raw food

Cleansing ~ Food, Water, Supplements

For optimal health and vitality, it is imperative to cleanse your body 1-2 times a year. Just as the oil in your car needs to be changed regularly, your body, in order to function at it's very best level, must be cleansed from time to time. There are many ways to cleanse your body. You can use colon hydrotherapy, herbal detox programs and dietary changes to give your body a chance to let go of toxic build up.

It is important that you continue to support your body while you are in the process of cleansing your colon. You may experience what is known as a “healing crisis” as your body begins to let go of toxic residues that have accumulated over the years. During a healing crisis you may experience flu like symptoms, a skin breakout, headache or fatigue. These symptoms will pass and you will feel better within a few days at most. It is important not to suppress the symptoms as your body is cleansing.

The following general guidelines will support you through this process and help you to get the most benefit from your colon hydrotherapy sessions.

What foods should I eat while on a cleanse?
What foods should I avoid while on a cleanse?
Probiotics (Friendly Bacteria)
Chew Your Food
How much water should I be drinking?
Green Smoothies

Probiotics (Friendly Bacteria)
It is important to keep a healthy balance of intestinal bacteria. During colon hydrotherapy, some of the friendly bacteria in your colon is removed along with the toxic material. It is important to take a probiotic supplement, which you can get at your local Whole Foods or health food shop. Some of the better quality brands that I like are Arise and Shine "Flora Grow", Bio K “Live Acidophilus,” Solaray “Multidophilus,” New Chapter “All Flora,” Jarrow Formulas “Jarro Dophilus & Fos.” Look for something with a variety of strains of bacteria and with "billions" of live organisms per capsule.

HOW MUCH TO TAKE: usually one capsule a day, see directions. Take it for 2 weeks to one month or longer.

WHEN TO TAKE IT: per the directions on the bottle, or one an empty stomach before bed.

What to Eat "Let Food Be Your Medicine" ~ Hippocrates
Whole unprocessed foods. Eat organic or pesticide-free whenever possible. Fruits, vegetables, sprouts, fresh squeezed fruit & veggie juices (especially green juices), herbal teas (green tea is okay, too), smoothies, salads, whole grains (brown rice, quinoa, millet, oats and oatmeal), legumes (beans, lentils, peas, hummus), manna bread (in the fridge or frozen section of Whole Foods), soups(homemade, not in a can or pre made mix), eggs, raw nuts (not more than a handful a day and avoid peanuts), bee pollen, raw sauerkraut, and raw seeds. If you eat meat, fish or chicken, not more than 4oz - 6oz per serving.

Eat only when you truly feel hungry. Eat until your stomach is 80% full only and do not overeat. Drink liquids a 1/2 hour before meals or a couple hours after - washing down your meal with a big drink dilutes your digestive acids and reduces the efficiency of your digestive juices.

For a list of some healthy restaurants in the L.A. area, see my "Links" page.

Foods to Avoid
Caffeine, caffeine containing foods (such as chocolate, coffee, black tea, energy drinks, some green tea is okay), spicy foods, alcohol, carbonated drinks, bottled juices or drinks, dairy products (replace milk with almond milk, rice milk or hemp seed milk), all sugar products, microwaved foods, peanuts, artificial sweeteners (nutrasweet, splenda, etc), refined flour products (bread, bagels, pasta, crackers, tortillas, boxed cereal), white rice, fried foods, pickles, processed foods (anything in a box, can, package, etc), any foods with chemicals, high fructose corn syrup, food coloring, antibiotics, hormones, etc.

Chew your food
Chew your food until it is liquid for optimum digestion and absorption of nutrients. Chew and swish your fresh juices and mix with the saliva so they predigest in your mouth. This is very important.

Water
Drink ½ of your body weight in ounces of water daily to help the body remove toxins and stay hydrated. Do this for at least three days after the colonic, and preferably every day for life, for optimum health.

Green Smoothies

Quite Simply: 60% Fruit + 40% Green Leafys + Water/Juice

kale_leaves fruitsmoothie

Mango + Parsley
Apple + Fig + Collard Greens
Banana + Berries + Kale
Avocado + Tomato + Celery + Dandelion Greens + Red Bell Pepper + Lemon

For more Green Smoothie info, refer to "Green For Life" by Victoria Boutenko