glasses a day. If juice is not available, try the soup recipes
listed below. It is vital that enough energy and nutrients are provided
so that the body can heal itself. An example serving of juiced greens:
1 cucumber, 1 stalk celery, 1/3 bunch parsley, a handful of alfalfa
sprouts, and some spinach or kale leaves.
2.
Alkalizing Water - The most important thing you must
learn is to hydrate the body with alkalizing
water. Like the earth on which we live, our bodies are 70% water.
Food cravings are often the body's cry for water. A thirst for water
will begin as one begins to hydrate with water.
A
diet high in acid foods such as meat, dairy, grains, high sugar fruits
and bread, causes acid wastes to build up in the body. When acid wastes
enter our blood stream, the blood system will attempt to dispose of
these wastes in liquid form through the lungs or the kidneys. If there
are too many wastes to handle, they are deposited in various organ systems
like the heart, pancreas, liver, colon, and other locations.
The
breakdown of this disposal process of acid waste could also be called
"the aging process". To slow down and reverse this process,
one must begin by removing this over-acidification of the blood and
tissues by including liberal amounts of alkaline water in the diet.
Alkaline water has a pH between 9 and 11, and will neutralize harmful
stored acid wastes and gently remove them from the tissues.
3.
Raw, pureed soups - These
soups help the body combat toxins and can be very anti-fungal. Ingredients
like garlic, onion, green vegetables, and vegetable broth are detoxifying
and increase the effectiveness of the Cleanse. (Sample recipes follow)
Raw soups supply energy in a form that is easy for the body to utilize;
it doesn’t have to expend energy to obtain it during digestion.
One to two bowls/day during a Cleanse is suggested.
4.
Essential Oils - These high-quality oils may be added
to juices, soups, or taken in gelcap form. Among the most highly recommended
are: Primrose, Flax Seed, Borage, Olive Oil, or a blend such as Udo’s
Choice, Perfected Oil Blend. About 2-3 Tbsp./day is recommended.
5.
Nutritional Supplements - Most of us suffer from a chronic
deficiency of vitamins and other essential nutrients. Since deficiencies
of these essential nutrients do not give any immediate alarm signs,
they continue to be unrecognized and masked for many years. In many
cases, the first sign of chronic vitamin deficiency is a heart attack
or the outbreak of another disease. Thus, since our body does not give
us any alarm signs, the best way we can avoid deficiencies in cellular
energy is an optimum daily supplementation of broad-spectrum bio-available
nutrients. The best supplements to use are liquid colloidal (sublingual)
since these vitamins and minerals bypass the digestive tract (which
may be currently compromised) by entering the blood stream directly
through the mouth.
A Typical Day On The Cleanse:
.