Dr. Joey Shulman, nutrition expert
cleansescanada
(Sep.09.08)
I'm interested in cleansing for the fall. I've heard that it's a good idea to cleanse once or twice a year, but I don't know which program to do. The lemonade cleanse seems pretty extreme to me, but other than that I'm not sure what my options are. Any suggestions?
Michelle M. e-mailed us at expert@sweetspot.ca; and our nutrition expert, Dr. Joey Shulman, answered:
One of my health mottos is "you are only as healthy as your pipes." The digestive system is one of the master systems of the body. It is responsible for proper absorption of minerals and vitamins from your food, motility and expulsion of waste. Without proper digestion symptoms such as fatigue, bloating, inability to lose weight and skin breakouts can occur.
For this reason, I am an advocate of doing a gentle cleanse seasonally (4 times per year). Do not panic - when some hear the word "cleanse," they fear running to the bathroom every hour. In order to "clean out the pipes" and improve digestion, the following simple steps are recommended:
- Eliminate all red meats for 1 week
- Eliminate all alcohol for 1 week
- Do not eat cheese or dairy products such as cow's milk for 1 week - high quality probiotic yogurt is allowed
- Drink a minimum of 2 Litres of water per day - for a natural astringent effect, add fresh squeezed lemon to your water
- Eat plenty of colourful fruits and vegetables (raw or steamed) throughout the day
- Opt for lean proteins such as salmon, tuna, chicken and egg whites
- Include healthy fats such as avocados, walnuts, almonds and sesame seeds
- Drink plenty of clear soup broths (veggie and/or chicken) and herbal teas
- Supplement with a distilled fish oil supplement (2 grams/day) and a probiotic supplement
Dr. Joey Shulman DC, registered nutritionist is author of the best-selling book The Last 15 – A Weight Loss Breakthrough (Wiley, 2007). A complete detail of her five-day cleansing regime is available in her book The Natural Makeover Diet. For more information, please visit www.drjoey.com
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