Many people love detoxifying their bodies and gain fabulous health benefits as a result. However, if the body isn’t detoxified slowly, this places great strain on our health and well being.
This guide has been specifically formulated to ensure you can detoxify easily and enjoy the process without starving yourself or suffering any intense withdrawal symptoms; it’s all about taking your time and indulging in a variety of detoxifying techniques.
Over a 2 month period, you will begin the process of slowly reducing stimulants (i.e. sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco). Coupled with bad saturated fats (i.e. processed foods, red meat) and quick releasing sugars (i.e. processed foods, white rice, pasta, bread) from your diet. You will be given advice and ideas on how to achieve this slowly and easily. After you have completed your 2 months your body is then ready for the 2 week detoxification.
During your 2 week detoxification your diet will mainly consist of plant based foods with many vegetable juices (no fruit). You will cut out wheat, diary, meat, fish, bad fats, sugar, caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. You will also reduce/cut out the amount of chemicals absorbed through your skin (i.e. shampoo, soap, moisturisers etc….)
The key is to try and rid your body of toxins by reducing/stopping acidic foods/drinks/stimulants and absorption of chemicals through the skin. Coupled with the suggested detoxifying techniques, this gives your body a chance to rest and repair in a more pleasant, achievable and safe process.
You may find the process so enjoyable that you keep it in your regular regime
and feel great all of the time!
WARNING
*This is advice only. Should you feel ill or react to any recommendations you should stop immediately. You must listen to your body – you know what’s best for you! Some people can experience a healing crisis when detoxifying the body; if this happens to you, stop the castor oil packs immediately.
*There are links in this guide to help plan your detox. These are ideas only. If you find better alternatives, then please use them, and spread the word! I love to hear of new recipes!
*Please also note – you may need to use food alternatives should you suffer with food allergies or food intolerance’s to some suggestions. This guide has not been made specifically with food intolerance’s in mind.
WHY UNPREPARED DETOXIFICATION IS BAD FOR YOU
1. Won’t stimulate the bowel (unless short period). Usually when people detox they withdraw from food and focus on liquids. This is good for resting the body giving it time to focus on repair; however, it’s not the best for stimulating the bowel. The digestive system loves a good chew with digestion starting in the mouth, chewing each mouthful 20 to 40 times—per bite—can make a big difference in how easily you digest and absorb your meals. It actually takes the brain 20 minutes to recognize it is full. By eating mindfully, you are more likely to eat less than if you were to gobble your food quickly. Eating slowly aids in the digestion process by exercising the bowel, making you less sluggish, ensuring the bowel is performing well for easy evacuation of waste matter and toxins.
2. Too much sugar (fruit juices/smoothies)
• Smoothies contain ‘same amount of sugar as a large coke,’ says duo
• So called healthy drinks are continuing to fuel the obesity crisis
• Coca Cola and Pepsi have been buying up juice and smoothie firms
• People urged to drink vegetable juice instead to cut down sugar intake
By Tom Kelly from ‘The Daily Mail’ If you are interested, please read more of this article by going to the below link.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2414871/Smoothies-BAD-Fruit-juices-packed-sugar-better-having-vegetable-drinks-say-scientists.html
3. Too much pressure on the body. For example, stopping caffeine and sugar immediately can have a negative impact resulting in withdrawal.
When detoxing, your body expels toxins once you are no longer bombarding your system from toxic substances. Toxins accumulate over time and can cause disease.
When you cleanse, these toxins are supposedly released from your body all at once causing many symptoms, these might include skin breakouts, gas and bloating, body aches, brain fog, fatigue, low energy, headaches, irritability, extreme cravings (for sweet, salty or other unhealthy foods), constipation and diarrhoea. This is why preparing for your detox is important and will help prevent intense symptoms. You could still get withdrawal symptoms but hopefully not as unpleasant.
4. Puts your body in a sympathetic state (fight or flight mode). Due to your body experiencing withdrawal it naturally becomes stressed. The fight-or-flight response, also known as the acute stress response, refers to a physiological reaction that occurs in the presence of something that is terrifying, either mentally or physically. Essentially, the response prepares the body to either fight or flee the threat. It is also important to note that the response can be triggered due to both real and imaginary threats.
In response to acute stress, the body’s sympathetic nervous system is activated due to the sudden release of hormones (speeds things up). This results in an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate. After the threat is gone, it takes between 20 to 60 minutes for the body to return to its pre-arousal levels.
Whether it’s a real life threat, argument with a boyfriend, being late for work, eating too much sugar or reducing stimulants the body perceives this as exactly the same stress. This is why slowly detoxifying can help reduce stress on the body.
Colonics will help to eliminate toxins and re-balance sugars. These are recommended during the preparation stage and during your detox
YOU MUST NOT DETOX IF THE FOLLOWING APPLY TO YOU
• Heavy medication (detoxifying could effect this)
• Painkillers
• Health conditions/problems
• Recently been unwell
• Blood pressure issues
• Pregnant
• Period
YOU MUST NOT HAVE CASTOR OIL PACKS OR COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY TREATMENTS IF THE FOLLOWING OR THE ABOVE APPLY TO YOU:
• Severe Cardiac Disease
• Crohns
• Severe Anaemia
• GI Haemorrhage/perforation
• Diverticulitis
• Active fissures/fistulae
• Ulcerative colitis
• Recent colorectal surgery
• Renal insufficiency
• Cirrhosis or abdomen hernia
• Colorectal carcinoma
• Pregnancy
• Unmonitored High BP
If you are unsure please seek medical advice before commencing this detox.
PREPARATION MONTHS
The below are suggestions on what to do in your preparation months leading up to the start of your 2 week detox. Please follow these suggestions as best you can. If you find better juices or meals to make this is fine, as long as you are reducing the foods that are acidic to the body where necessary.
• March equinox is when your bodily fluids change direction to prepare for the seasons. They become thinner in the summer and thicker in the winter (mid September equinox). This brings a tremendous elimination of toxins from the cells, a complete cleanse. March equinox, the 20th.
• Starting your preparation months mid January for a mid March 2 week detox would be perfect. If you can’t start in January, then ensure the whole 2 month preparation (and the 2 week detox) is done from spring to summer before the September Equinox (either 22nd or 23rd September please check dates). Then this ensures your bodily fluids are thinner for toxin elimination.
• Swapping 1 for 1 (1 coffee for 1 glass of water, 1 sugary drink for 1 glass of water and so on). By the time you start your detox, caffeine, diary (substitute with calcium rich foods) and sugary drinks should be omitted from your diet.
Calcium rich foods – dark leafy greens, fortified soy products, Chinese cabbage, broccoli, green snap beans, almonds, canned fish, okra, alfalfa sprouts, egg plant, celery, beetroot….
It’s surprising how many calcium rich foods there are, so always ensure you are replacing dairy products with these foods, once omitted from your diet. This will guarantee you are getting all the nutrients and minerals that your body needs.
• Increasing water – start slowly if you don’t usually drink much water. Start with 2 pints per day, increasing to 6 pints (1 pint extra) each week. If you do drink lots of water, then ensure you are getting 6 pints per day (just over 3 ltrs). The temperature of the water should ideally be tepid for increased absorption and hydration. The molecules of cold water are so large that your cells can’t absorb them, most of this water gets sent straight to the bladder for elimination.
• Reduce alcohol by 1 unit per week. Alcohol needs to be slowly reduced and then omitted from your diet for the detox. One unit of alcohol is 10 ml (1 cl) by volume, or 8 g by weight, of pure alcohol.
For example: One unit of alcohol is about equal to:
• half a pint of ordinary strength beer, lager or cider (3-4% alcohol by volume); or
• a small pub measure (25 ml) of spirits (40% alcohol by volume); or
• a standard pub measure (50 ml) of fortified wine such as sherry or port (20% alcohol by volume).
There are one and a half units of alcohol in:
• a small glass (125 ml) of ordinary strength wine (12% alcohol by volume); or
• a standard pub measure (35 ml) of spirits (40% alcohol by volume).
• Reduce sugar. Sugar is in everything; check all labels. Its best stick to fresh ingredients. Avoid takeaways, processed foods, alcohol, sweets, cakes, pastries and quick releasing carbohydrates (potatoes, white rice, bread and pasta) to lower your sugar in take.
• Colonic hydrotherapy treatments – 2 – 4 in preparation months (optional). Then 3 during the final 2 week detox – start, middle and end. This will ensure your colon is stimulated by removing toxins and wastes to promote gut health.
• 1 green juice daily (vegetables only)
Please see below links for juicing sites..
• http://www.thejuicenut.com/vegetable_juice_recipes_the_juice_nut.aspx
• http://www.juiceland.co.uk/page–Recipes–recipes.html
• http://juicing-for-health.com/fun-free-recipes/how-to-make-green-juices.html
Some examples of vegetables that you can use in your juices: – kale, spinach, cabbage, beetroot, carrots, celery, broccoli, avocado, brussel sprouts, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, garlic, fennel and so on…..
Vegetables are a good source of slow releasing sugar and great for energy, skin, hair, your digestive system – the list is endless. Fruit juices have way too much sugar but can be enjoyed occasionally.
• Alongside juices – salads, stir fry’s, vegetables (blot foods – brown rice, quinoa, and millet etc to soak up toxins).
Please see links for recipe ideas:
• http://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/category/healthy
• http://www.goodtoknow.co.uk/recipes/pictures/25244/detox-recipes
• http://www.eatingwell.com/recipes_menus/collections/healthy_vegan_recipes
• http://detoxinista.com/recipes/main-entrees-2/
• Cottage cheese, flax seed oil, peach bits (2 spoons cottage cheese to 1 spoon of flaxseed oil – add peach pieces) this combination is amazing for you for energy purposes. Try this daily.
Please see link for dairy free cottage cheese, should you have enzyme intolerance.
http://paleoparents.com/featured/guest-post-empowered-sustanance-dairy-free-cottage-cheese/.
START DETOX
Point to remember – take one food substance away and the body detoxifies twice as hard!
• You are ready to start your detox, only once you have completed your 2 month preparation.
It is important to prepare yourself both mentally and physically for your detox in order to make the process as gentle and effective as possible.
• Remove meat, dairy, wheat and fish from your diet.
Wheat and dairy are two of the most common allergens which can be responsible for feelings of bloatedness, fatigue and can contribute to food cravings. Meat is hard to digest and so is a strain on the digestive system. Meat products, i.e. bacon, ham and pate, in addition, have high salt levels and contain artificial preservatives.
• A course of 3 colonics taken over the two weeks
Colonics are a very effective way of flushing out and removing the toxins stored in the colon. Taken during your detox, at regular intervals (i.e. start, middle and end) the cleansing process is accelerated and optimum results are achieved.
• Include 1 – 2 green juices per day (vegetables) morning and lunch
Juicing is an easy and effective way of giving your body what it wants and needs, flooding it with vitamins and minerals. It gives you the chance to add a much wider variety of vegetables that you normally wouldn’t perhaps choose, there are no limits!
When your digestive system isn’t working at its best, your body will not be benefiting from or getting all the nutrients it needs from your diet. Juicing helps to pre digest them for you, meaning you will receive much more of the goodness. This also gives your body a bit of a much needed rest from having less to do. This frees up more energy for all the other jobs your body has to contend with.
• Alongside juices – salads, stir fry’s, vegetables (blot foods – brown rice, quinoa, and millet etc to soak up toxins).
Whole grains are an essential part of a healthy diet. They contain fibre, key vitamins and minerals, are low in fat and are a good source of complex carbohydrates, which is a slower release of energy keeping you satisfied for longer. In contrast, refined grains ie, white rice, white bread, white flour, white pasta etc, has had most of the nutrition and fibre stripped away, leaving a poorer product.
• Try not to use soap, shampoo or skin products. The skin and hair products that we are all so used to using all contain chemicals that enter our bodies as toxins. This may seem like an impossible task, but there are easy and straight forward natural alternatives. Please see below links and suggestions.
Hair – try washing it in baking soda and rinsing off with apple cider vinegar.
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2009/12/6-shampoo-alternatives-for-life-without
Skin – alternatives for these are as healthy as they come, use fruit? From papaya to avocado and so on….
http://vegetarian.about.com/od/beverage1/a/raw-skin-care.htm
http://ezinearticles.com/?Natural-Soap-Alternatives&id=1157186
Soap – try coconut oil and its moisturising properties.
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2013/04/coconut-oil-skin-recipes
Teeth – alternatives to get away from fluoride are baking soda, sea salt and many more…
http://www.livingthenourishedlife.com/2011/05/12-natural-toothpaste-alternatives
DO THE BELOW DETOXIFYING TECHNQIUES THREE TIMES EACH DURING YOUR 2 WEEK DETOX
• Epsom salts in baths (750g) draws out toxins. Epsom salts are a great way to soothe the mind, body and soul. Some of the countless health benefits include relaxing the nervous system, curing skin problems, soothing back pain and aching limbs, easing muscle strain, healing cuts, treating cold and congestion, and drawing toxins from the body. One of the simplest ways to ease stress and stress-related problems is to soak in a tub full of hot water with a few cups of
• Epsom salt foot baths are recommended if no bath for the above, do this 5 times over 2 weeks
• Castor oil packing is renowned for improving your digestive system. Castor Oil is a stimulating laxative and helps lubricate the colon for easy evacuation. Should you suffer with constipation or want to improve your liver and gall bladder function then castor oil is a great source of detoxification.
Other benefits include:
It functions as a stimulating laxative for both your small and large intestine
Castor oil glides through and lubricates your bowels without absorbing moisture
Removes and cleaning out faecal matter
Improves the health of your lymphatic system, circulatory system, excretory system and nervous system.
It is also great for the skin added a few times per week as well as reliving aches, pains, and sore spots.
A great detoxifier as it improves liver and gall bladder function
• Skin brushing daily towards heart. Dry skin brushing has numerous benefits some being: Improved circulation, stimulating lymph drainage, stimulating hormones, and firming the skin.
• Hot and cold showers – temperature hot to cold 3 times in 1 session. This is brilliant for circulation to improve organ function.
Hot showers relieve tension and soothe stiff muscles, coupled with reducing anxiety and helping with congestion.
Cold Showers shock you body awake helping with fatigue and increasing your mental alertness.
• Sitz bath – sit in 1 inch of cold water, bum and private parts covered – good for detoxifying the kidneys. A regular sitz bath will help boost your health, fitness, digestion, metabolism, and well being, with a simple 10-minute bath, using exclusively cold water.
• 1-2 massages per week during your 2 week detox. The Berkeley Centre has many massage therapists to choose from. Massage is great for improved circulation, muscle tension, distressing, lymphatic drainage, moisturising the skin and a greater sense of wellbeing.
It may be easier to manage your treatments if you have a timetable. This is meant only as a guide to give you an idea and for you to adapt it to suit your own routine, to fit in with your lifestyle. Remember to include all of the above mentioned detoxifying techniques, but vary as you wish.
|
Day 1
|
Day 2` | Day 3 | Day 4 | Day 5 | Day 6 | Day 7 |
| Hot/cold shower | Castor oil pack | Epsom salt bath | Rest | Sitz bath | Massage | Hot/cold shower |
| Dry skin brush | Dry skin brush | Castor oil pack | Dry skin brush | |||
| Colonic Hydrotherapy
|
Colonic Hydrotherapy |
|
Day 8
|
Day 9 | Day 10 | Day 11 | Day 12 | Day 13 | Day 14 |
|
Rest |
Epsom salt bath | Castor oil pack | Sitz bath | Hot/cold shower | Massage | Colonic Hydrotherapy |
|
|
Dry skin brush | Sitz bath | Dry skin brush | Epsom salt bath | ||
|
|
This detox has been designed to be friendly to the body so it can be used as many times as you like during the year. Castor Oil packing should be used wisely due to its powerful healing properties however.
Please remember that any of the above detoxifying techniques should be used in moderation.
Please also note any foods omitted from the diet, their replacements must contain one of the main nutrients that your body needs for optimum health (good fats, carbohydrates and protein).
Please email danielle@essentialhealthcolonics.co.uk should you have any questions on this guide.
Enjoy Feeling Great!
By Danielle and Joanne Parkinson
