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Cleansing
is in the media these days. Kathy Freston author of Quantum
Wellness: A Practical and Spiritual Guide to Health and
Happiness is encouraging us to cleanse our bodies and become
conscious about our eating habits. Shedding light on how we
handle or treasure our bodies, our foods and our planet is a
very important focus.
Here
are my thoughts on cleansing:
Cleansing is a natural tendency at this time of year.
Now that winter has finally abated and there are more
seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables available - it's time to
clean house and clean the body.
A
cleanse can be a very important part of a person's on-going
wellness program. But exercise caution.
Be sure
your body is physically strong enough to handle a cleanse, be
sure you have a skilled practitioner nearby who can assist you
during a cleansing program and be sure you choose the right
kind of cleanse.
Many people think that cleansing means
fasting. These are very different programs.
In
a clinical setting where I worked for many years, we would
often see severely depleted people who thought they
were doing themselves a good service by cleansing or fasting
well beyond what their body was capable of handling. They
arrived at our clinic, depleted and severely out of balance.
Not everyone can handle a cleanse that consists of fruits,
vegetables nuts and seeds. Many people need something more
substantial. So tune in to your body's needs and act
accordingly.
My
work with clients revolves around detoxification and
fortification. In other words, removing toxic items
from the body and feeding the body correctly so that it gains
vitality and strength. Once the body is strong, a cleanse
might be a useful addition to a wellness program. I find that
some younger people's bodies can handle a cleanse or a strict
vegetarian program. But over the years finicky digestive
tracts can rebel against certain grains and raw vegetables and
a cleanse may not be appropriate.
Therefore,
If you do not suffer from hypoglycemia or low blood sugar then
you could try a short vegetable juice cleanse: juicing with
fresh vegetables two or three times a day with lots of water,
hot vegetable broth three times a day along with a handful of
sprouted almonds three times a day - just to give you a little
protein.
When juicing with vegetables keep carrot intake
low - carrots though nutritious, are very sweet. You can add
half an apple to your vegetable juice - but that's about as
much fruit I would recommend. A fruit juice cleanse is often
far too sweet for most people.
Some
health professionals and health food stores offer prepared,
powdered cleanses for their clients.
This might be a more
supportive route to choose. Some of these cleanses are
actually meal replacements and are loaded with nutrients
(without the common allergens soy or whey) so the person feels
satisfied and not depleted. Other cleanses are specifically
related to heavy metal, parasite, liver or candida yeast
detoxification.
Recolonizing
lower
bowel flora with probiotics (acidophillus) is another
important aspect of cleansing. These are kits and are usually
herbal in nature.
Organs that need to be supported
during a cleanse are liver: pancreas: gall bladder: colon:
kidneys.
Unless
a cleanse is monitored by a professional, there can be a
number of concerns: possible constipation, low blood sugar,
chills, mood swings and fatigue.
Never fast. Just
drinking water for days on end can have serious deleterious
effects on the body. Most people are not equipped to handle
this kind of plan.
Here's
how to get started:
I
suggest you set aside a week. Take some quality time for
yourself. Remove caffeine, sugar, wheat/flour and dairy
products from the diet. Pick up a herbal bowel detoxification
kit from your health food store and follow the directions.
Eat lightly from fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and
sprouted nuts. Drink lots of water. In about 48 hours you will
notice quite a change in the body - more vitality and mental
clarity. This is how you are supposed to feel.
After your
cleanse is finished, introduce foods back into the diet one at
a time and note the reaction. Like me, you will probably
notice that you have less symptoms and reactions if you choose
to eat protein, nuts and seeds, plenty of vegetables and
minimal grains on a daily basis.
Cleansing
can also lead us to an important lifestyle change and the
understanding of what the body wants: no toxins, no bad stuff
and no poisons. This is also a great time to cleanse your
thoughts, clean your house and prepare for wonderful new
things to come into your life.
A
Simple Summer Salad:
4
cups finely shredded green cabbage
1 carrot peeled and
grated
4 stalks celery sliced fine
½ cup celery root
grated
1 green apple thinly sliced and chopped
¼ cup
parsley finely chopped
¼ cup raisins
¼ cup walnut
pieces
½ cup organic light mayonnaise or goat
yogurt
1tsp salt
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp lemon
zest (grated outer lemon skin)
2 tsp poppy seeds -
optional
Prepare vegetables, apples, nuts and raisins and
place in a medium sized bowl.
Mix mayo/yogurt, salt, lemon
juice and lemon peel.
Add to vegetable mixture and toss
lightly to blend. Garnish with poppy seeds.
Chill. Serves
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