Clean Inside and Out

Raw fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds
make for a good cleanse

There is certainly a case to be  made for eating a diet that is naturally cleansing to the body, that is, a diet that helps to clear the digestive system of unwanted debris and bacteria.  A diet high in raw, whole fruits and vegetables provides the hydration, nutrients, and fiber content to keep the body in a healthy balance. 

However, there are also cleansing programs that can be used either independently or inconjunction with the raw food detox diet.  Herbal cleansing programs, for example, come in a variety of forms that are customized to individual levels of commitment, and are readily available at local health food stores and at Amazon.com.

Herbal Cleanse Kit (an example)

An herbal cleanse is usually a kit that contains a variety of cleansing mixtures (powders, liquids, and capsules) that are to be taken over a period of three to five weeks.  During the program, digestion is strengthened and the colon, liver, gall bladder, and kidneys are cleansed by the elimination of bacteria, mold, yeast, fungus, and parasites.  Herbal cleanses usually consist of a variety of herbs and natural ingredients known for neutralizing and eliminating these unwanted guests. 

The Master Cleanser, which is also known as The Lemonade Diet, is, among other things, an easy way to get introduced to the health benefits of fasting.  Stanley Burroughs began  this program in the 1970s, and many people subscribe to its ease, simplicity, and effectiveness today.

Basically, the Master Cleanser consists of three components:
-- Lemon water with cayenne, fresh lemon or lime juice, and maple syrup  to sweeten it up, drunk all day
-- A daily  morning salt water flush
-- An organic laxative tea at bedtime during the cleanse.

The Master Cleanse

This simple method for flushing out the digestive system is safe, cheap, and effective.  The combination of the lemonade mixture throughtout the day, laxative herbal tea before bed, and salt-water flush each morning enables the body to perform a deep cleaning that can be done from 10 to 40 days.  Lemon juice provides much-needed minerals, especially sodium,while also dissolving mucus in the body.  It is also very alkalizing, and helps restore the acid/alkaline balance in the body.  The maple syrup provides calories for energy in the form of simple sugars. Cayenne pepper adds a potent kick to the Master Cleanser by breaking up mucus and dilating blood vessels, which aids in cleansing and the elimination of toxins.  Because The Master Cleanser is so simple and effective, it has become the most popular of all the different cleansing programs.  If you'd like specific directions, you can find Stanley Burroughs' book The Master Cleanser at health food stores near you, or click the Amazon icon in this sidebar to see it available at Amazon.com.

My own dietary cleasing experience has been limited to some fasting, and mostly to eating as high percentage raw diet as I can.  This is the slowest cleansing method, to be sure, but just as effective in the long run, and, I believe, less stressful for the body.  I have nothing against the packaged cleanses on the market, and I know that many people have been helped by them. I do admit to being reluctant to pay for a particular blend of herbs which may hasten a body cleanse, but  in the end, may not provide any better cleansing than can be had by eating a diet rich in raw fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds. 

Suit yourself! I  welcome your discussion on this matter.  Leave a comment, if you like.  I'd love to hear from you. To view some of the available relevant products, click on the Amazon icon in the sidebar.