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We all know that the engine that runs
well for years is the one that has undergone regular maintenance, and
this is why I recommend a gentle cleansing fast, repeated once or twice
a year. I suggest combining the fast with the use of herbal detoxifiers,
and following it by a week of supportive digestive enzymes while gently
reintroducing your regular diet, using that period to emphasize raw
foods and eliminate animal products.
I believe that fasting and
detoxification
go together hand in hand.
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The right
time to rejuvenate the digestive and cleansing systems -
the kidneys, the liver, the stomach and the colon -
is when you have cut back on your intake of food.
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They will all be glad of an opportunity to cleanse and
rest, and nearly always (particularly if this is a process you repeat at
regular intervals) benefit considerably from the break, and function at
increased efficiency thereafter.
During the Muslim fast of Ramadan,
nothing is eaten or drunk between sunrise and sunset, to honor a
religious commitment. Until modern times, fasting was part of all
religious life. In fact, many religious precepts were actually based on
maintaining the health of the believer - contrast the current fare at a
Church social!
The Old Testament frequently mentions
fasting, and in the New Testament we have the 40 day fast in
the Wilderness. The Lenten Fast followed Fat Tuesday in Christian
history: I often wonder caustically as I watch Mardi Gras excesses, how
many of those who take part honor the SECOND part of the ritual.
Prior to this age of easy access to
rich, but not necessarily nutritious, food it was common to go through
cycles of plain fare interspersed with feasts: nowadays, we feast every
day, in the sense that whatever we want is easily available to us .
Imagine then, how overloaded the systems of the body become, when the
organs involved in processing our nourishment are expected to operate at
peak capacity all the time. It is no wonder that they become so
overworked that at times they can no longer function properly. They need
a rest! Modern Americans NEED to fast occasionally.
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There are going to be
some people whose health is compromised in one way or another,
for whom fasting is definitely not advisable.
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For many others, however, who wish to
return their digestive and eliminative system to proper order, I
recommend a three day cleansing fast. Personally, I try to schedule a
one day fast once a month, and a 3 day fast every 3 months or so.
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The morning of the first
day, I eat a light breakfast, and for the rest of the day, I drink
only water. I have some herbal compounds I use to stimulate
cleansing, and some bulking agents to keep things moving through. See
the "Recommended products",
below at right, for suggestions.
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The second day, I use single
juices, spring water, and if I'm desperate, vegetable bouillon.
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The third day, I break my
fast in the evening with some nourishing soup, and then gradually
return to my normal diet over the next two or three days. What I
gain from this is energy, relief from minor digestive problems, and
a feeling of satisfaction from the discipline I have imposed on
myself: what I lose is usually between 5 and 7 pounds of weight,
some of it water weight, some accumulated debris .
Most holistic health practitioners who
are dealing with clients suffering from chronic health problems, will
recommend at least a short fast at the beginning of treatment: I had one
Naturopathic doctor whom I greatly admire tell me that you cannot expect
to erect a new home on the same site as the old, without tearing the old
structure down first!
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These
are some general guidelines for fasting:
* 3 days before beginning a
fast it's a good idea to cut back on heavier foods, such as
proteins and carbohydrates.
* During your fast, make
sure you are relaxed and comfortable: do not stress yourself
with extreme exercise.
* Do not come off your fast
and immediately return to heavy foods - return to your normal
diet gradually.
* If you are making your own
juices, use organically grown fruits and vegetables if
possible. drink them immediately, and drink them at room
temperature.
This fast is designed to
address highly acid pH body conditions. It
can be followed for as few as 3 days, and as many as 14.
** If you exceed 3
days, be VERY careful to monitor your body reactions, and be
guided by a Health Professional.
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During your
Fast
Breakfast: 1 cup
apple juice. If you have access to the less sweet varieties, so much
the better.
Mid-morning: 1
cup carrot juice
Lunch: vegetable
soup made from a blend of carrots, zucchini, pumpkin, celery, parsley
& garlic.
Mid-afternoon:
1 cup of 1/2 and 1/2 mix of carrot and apple juice
.
Dinner: 1
cup apple juice.
Keep some bouillon and almonds handy
for moments of desperation. As much pure water as you like may be
taken. It helps control hunger pangs, too!
Come off
the fast gradually and carefully for the first 4 days:
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Day
1
Breakfast:
2 apples, grated
Mid-morning:
1 cup carrot juice
Lunch:
vegetable soup as during your fast
Mid-afternoon:
either 1 cup mixed carrot/apple juice, or 2 grated raw apples
Dinner:
Vegetable soup as above.
Day 2
Breakfast:
2 grated raw apples and one cup beef bouillon
Mid-morning:
1 cup carrot juice or 2 sliced fruits: apples, pears, peaches
or apricots.
Lunch: 1
cup soup and 1 or 2 steamed vegetables
Mid-afternoon:
2 sliced fruits
Dinner:
vegetable soup and steamed vegetables, or salad - lettuce,
cucumber, celery, parsley.
Day 3
Breakfast:
fruit with a little granola - preferably home-made!
Mid-morning:
fruits or carrot juice
Lunch: vegetable
soup, steamed vegetables and a baked or steamed potato.
Mid-afternoon:
fruit and a small amount of yoghurt (make sure it has live
cultures)
Dinner:
vegetable soup, steamed vegetables, salad with a little olive
oil, potato.
Day 4
This is the same as Day 3,
except you may add fish or poultry.
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I usually add a cleansing program to
my fast, consisting of a gentle herbal cleanse, and a fiber combination.
I recommend RenewLife's CleanseSmart.
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A short fast can clear
the body of much of the inflammation, mucous, debris and toxins
that stand in the way of healing.
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It is also a natural method of
healing, originally prescribed by Doctor Nature: our friends the animals
are still familiar with this treatment, and will naturally fast when
they are out of sorts. When your body begins to slow down, fast! It is a
simple first step towards restoration of radiant health.
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A note of caution,
however: as I said earlier, some people cannot safely fast. If
you have any doubts about the advisability of a short cleansing
fast, ask your Doctor. Do not discontinue medications during a
fast! If you have blood sugar problems, be very careful to
be under the care of a health professionalshould you decide to
fast.
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