Fasting, Fiber, and Warm Meals in a Cold Season (November 19, 2009)
Q: I see you did a 10 day juice cleanse. In addition to colonics and juice, do you do anything “extra” like fiber, supplements etc.? Thanks for any insight you can offer that will facilitate a good juice cleanse experience. – Sadie
A: A clean body can pull all of the nutrients it needs from fresh and raw veggies, fruits, and juices. The focus should always be on getting to this cleansed state; asking what are we removing rather than what are we adding to our bodies? So fiber and supplements are not needed as they cannot be fully absorbed by a clogged body and vitamins and minerals should come from a food source. Fiber, especially, will stimulate digestion during a time when you are trying to give your digestive system a rest by fasting.
The only aids we use to this lifestyle are yeast fighting agents, such as Candex and CandiGone, and probiotics, such as the ones by Ascended Health. But you can achieve amazing results without these, they are just part of our arsenal so to speak. Backing off of the sugars and starches is the best yeast fighting you can do, and regular hydration and properly combined quick-exit meals will be the best gift you can give your intestinal tract.
During a juice fast just focus on delicious veggie-based juices and making sure not to awaken more toxic waste then can be safely removed. A juice fast is a useful tool for those who have been into this lifestyle for a long time, and are looking for another level of cleansing. It should not be used as a “jump start” into this way of eating, or as a bandaid for overindulging. In fact, diving into a juice fast too early in the game will sometimes hinder progress, as the toxins it will awaken can freeze the bowel, creating an uncomfortable bloat and detox symptoms, and awaken cravings that will make it very difficult to stay on track. And I only juice fast when I have access to a great colon hydrotherapist to help with the waste removal process during the fast. Eating delicious water-rich well-combined meals, and fasting for breakfast and even lunch if you are ready is really the best tool!
Q: I live in Vermont, it is cold and there is not a lot of fresh local produce this time of year. Is there a way to adapt the diet to be more warming? -Maria
A: For staying warm in the winter, I make sure to have a hot bath every night, and to enjoy seasonal winter squash, which Vermont has in amazing variety this time of year. I have been loving my Kabocha squash, which I find to be the very sweetest of the winter squash. Start with your big raw salad, and follow with roasted squash with butter and sea salt, or a little stevia and nutmeg. I like to pan roast mine by cutting it in half, scooping out the seeds, and placing the halves face down on a baking tray like two turtle shells. Bake at 400 degrees until you can make a finger dent in the “shell” of the turtle. Then remove your squash and scoop it into a bowel, or simply eat it right out of the shell.
And Detox-friendly hot chocolate is a great desert; add one scoop 100% organic cocoa powder (like the Rapunzel brand) and one scoop carob powder to hot water, spice with cinnamon and nutmeg (or a pie spice blend), sweeten with stevia, and enjoy! Keep meals warm and satisfying on these winter evenings.
Also, far infrared saunas keep your core temperature higher for quite a while after use. Finding a place to enjoy a sauna is not only a great way to keep warm, but also an amazing detoxifying assistant. They help your body to achieve the deepest level of sweats, allowing you to release toxins faster then traditional electric or rock saunas.
