Nutrition & Diet

The purpose of a Detox is to provide a catalyst to help you change your habits or state of health. It allows you to see how much better you would feel if you did things differently. Your motivation should not be to lose weight because the weight loss that you experience will be temporary unless you continue to make some changes in your daily diet after the 5-day plan. This plan is extremely effective.

If you’re used to eating big meals, you may get hunger pangs at times.  Don’t worry--as you body adjusts, the symptoms will pass.  Try to start this plan during periods of reduced stress.  Friday after work may work best for you, others like to start during the week when they won’t be as tempted by different foods.  If  tempted, remind your self that you can go back to eating the tempting foods later; right now you’re giving yourself a break. There is something very powerful about following through with a Detox Plan.   Know that if you stick with it, this plan will definitely improve the way you feel!

The Cleansing Diet - Basic Description

For the next five days, you will consume nothing but fresh fruits, steamed vegetables, cooked millet, quina, or amaranth, and liquids: teas, juices, and water.  Consume no caffeine, alcohol, oils (except the flaxseed oil called for), no dairy products, soy, (including soymilk or other dairy alternatives) or refined sugar (including sweetened juices).  Avoid television and any other irritants in your life--clutter in your schedule or stress producing habits like reading the newspaper.  To prepare your vegetables for lunch or dinner, cut up just enough to provide a sufficient meal. (Unless your schedule won’t allow for this.)  Put the vegetables into a steamer set into a medium to large stainless steel pot over approximately 1 inch of boiling water.  Arrange the vegetables on the steamer, with those that take longest to cook on the bottom (beets, carrots, kale, potatoes), and topping with the quickest-cooking vegetables (asparagus, zucchini, green beans).  Steam over medium heat for approximately 10-15 minutes.

Be sure to eat your vegetables warm.  This helps your body to maintain a consistent temperature. You can top your vegetables with ground flaxseeds or cold-pressed flaxseed oil, which will help your body to maintain it’s level of essential fatty acids; use no more than two total tablespoons daily.  You may also season with your favorite cooking herbs (garlic, turmeric, ginger, or cayenne, all of which support the detoxification process while adding flavor.)

Make it a point to choose different combinations of vegetables for different meals.  Don’t ignore the value of varying colors and textures; this variety will make you look forward to your next meal.  If you eat potatoes, avoid other starchy vegetables like yams at the same meal; fill your plate with higher-fiber vegetables instead.

You should also be sure to chew your foods thoroughly.  Keep each bite in your mouth as long as you can-until you feel the food begin to liquefy.  Do not drink more than four ounces of water with your meals; it can compromise your digestion by diluting digestive acids.  Here is your daily eating plan:

ONE-HALF HOUR BEFORE BREAKFAST, drink one to two 8-ounce glasses of room-temperature purified water with half a lemon squeezed into each glass.

FOR BREAKFAST, eat a small bowl of fresh fruit (one or two pieces of fruit, cut into pieces); avoid eating citrus fruits. 30 minutes after you eat your fruit, eat a bowl of cooked millet.  (Or quinoa, amaranth or a combination.)  Drink a small glass of water, herbal tea, or juice with your meal. (For more information on the grains see the shopping list at the end.)

MID-MORNING, (about 1 ½-2 hours after breakfast), drink two to three cups of vegetable juice or diluted fruit juice.  Take you first dose of ground psyllium. (1 large tsp/8-10 oz. juice.)

FOR LUNCH, (approximately two hours after mid-morning), eat one or two bowls of steamed vegetables--roughly 2-3 cups total/

MID-AFTERNOON, drink two to three cups of juice.

FOR DINNER, (about two hours later), eat one or two bowls of steamed vegetables.  You may want to increase your intake of high-carbohydrate vegetables (potatoes, yams) at dinner; these “comfort foods” have a relaxing effect, so eating them now may help you to sleep better.  If you feel dissatisfied, eating some cooked grain with dinner is fine.  Try to eat your dinner early in the evening to give yourself time to digest before sleep.  It is recommended that you “fast” for 12 to 16 hours every night while you’re detoxing.

AFTER DINNER, you may have herbal teas or water-but no solid food.  At least an hour before bed, drink your second glass of psyllium.  (1 large tsp/8-10 oz. water)

Day 1 - What to expect:

Start your first day with a glass of spring water mixed with fresh lemon juice (½ lemon), which will help your digestive tract start eliminating its toxins.  If you drink coffee, this simple lemonade probably won’t give you the lift you’re used to, and you may feel caffeine withdrawal symptoms (headache, irritability) as the day goes on.  Hang on.  The symptoms will pass.

Extra Support- Draw a picture or create a collage that represents how you felt, physically and emotionally, before you decided to detox.  Create a second one representing how you want to feel after you’re done.  Tape it to the refrigerator or an office cabinet as a daily reminder of why you have chosen to do this detox.

Day 2 - What to expect:

You may feel a little achy today, you may even feel something like mild flu symptoms.  This is normal.  Some call it a “healing crisis.”  For some, headaches may strike today--hang in there!  This is the point where most people give up. Be sure to drink a lot of fluids today. Peppermint tea helps relieve the ache. Take time to soak in a hot bath tub or take a moist heat sauna if you have access to one.  Also, you may want to keep a toothbrush handy to brush your teeth more often today; they will probably feel less clean than they usually do.

Note:   It is totally normal for some people to feel like they are sleeping a little lighter the first few days.  This will pass as your body adjusts.  Drink relaxing herbal tea before bed time.

Extra support -

Remember to use aroma therapy today to get you through this potentially uncomfortable time.  Add several drops of the detox oil blend described in the shopping list.  Massage some over your chest area before you go to sleep.  Incorporate any other soothing rituals that you can think of into your evening- this is particularly important today.

Day 3 -

Depending on the level of toxins you had in your body before you started, you may be feeling run-down today-or you may be feeling great.  Everyone hits their own healing crisis at a different time.  If you’re missing coffee, substitute a cup of ginger tea.  If your energy is low, add a teaspoon of spirulina algae, blue green algae or tablets of sun chlorella tablets.  Your liver will appreciate this greatly!  Experiment with a new juice combination-either at home or at health food store or restaurant.  Be sure to get some exercise today, even if it’s just a long walk-and be sure to drink a lot of water before and during your workout.  Then have a sauna or hot bath and relax!

Extra support -

If you are a news junkie, not watching television may be hard for you.  Read something that is inspirational to you or call an old friend tonight.

Day 4 -

You’re probably feeling great today: Your headache is gone, your mental clarity is back, and rather than feeling lightheaded you’re probably feeling uplifted.  Many people report a sense of euphoria and optimism at this state of the plan.  You may have noticed that you’ve developed a heightened sense of smell.  You also may notice that you have an enhanced sense of taste-so your vegetables or juices should taste great.

Extra support -

If you haven’t found time to do so, today is a wonderful day to meditate. Follow your own technique or listen to a guided meditation on tape.  Another simple exercise is to repeat the word “Peace” or “Relax” to yourself as you breathe in and out through your nose. Try to meditate at least 15-20 minutes in a comfortable position.

Day 5 -

Your feeling clean and clear.  Your hunger has disappeared, your skin looks clear, your energy is high, and your mind is calm.  You may be starting to think that you want to keep this up for a long time.  Depending on your motivation you can continue longer if you’d like, but  it’s also O.K. to stop now. You’ve gone a long way to improving your health in just five days!  Now is a good time to resolve to make some permanent changes in your daily habits--what and how you eat, but also how you manage stress and other “toxic” things in your life. You now have a clear sense of contrast between how you felt before the plan and after.  Remember, you can return to this plan whenever you feel like you are off track with your diet.  Decide what you’ll have for breakfast tomorrow--remember to take things slowly for the first several meals.  (See “The Follow Up).  Congratulations!

Daily Cleansing Diet Tips

1. Drink Up.  Be sure you’re consuming at least three quarts of liquid every day, including the herbal tea that you’re consuming
2. Mix It Up.  Remember to vary your menu of vegetables and fruits--day to day and meal to meal.
3. Chew, Chew, Chew. Concentrate on what you’re eating, and chew your foods to the point that they begin to feel like liquid.
4. Take your vitamins.  Take a multivitamin and mineral tablet, and up to five grams of vitamin C.
5. Keep thing moving.  Twice a day, take your psyllium, once in the morning, once an hour or two before bedtime.  Always follow with a tall glass of water.
6. Work Out.  Get at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.
7. Detox Your Skin.  Take a 20-minute sauna or steamy shower or bath at home; brush your skin with a loofah or dry brush beforehand.
8. Internally Cleanse.  It’s recommended you take at least one enema on your detox.  You’ll take one on the first day and an additional one a few days later, if necessary.  If you’ve never done this, buy a book on the subject at the health food store.  If you don’t want to do this, you can use laxative herbs.  Use one dose on Day One and as needed later on; follow package directions carefully.

The Detox Shopping List

You’ll need the following things.  Remember that you have chosen to do this 5 Day Detox as a special gift to yourself.  Now is not the time to cut corners, be sure to buy the best vegetables, fruits, grains (all organic if possible), essential oils, and teas available.  Splurge on yourself!

A Juicer

This is the best way to get high-quality juices.  You can also buy fresh juices at juice bars and health food stores if you are unable to juice every day.  Bottled pure fruit and vegetable juices are fine, but try to have some fresh juice during the plan as well.

Fresh Fruits & Vegetables (For juices)

Buy enough fresh fruits and vegetables to make six glasses of juice a day.  Look for autumn fruits like apples, pears, and grapes.  Other choices are watermelon and cherry.  You can also puree bananas, papayas, and other pulpy fruits and add the pulp to your juices.  You’ll need 3-4 lemons for your morning drink.  For the vegetable juice, look for beets, broccoli, kale, cabbage, carrots, and cauliflower.  You can also juice celery, cucumber, parsley, and radishes.  Add ginger and garlic for extra flavor.

Fruits and Vegetables (For steaming)

Buy enough fresh, organic, vegetables to make 2-4 medium-sized bowls of steamed vegetables, and to make your vegetable juice.  You’ll eat one or two pieces of fruit every morning.

Bottled Water

Buy pure filtered water to drink if you are not already doing so.  You’ll need roughly 3 quarts of water per day, so buy several gallons at a time.

Herbal Teas

The following are cleansing herb suggestions: Peppermint, chamomile, burdock root, dandelion root, milk thistle, licorice root, raspberry leaf, dandelion leaf and nettles.  You can have the health food store mix you up a special “detox” blend.  They will probably also have some prepackaged blends.  Try to have some separate peppermint and chamomile teas on hand, however.

Cleansing Herbs or Enemas

1.)  Buy ground psyllium seed/husk from the health food store.  You’ll need 2 “heaping” teaspoons per day in juice.  Note: Whenever you take psyllium, its important to drink it very quickly before it gels, otherwise it is hard to drink down.  Also follow it with at least one large glass of water.

2.)  If you’re using enemas, you’ll need a two-quart water bag enema (available in the drugstore). Read up on the subject of enemas if you’ve never done one before.  Think of it as an internal bath. If you’re using laxative herbs instead of enemas, buy a natural remedy that contains senna and cascara sagrada.

A Tea Strainer

Used for loose herbs.  Look for a bamboo or stainless steel strainer.

Spirulina, Blue Green Algae, or Chlorella

All are nutritious algaes high in amino acids, so they can boost your energy.  They are also helpful for supporting the liver and digestive system.

Vitamin C

Take up to five grams of supplemental vitamin C every day.

A Long-Handled Bath Brush

You’ll dry brush your skin every day.

Essential Oils

It gets a little cost prohibitive to buy all of the oils separately. Try to find someone who blends oils for special needs. You can call  an herb shop for a recommendation; many are now mixing their own blends.  (Call Dorethea Marshall at the Herb Shop on N. Druid Hills Rd.  (404) 634-6687.)  If you mix your own, use  a base of sesame, jojoba, wheat germ and evening primrose oil. Store the infused oil in a dark bottle.  Recommended cleansing herbs: Lemon, lime, thyme, oregano, peppermint, carrot, and lavender.  Don’t skip this important step of incorporating aroma therapy into your plan.  You’ll be glad to have the support particularly in the early stages.

You can use the oil blend directly over the chest, stomach and thigh area. (This corresponds to the lymphatic system.)  You can also add drops to your bath water.  Carry the bottle with you for use during the day.

A Steel or Bamboo Steamer

For cooking your vegetables.

Grains

Millet, quinoa, & amaranth are alkalinizing grains available in bulk at health food stores.  You’ll eat a bowl for breakfast each day and some during the day if needed.

Flaxseed Oil

Grind whole flaxseed in a coffee mill or blender or buy cold-pressed flaxseed oil to add to your grains or vegetables after cooked.  You’ll use up to two tablespoons a day.

The Follow-Up:

In the first few days after a detox, you should take things slowly.  Eating too much, or eating the wrong foods can cause considerable digestive discomfort.

Detoxing allows you the opportunity to discover which foods are irritating you your system--and you’ll find out by reintroducing one new food at a time into your diet.  Add the most common allergens--corn, wheat, soy, dairy, and citrus fruits--back into your diet slowly, one food at a time.  If you have any reactions, consider omitting the food permanently.  You may be allergic to it.