Blog 124 Detoxification Fasting for Summer
Over the pandemic’s past two plus years, and, in fact, over our entire lifetimes, numerous toxic materials have accumulated in our bodies. These have many sources, including polluted air, water contaminated with lead, copper, fluoride and other additives, mercury and microplastics in fish, pesticides on our food and air, factories emitting harmful chemicals, electromagnetic radiation from xrays, cell phones, computers, and EMF power lines, toxins and inflammatories from prescription and non-prescription drugs, vaccines, alcohol, tobacco, toxic cleaning products, plastic to-go containers, and the list can probably go on for pages. In small amounts, these substances usually don’t cause major problems for most adults, but young children and infants are more vulnerable. Increasingly, we are bombarded with more of these materials, many of which accumulate in the body and sometimes cause discomfort, suboptimal mental and physical functioning, depression, anxiety, infertility and even autoimmune diseases and cancer.
This month’s blog covers a gentle 11 day detoxification/fast, as well as information about several foods that may help in detoxification. For instance, leafy greens, are excellent detoxifiers. Cilantro and arugula are two of the best dark leafy greens for this purpose. Certain root vegetables, such as carrots and beets, can be excellent detoxifiers. For those people who have trouble digesting vegetables, organic vegetable juices may be easier to consume. Otherwise, some organic fruit, such as lemons, some grapes, especially concord, apples, some melons, especially watermelon, and high quality algae can be helpful. If a person has issues with blood sugar (hypo- or hyper glycemia) sweet fruit such as bananas, mangos and melons may not be the best choices for detoxification. And most algae are full of toxins, since they pull nutrients, including heavy metals, from the waters in which they live. Algae, therefore, should only be consumed when harvested from pristine waters. Additionally, since juicing concentrates both nutrients and toxins from foods, it is important to juice only organic or biodynamic fruits and vegetables.
During this detox, water should be filtered or distilled. Avoid water bottled in plastic. Here is an outline of the eleven days:
Day one: follow a pescatarian diet – that is, an organic vegetarian diet, plus fish. The fish should be wild-caught, from the cleanest waters possible. Teas and coffees are acceptable, but must be organically grown, and not served with sugar or milk/cream/half and half. Artificial sweeteners must be avoided during this detox, as must processed foods.
Day two: follow an organic vegetarian diet – that is, a diet free of meat, poultry, fish, seafood and insects. Dairy and eggs are acceptable. Dairy should preferably be from goats or sheep. Cultured dairy, such as yogurt, kefir and sour cream is best. Eggs should be from birds allowed to forage outdoors. Corn and soy as well as most other seeds and grains should be only a small portion of the diet. Worms and insects, as well as grass, weeds, sea vegetables and other fruit and vegetables are far better. Even lizards, fish, frogs and snakes are appropriate foods, since chicken, ducks, geese, turkeys and other birds are omnivorous in the wild. This kind of wild diet will allow the bird to produce eggs high in omega-3 fats. Of course, eggs also contain omega-6 fats, but omega-6’s should not predominate. Both of these fatty acids are necessary to maintain health, but most modern diets contain much more omega 6’s, which tend to increase inflammation, than 3’s, which tend to decrease inflammation.
Day three: follow an organic vegan diet – that is, a diet high in fruit and vegetables, without any animal foods. While legumes, seeds, nuts and grains are all healthful foods in moderation, avoid soy and peanuts, as well as all nut and seed butters during this detox.
Day four: follow an organic, raw vegan diet today. This is the same as day three, except all foods are uncooked, though they may be sun-dried or dehydrated. No coffees or teas are to be consumed, except for sun tea. Fresh foods are best. Some examples are grapes, sweet bell peppers, watermelon, lemon, young coconut and young coconut water, banana, cabbage, sauerkraut, apples, apple cider vinegar, broccoli, chard, celery, kale, lettuce, spinach, arugula, cilantro, avocado, tomato and cucumber. On this day, foods may be juiced, eaten whole, or even blended into a smoothie, using water or raw fruit juice or raw young coconut water as a liquid base. Allow yourself only lemon or lime juice, apple cider vinegar, and high quality cold pressed flax seed oil on your salads during this detox/fast.
Days five, six and seven: follow an apple fast, consuming tart, raw apples, as well as purified water. Juicing the apples would also sometimes be acceptable, but eating the whole fruit - seeds, peel and core is best. If you feel that you just cannot handle all raw apples but want to continue with this program, consider baking some of the apples in the oven at a low temperature, about 200 - 250 degrees F for 30 to 60 minutes. Drink as much water as you want, preferably a lot – six to eight cups a day or more – but don’t force yourself.
Day eight is the same as day four.
Day nine is the same as day three.
Day ten is the same as day two.
Day eleven is the same as day one.
If you are a vegetarian, then you would just make days one and two identical, as well as days ten and eleven. If you are vegan, then just make days one, two and three identical, as well as days nine, ten and eleven.
After completing this program, you will likely have more of a taste for whole, organic foods and will have improved your daily diet somewhat. You also would probably have lost a few pounds and released some toxins from your body. Most people will benefit from doing this program once a year. I will begin this 11 day detox/fast in July.
This blog’s offer: feel free to contact me with any questions about this detox. If you want closer daily supervision, then contact me about that also. For closer supervision there will be a small fee. Have a happy, healthy summer!
