Over the next four weeks, I’ll continue to share a modified version of my detox plan outlined in my book, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. If you missed, last week’s article, "Get the Junk Out," it’s not to late to start detoxing. The next four weeks include:
Week 2—Kidney and Colon Cleanse
Week 3—Lymphomania
Week 4—Liver and Gallbladder Cleanse
Week 5—Cleansing Your Blood, Lungs, and Skin
While it isn’t necessary to do all five weeks, it tends to provide the best results. As I mentioned last week, don’t detox if you’re diabetic, pregnant or lactating. And, always consult your physician before making any dietary or lifestyle changes. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before adding any herbs to your health plan. You can start at any point in the 5 week plan or just do a single week to target specific organs.
The New Year, New You Detox
-Drink plenty of purified water (at least eight to ten cups per day). This is essential throughout the program because it helps to flush out the many toxins that will be stirred up and eliminated from fat stores and organs in your body. Drinking adequate water will provide the necessary fluid for your body to push toxins out of your lymphatic system (more on this important system next week) through the creation of lymph fluid. It also helps flush out your kidneys, which also require adequate water to function properly. Start your day with 2 cups of pure water with the juice of half a lemon to balance your body chemistry. Drink no more than ½ cup of water with meals otherwise you will dilute your body’s digestive enzymes, which can weaken digestion and overall health over time. Drink water throughout the day, ½ hour before or 1 hour after meals.
-After drinking your morning lemon water, wait 10-20 minutes (take your shower) before having a large fruit breakfast. Eat fruit all morning. The enzymes, fiber, and nutrients put your body on the fast track to cleansing.
-Eat plenty of vegetables on this program, preferably raw, steamed, or lightly sautéed. The enzymes, fiber, water content, vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein that fruits and vegetables provide will help ensure that your nutritional needs are met, particularly since the detox mechanisms in your body have specific requirements. Make bright and colorful vegetables the focal point of meals and snacks and eat as many veggies as you’d like until you feel full—you shouldn’t feel hungry on my detox plan or you’re doing it incorrectly. Limit your consumption of white potatoes however.
-Start lunch and dinner with a large green salad since they are full of enzymes to help your body with digestion of your meals, instead of depleting your body’s owns supplies. Also, leafy greens are powerhouses of vitamins, minerals, chlorophyll (the green colour in plants that also helps cleanse your blood), and many phytochemicals.
-For the complete article, click here to check out my blog.
Copyright Michelle Schoffro Cook. Adapted with permission of the author from the book, The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. (Wiley, 2006). For educational purposes only.
Michelle Schoffro Cook, RNCP, ROHP, DAc, DNM, is a best-selling and six-time book author and doctor of natural medicine, whose works include: The Life Force Diet, The Ultimate pH Solution, and The 4-Week Ultimate Body Detox Plan. Learn more at: www.TheLifeForceDiet.com.
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