So first I took a pause and talked about Amma and love- which are related to detoxing too! Anger, hatred, being overstressed contribute to an acidic body and toxicity just as processed, overly acidic foods do. We can’t separate the mind and the body, however we can concentrate on the foods that increase metabolism:
So the producers of Good Morning America specifically asked me to talk about two popular cleanses, as examples of the “cleanse” and “detox” craze that seems to be sweeping across America. If you are awake tomorrow around 9 am, please be sure to catch my segment on GMA! Also, today this ARTICLE came out in the Daily News, which I contributed to…on the very same topic! Hmmm, it seems that something is definitely afoot! Well, it’s very interesting because even several years ago, you would not hear these now commonplace terms:
“I’m trying a detox.”
“I’m doing this cleanse.”
“I’m on a detox diet.”
And what is even more interesting is that with the parallel rise of the these terms, there is a marked reduction in the afore uber popular term, “I’m on a diet.”(Which sadly, was really often some form of starvation or a crash diet). Hmmmm…. When we say the word “diet” do we increasingly feel we are trapped into implying that we are heavy, there is a problem with our bodies, or we have some kind of eating disorder?
So…..what of the word that is thrown around “cleanse.” Ahh, it’s the very connotation to the word sounds so light, clean, healthy, and well green. But the problem, more often than not, is that all these various detox and cleanse regimens, for a prescribed amount of time, are really and truly just another sort of DIET.
For one thing, the words “detox” and “cleanse” should not be preceded by articles: we don’t do “a cleanse;” we cleanse. We don’t perform “a detox”; we detoxify. When people talk about “a detox” or “a cleanse,” they’re most likely referring to a program that transpires over the course of days or a few weeks. In my post 4th of July blog (2 blogs down), I touch on this idea a bit- that despite the Hollywood allure of an instant fix, incorporating long-term, gradual improvements is the real way to make any sort of real, long-term progress.
It’s this idea of an instant quick fix that really bothers me. Real cleansing—that is, really ridding the body of many years’ worth of accumulated toxins—is a process that should be undertaken carefully, consciously, and gradually. It’s ongoing, as we are also constantly accumulating new toxins even from the metabolic waste of very healthy, raw food. So real cleansing involves gradual dietary change and long-term dedication. It means the slow and steady incorporation of alkaline foods into the body and the encouraging of healthy digestion and elimination to release old waste. Anything less—especially sudden extremes—is most likely a diet in disguise.
Plans and “detoxes” also tend to suggest that if you eat a certain way for a few days or weeks, you’ll suddenly be instantly clean. If only it were so easy! Detoxification isn’t a quickie process; it’s a journey that can, and should, take a long time. Any effort to speed the process overnight is bound to fail.
So let’s look at these two cleanses I will touch upon on Good Morning America:
The Master Cleanse: In summary, confined to drinking a concoction of lemon juice, cayenne pepper and maple syrup for a number of days.
The Quantum Wellness Cleanse: For 21 days, cutting out the “Big 5,” caffeine, gluten, sugar, animal products and sugar.
So here’s the problem with these two cleanses (and the myriad of other ones floating around out there right now): in a nutshell, too much too quick. To go from the way the average person is eating now to a liquid fast, or cutting out all 5 of those major categories in one fell swoop can be disasterous! I have personally witnessed people getting very, very ill from doing too much immediately. The shock to the body could initially shake up toxins (though to get to the really old, deeper stuff we need to get the body into a more alkaline diet run the risk of drudging up too many toxins too quickly, of shocking your system with the sudden absence of food, or your known food and of reabsorbing toxins that have been awakened in the process.
But the real deal, major problem, is that these trendy fasts and cleanses do nothing to teach the real life skills of detoxification: learning how to eat healing foods each and every day—and stick with it! Unfortunately, many people who go from unhealthy diets to short-term fasts end up going right back to old habits when they finish. How many people do you know, honestly, that did the Master Cleanse, then shifted into a new, much healthier way of eating as a result afterwards? I’m guessing NADA. That’s why it is much more important to learn something we can do every single day, and move us into shifting into progressing towards better dietary lifestyle choices—for the LONG term.
The goal shouldn’t be a “total transformation in 21 days”, but rather a lifetime of improvement. The steps shouldn’t be radical regimes or painful restriction, but rather manageable steps towards overall improvement. (Sigh) Yet as Americans we always seem to be looking for a quick fix. Instead, GET THEE TO THY BLENDER.
True detoxification—the kind that nourishes and heals—is a process that demands patience, a well-informed perspective, and—most of all—an immense respect for one’s body. This kind of detoxification can’t be had in quickie cleanses or spicy lemonade. It’s not that simple, and it’s not that shallow. But it does exist, and can make huge benefits to your health, your energy…oh and yes, also your physique. :)
In love and health,
Kimberly
Hi Kim
I just wanted to give you a real life example of what you’ve been saying about the Master Cleanse. My grandma tried it a few years ago and a couple days into it she became VERY ill. Her skin got about 2 shades darker and she had to stay in bed for a while. I don’t think this aspect of the “cleanse” is spoken about enough.
Hi Nesha,
Thanks for sharing! Yes, I think that when people are just starting out on the path to health, the Master Cleanse can be very drastic and potentially harmful.
I hope your grandma is okay now!!
xx Love, Kimberly
What a great article!!
I have TMJ and suffer from headaches.
I drink a green smoothie with hemp and maca for breakfast, lunch salad, dinner salad steamed veggies, and fish. Do u have any suggestions to help my headaches? supplements? minerals? Thanks so much.
HI Gillian,
It’s really hard for me to answer personal questions without doing a consultation and getting a sense of your health background, what you’ve been eating/not eating, etc.
Headaches can be caused my many things- being dehydrated, spending too much time on a cell phone and/or too close to a computer (radiation!), and/or chemical additives in food. So some simple generic tips are to drink water between meals, use a wired headset on your cell (not a bluetooth), sit back from your computer, and try to eat as much organic produce as possible.
Hope this helps and keep in touch with me on how you do!
xx Love, Kimberly
Kim,
If the smoothie makes four servings, how many about how big is the servings and what do you think the calorie intake it? Can you leave it in the fridge to drink a serving for the next four days? Does it stay freash? I would like to try this for my moringing meal. I have ate oatmeal for the last two years every morning regardless of where I am (I love oatmeal), but wouldn’t mind trying this if I can make a batch and leave it in the fridge to crab on my way out the door in the morings. I have to work by 6:30 am.
Shelly
Hi Shelly,
I would keep it in the fridge for only 3 days max. You can adjust your servings to accommodate that. Be sure to keep it covered!
You can even take it to work (since you leave so early) and drink it through your morning.
I wouldn’t worry about the calories (which I’m sure are quite low, since it’s mostly greens and then some fruit!) since it will digest through your body so quickly, and will give you so much energy that you will need way less caffeine and “bad” food.
Take care and please come back to visit.
xx Love, Kimberly
I have the same questions that Shelly does. How much of the greem smoothie do you drink and can you keep it in the fridge for a few days?
HI Teresa, Lisa and Debbie, by now I assume you’ve seen the recipe on the front page of the blog?! And drink at least 16 ounces of it, and keep it in the fridge 2-3 days max.
xx Kimberly
Please keep the blogs coming we appreciate them!
I have a question about fruits, how much fruit do you eat a day? What are your thoughts on the sugars from fruits? What are your thoughts on juicing? (i think you mentioned and is evident that you prefer blending…but why?) i have a friend that has hit a weight loss plateau, she eats A LOT of fruits a day (she does not make green smoothies), i tell her to scale back on fruits, but she thinks it’s nonsense. Is it? could fruits be holding someone back with weight loss?
Hi Kat- good questions. They are deep and require a much longer discussion, and will be all discussed in detail in my hopefully soon forthcoming book. :) I love juicing too, but it my experience that it is better to start people on the smoothie, as it has fiber and will keep you full, and is more food-like, since we are replacing a meal with it. Juicing and fruit have their place, but work better when people are more alkaline and have cleansed and made other shifts in their diet. The smoothie is always useful. If you are acidic, too much fruit can contribute to candida and other harmful yeasts and bacteria in the body. So if that were the case (and I’d have to know the background in someone’s health and diet history), then it could absolutely hold someone back in getting to the next level. Also, you shouldn’t eat fruit after cooked food!!
xx Kimberly
Dear Kimberly,
I saw your smoothie story on GMA. Thanks for the knowledge you share. You are beautiful in every sense!
I am very excited to try this smoothie out! I am already eating well but would love to add in something new. I am currently on the Paleo Diet and loving it. My question is…Is this something that is to drink for a period, every so often (ie…30 days twice a year), or something that you drink all the time in addition to a balanced healthy diet?
Hi Kimberly!
I saw you on the Today show this morning with Kathie Lee and Hoda! Thanks you for sharing your very practical tips for eating fruit and drinking water…who knew? :-) I’m so glad your smoothie recipe is on your blog! Any chance you could add your recipe for the Apple Cider dressing?
Thanks!
Holly
Thanks so much Kim for this! I’ve never done the Master Cleanse for fear that it was too drastic on the body. I’ve witnessed many people get results with it but then go right back to their original weight and often times then not have success in the future, like they are stuck. I think it screws with your metabolism. I love everything you have to say and it all makes so much sense. I’m trying to share with everyone I know! My morning GGS is my new addiction. :)
HEy Thanks ..it helped me a lot..:)
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