Spring Cleaning

It’s Spring-Cleaning Time 1

It’s cleansing time again! This year I thought I’d give you a guided cleanse to try. If you’ve never done a cleanse, try one with guidance from an experienced practitioner.

As those bulbs start popping their heads up, it’s time to start thinking of a rejuvenating cleanse ourselves. It’s important that we try to eliminate the accumulation of toxins that have gathered over the year. External toxicity can be acquired by breathing, eating or having physical contact with them. We are exposed daily through chemicals in the air and water and on our food, electromagnetic radiation, using pharmaceutical drugs, eating refined/packaged/ processed foods, as well as using stimulants and sedatives. We also produce internal toxins called free radicals through normal everyday functions of our cells in biochemical and bodily functions. Microbes, such as intestinal bacteria produce wastes that must be eliminated and our thoughts and emotions generate biochemical toxins. If our body is working well, with good immune and eliminative functions we can handle everyday exposure to toxins. Cleansing helps to prevent build-up of toxicity and degeneration.

We detoxify through the respiratory, gastro-intestinal, urinary, skin, lymph, thought and spiritual systems. Detoxification/cleansing can occur on many levels. Drinking an extra quart of water, eating more fruit and vegetables and less meat and dairy products is a form of cleansing, since it helps to clear toxins from our body. Be careful about over-elimination or over-detoxification, which I see often. Some people go to extremes with fasting, herbal laxatives, enemas, colonics and diuretics. A negative balance can be created, such as vitamin/mineral deficiencies and over-loading the liver can make the person feel sick and fatigued. It's important to set up a cleansing program individually, with knowledge of a person’s history, diet, vitamin/mineral levels, health and lifestyle.

The next article will help you design a cleanse best suited for you and provide you with more guidelines.

It’s Spring-Cleaning Time 2

This is a continuation of the previous article to give you some specific ideas on cleansing.

The general guidelines are:

· Hypo-allergenic diet (whole grains, veggies, fruit, fish)

· Increased fibre (oat bran, veggies, fruit)

· Increasing purified water intake

· Using herbs such as garlic, red clover, cayenne, ginger,

dandelion root, yellow dock, burdock, licorice and parsley

· Include saunas and sweats

· Reduce fats (fried foods, red meats and dairy)

· Regular exercise to induce sweating

· Colon support/stimulation (fibre-psyllium, herbal products, aloe

aloe-vera powder, betonite clay and acidophilus)

· Regular bathing and brushing of the skin and lymph massage

· resting, relaxation exercises, breathing exercises

· specific supplements for the individual

The next level of a detox diet is one made up of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains, especially brown rice. A raw foods detoxification diet is also an option for some. Other specialized detox diets include macrobiotics and those that treat specific problems, like the Candida diet. Then, there are liquid cleanses or fasts using juices, vegetable broths and teas. Miso or spirulina is often added.

Any combination of cleanses or fasts can be used depending on the person and their state of health or their state of “dis-ease”. If you are not sure what kind of program you should undertake, you may wish to make an appointment to discuss the best plan for you. It’s a great way to introduce yourself to naturopathic methods of healing!

The final article will focus on a specific cleanse I find excellent for those used to cleansing.

It’s Spring-Cleaning Time 3

This final article will give you a specific cleanse for those that are used to doing cleanses. It is especially good for those who would like one that cleanses the kidneys, liver and intestines all at the same time and at the same time maintain the same activity level.

I tend to use a pyramid program, where one starts by eating a hypo-allergenic diet in combination with a portion of “Ultra-Clear Plus”. I find this method supports the process so well that people feel energized, can work and exercise as usual and don’t feel deprived or hungry. “Ultra-Clear” is a powder that is meant to be a partial meal replacement, supply all the needed vitamins and minerals, detoxify the liver, kidneys and intestines and give the body the required nutrients to support the process.

The first 2 days are to adjust your body to eating whole, non-irritating foods and to be alkaline. I have folks make an alkaline broth with whatever green veggies they have and drink 1 cup of that per day. The day may include fish (salmon, tuna, halibut, cod etc.), raw almonds and seeds (pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, flax and others), brown rice and most vegetables. (The vegetables that are not part of a cleanse are those that are irritating to the system. These are tomatoes, potatoes and sometimes green pepper if it is a problem.) Also included are most fruits. (Again, the irritants to the body are eliminated. These are any citrus fruit). I usually have people make Ultra-Clear into a fruit shake. (One can combine 2 fruit + the powder + water to fill the blender and this can be sipped for breakfast and throughout the morning). I find the shakes in the morning enough for breakfast and sometimes part of lunch. Lunch is usually veggies/salad/nuts/seeds/tuna/salmon etc. Dinner is usually a stir-fry with veggies, rice and fish.

Day 3 eliminates grains, so, includes fish, nuts and seeds, fruit and veggies. The amount of Ultra-Clear is increased.

Day 4 eliminates fish, so, includes nuts and seeds, fruit and veggies. Again, the amount of Ultra-Clear is increased.

Day 5 and 6 eliminates nuts and seeds, so, includes fruit and veggies. Since the amount of scoops of Ultra-Clear is maximized, I find that needs to be split up into 2 shakes during the day. This is filling, so, having cooked/grilled/sauteed veggies is plenty to feel filled.

Day 7 and 8 adds back nuts and seeds, Day 9 adds back fish and Day 10 adds back grains.

The powder can be bought at my office, so, if you’re interested, please give us a call and we can give you a hand-out on the details of the 10 day cleanse and the foods to buy. Once you get started, don’t hesitate to call if you need suggestions on what to cook or have questions, since we both do this type of cleanse at least twice a year.

If you have another method that works for you, start as those bulbs do and continue on the process of healing!