People choose a directed detoxification cleanse to jumpstart a diet or as damage control after overeating. Others detox between the seasons to clear the digestive tract as a regular holistic health-care practice.
Detox can be done by juicing, fasting by consuming the Master Cleanse or eating only whole foods as detailed by Dr. Elson Haas in The New Detox Diet. Do not undergo a detox diet if you are pregnant or have any serious health issues.
The Master Cleanse: Fasting Lemonade
If you are in excellent health, you can might consider the Master Cleanse, a lemonade made from organic lemons, maple syrup and cayenne pepper and water. This lemonade is consumed until the tongue is pink and shows no sign of a white coating. Popularized by Stanley Burroughs who self-published a short booklet, "The Master Cleanse" in 1979, many people swear by it to lose weight.
The tongue is believed to be a reflection of the digestion and the contents of the stomach: a coated tongue suggests a stagnant digestion. Get medical clearance before you undergo your first Master Cleanse.
Juice Fasting
Juicing fresh organic fruits and vegetables and sipping herbal teas designed to clear the colon is another detox option. Use a heavy-duty juicer to tackle the job of juicing carrots, dark green leafy vegetables, lemons, apples, garlic and ginger. Skip bananas as they are too rich and more appropriate for a post-cleanse diet. Apples can be juiced with any vegetable or fruit without risking stomach upset. Consume at least four to six, eight-ounce fresh juices and also another four to six, eight ounces of water. Sip senna, buckthorn or cascara herbal teas to clear the bowel as you will not be eating fiber to stay regular.
The Detox Diet: Vegetables, Fruits
You don't have to fast on teas or juice to detox: you can eat food for two weeks or longer and detox. Consume whole vegetables, fruits, whole grains such as brown rice, millet, oats, quinoa and groats. Steam, bake, broil or eat foods raw. Include small amounts of non-saturated oils such as olive, flax, canola, hemp seed and fish oils and ground flax seeds. If you need more protein, include small amounts of lean protein such as non-fat yogurt, lean cuts of poultry or beef. This is a thumbnail of the detox diet Elson Haas, MD, outlines in The New Detox Diet that serves to clear the digestive tract and provide nutrients and calories to sustain a normal work or school load.
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