I am a big believer in trying things before I reccommend them to my patients. I would never tell them to do something that I would not do myself. Since I am a skeptic, I most recently I have embarked upon a 21 day cleanse diet from one of my nutrition companies- Standard Process. They are a whole food supplement company, which means that the products include real food, not derivatives that have been drawn out in a lab. Several of my friends and collegues have done it with good results. I do not eat very badly, but I had noticed some lack of energy and bloated feeling lately. I have never done a cleanse before, so I looked into the idea.
The idea behind a cleanse is to remove toxins and allow the body and organs some time to rest and clean themselves out. This will give you better function and absorption in the future as well as improved health and energy. Many reccommend you do one every 6-12 months due to the amount of toxins in our food and environment. There are many types such as colon cleanse, foot baths, massages, wraps and so forth. There are even more reasons to do it: Better sleep, clear skin, more energy, improved digestion... So, I decided to give it a try.
I ordered my kit, which includes the meal shakes, organ and colon cleaner supplements and a book about the program with step by step instructions. The first 10 days is vegetables and fruits only, with a small amount of rice or lentils allowed, along with the shakes and pills. Then you add 2-4 servings of organic, free-range/wild chicken or cold water fish day 11-21. While it is quite strict, I have been able to stick to the regimen. I did not have too much affect from toxin removal, but I was a little light headed and was hungry all the time. I was quite tired the first few days, as well. Now that I am past that, I have noticed increased mental clarity and motivation, sleep like a rock, reduced bloat feeling and I have been losing weight. My body has adjusted well to the amount of food, as I am not as hungry. As I reach the end, I am looking forward to adding a little more carbs, but the the idea is that this is a lifestyle change for most. There is also a post-cleanse kit to help steer you in the right direction. I would defintely say that there are great benefits to doing a cleanse if you have the dedication to finish the program. I will definitely be doing one again. Once you start feeling better, you won't want to go back.
Always consult your physician before beginning a weight or diet program or before adding supplements if you are on medication.
Yours in health,
Laura McChesney, DC
