The Benefits of Detox – by Dale Buchanan

For consistency I will call this procedure a detox, however it can also be referred to as an internal cleanse. There are many types of detox’s and cleanses. This one is considered a mild, long term detox lasting between 30-90 days. This way you will be able to function, work, and live a normal life while detoxing.

Even the First Lady, Michelle Obama, is doing regular cleanses as reported in the Miami Herald article this month

First, let me start by saying that I am not a registered dietitian or nutritionist. The information I am providing in this article is for educational purposed only. You need to decide for yourself if this approach will be beneficial for you or not. I would suggest getting a complete check up and physical from your doctor before starting any type of lifestyle changing program.

On June 20, 2010 I decided it was time to do some serious house cleaning, an internal cleanse and detox, to get rid of all of the toxins and crap I have built up in my body over the past few years. I have done a few minor detox’s recently but I knew I have not been taking care of myself so it was time to go full blown for this detox.I will outline for you why I decided to do the detox, exactly what I did, what the results were for me, and what I recommend you do for yourself.

Detox Diet Recipes that I recommend will be on the facebook page or blog posts. Keep in mind, there are so many recipes out there, try not to get caught up in following each recipe exactly. Use them as a guide to help you understand the principles of detox and go from there to make your own recipes.

Basic Principles of Detox

• The main thing to remember while on a detox is let your body heal.
  
• Allow the digestive system to relax and rebuild. Eating a lot of animal protein takes a lot of digestive energy and causes acid in the body. Fresh fruits, vegetables, nut’s seeds, and whole grains are best.
  
• While detoxing try not to combine foods that compete with digestions such as starches and proteins. Steak and potatoes will take a lot longer to digest then a steak and salad with leafy greens. This is basic food combining principles for Natural Hygiene.
• Also, don’t over eat! Juice and blend as much food as possible, this will help the detox because the food will be pre-digested for you and the nutrients will enter the body completely.

Why I decided to the the detox
Here is a list of some of the things by body was experiencing that led me to take action. Most of these have been with me for a good part of my life so I knew it was now that I needed to make massive change in order to feel better. I think after reading this list you will understand that I needed to do this cleanse or I was just going to keep feeling horrible.

• Allergies – I have been on 4 different allergy medications for years
• Sinus congestion – I was taking decongestants daily
• Asthma – Has been with me since childhood which also leads to anxiety
• Joint pain – inflammation caused by poor diet
• Skin rashes and irritations – eczema, not exactly sure how I got this
• Excess body fat and weight – from stress and poor diet (I put 25 lbs on in 1 yr)
• Lack of energy – poor food combining left my body doing nothing but digesting food
• No mental clarity – I had a foggy mind and would forget things easily
• Low self esteem – of course with the extra weight I did not feel good about myself
• No endurance or stamina – read between the lines…

How I did this detox
This is the where I had to make up my mind that I was on a mission and journey to get rid of all toxins and crap in my body and start living a new healthier life. I really wanted to feel better and get rid of every one of the ailments I was experiencing daily. I was at a point of frustration and ready for a huge life change. Take a look below at some of the products I used and how I changed my diet.

• Colonics once a week and I’m still doing them – I highly recommend them while on a detox or cleanse
  
• I used a Neti Pot to flush the toxins out of my congested sinuses.
• I did some oil pulling with sesame oil each morning to get rid of toxins in my mouth and sinuses
• Used The Raw Cleanse, Ultimate Cleanse, Parasite Cleanse, and Candida Cleanse by Natures Secret
• Drank E3live twice daily, the liquid of a green freshwater plant
• Added Sunwarrior Raw Vegan Protein, Activated Barley, and Ormus Greens
• Ate mostly all raw food – very little cooked food and no animal proteins
• Drank a lot of green juice – check out this video on how to make green juice
• Drank a lot of wheat grass
• Added superfoods to my diet – goji berries, raw cacao, chia seeds, and maca
• Added digestive enzymes and probiotocs to restore my digestion
• Followed proper food combining principles most of the time, separating acid and alkaline foods
• I ate nothing processed, fried, baked. No chemical made food or drink, and eliminated all dairy products

The results of the detox
I feel like a new person. No more sinus issues, allergies, asthma, anxiety, joint pain, bloating, skin rashes, and my body fat and weight have gone down considerably. My mental clarity is much better, I am more focused, calm, relaxed, and even stronger that before. I have so much energy, endurance, and stamina now that I have doubled my workout times and frequency.

My pallet is clean so I don’t crave sweets and processed carbs any more. I have eliminated all diet sodas, including Diet Coke and various bottled teas, and cut down to a small amount of coffee per day. I need less food now because the quality of the food has the enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and amino acids I need to function. Plus my stomach has actually shrunk a little.

Since the detox I have converted over to almost all raw food which is so much more healthy than cooked food. That is uncooked vegetables, fruit, nuts and I also small amounts of cooked lean protein sources.

PLUS…I now use a dehydrator to prepare all of my “cooked” food even the animal proteins as this keeps most of the nutrients in the food if the temp is below 118. I am using all glass products now and have gotten rid of my microwave, all plastic cups, containers, and bottles. Plastics can be toxic to your body.

Appliances I now use are: 2 juicers, one for fruits and one for wheat grass and green juice, high speed Blentec blender to make all of my blended drinks and smoothies, Magic Bullet, food processor, and a very sharp good quality knife.

The list of changes go on and on and way to many to list in this article. I think you get the point that changes did happen and my body, mind, and life are much healthier. The key now is to stick to a lifestyle that fits me and stay focused on my long term goals which are to live a better and happier life.

I did not mention any specifics about my weight because this should not be the purpose of a detox. The focus should for health reasons not so much for cosmetic purposes. I think people get too caught up on numbers and the scale. I will tell you that I did lose a considerable amount of weight as my clothes are falling off and I am finally doing my workouts on the beach without a shirt on. THIS is a huge step for me because now I actually love the way I feel and look.

The main purpose of the detox for me was to the “heal” the body

Detox side effects

• Energy Levels – You will not likely be able to exercise a lot or with very much intensity during the detox. One goal of the detox is to give the body a rest, both internally and externally. For 6 weeks during the detox I found that I had little strength for kettlebell lifting but did plenty of walking, T’ai Chi, Qi Gong, and meditation.
• Elimination – During a good internal cleans and detox you will likely be eliminating waste 2-4 times a day. This may be a pain in the butt, literally however you have to get through it. Colonics definitely help get the waste out of the colon and that’s a good thing.
• Toxins will be released from the colon, skin, lungs, and the sinuses. The first time I did a detox back in the early 90′s I was getting rig of junk from my sinuses for weeks. Just to be on the safe side make sure you have a lot of tissue around. This can be kind of unpleasant, however it is a vital part of any detox.

What I recommend for you
First, if you decide to do a detox find somebody to work with you. If I am not the one to guide you that’s OK with me. I just want you to be confident with the process and allow the cleanse to do it’s best work on your body. There are many articles, books, videos, and information out there on cleansing. I suggest you find what works for you.

A good book that I recommend the most if Fit for Life by Harvey and Marilyn Diamond. It was written in 1987 and a lot of the content is still useful today. Some of the principles are controversial. I will let you decide that for yourself. Note that I do not use all of the guidance in this book all of the time. I do however think that the chapters on dairy products and detoxification are amazing.

The Power of Juicing by Jay Kordich is another really great resource. This is how I learned to juice, way back in the day.

What you should do following that book would depend on what path you take. Raw food, Vegan, Paleo, Primal, or whatever you choose will determine what foods you should continue to eat and how to live your life. I personally don’t follow or subscribe to one diet or lifestyle. I make up my own and it changes often as I continue to grow and learn more about nutrition and the body.

There are a lot of classes you can take as well. If you live in South Florida take advantage of classes at Hipacrates Health Institute and 4th Generation Organic Market. I have attended classes at both and learned a great deal.

Conclusion
I am a fitness expert and a nutrition specialist. I have read over 250 diet and nutrition books and they all say something different. If you would like me to help and guide you through the cleanse and beyond then check out my services. If you have any questions send me an email dale@supremeultimatefitness.com

Good luck in your detox and cleansing journey!

Please leave your comments below and share your experiences.

Dale