WHAT’S THIS WITH THE POTASSIUM BROTH?
Potassium Broth infuses a cocktail of minerals and vitamins – especially potassium for electrolyte balance – into the body’s organs, glands and tissues. Mineral imbalance is a catalyst for decreased organ function.
I want to keep up your mineral profile while infusing you with vitamins too.
POTASSIUM BROTH
(Always wash all produce thoroughly, but no need to peel the skins if you are going organic)
Ingredients
2 large potatoes
2 carrots
1 cup red beets (optional)
4 celery stalks with leaves
1 cup parsley
1 cup turnips
A pinch of cayenne, to taste
Use stainless steel utensils and pots. Fill a large saucepan with approximately 1.8L (3½ pints) of water. Slice the vegetables directly into water – never leave your veggies sitting around waiting for ages. Bring to the boil, then reduce the heat. Cover and cook on a low temperature (a very light simmer) for 2 hours or so. Strain the vegetables and drink only the broth.
Please don’t fret!
If it’s too much effort or you really cannot be bothered with the Potassium Broth thing, then please don’t worry about it. Instead, get over to your local health food shop, and buy some miso soup packs. All you have to do to is add boiling water and drink. Really easy!
7:30pm Warm water with lemon break
Just squeeze fresh lemon into a teacup with warm or hot water and drink.
8:30pm Your reward: a mineral bath
You made it this far; you deserve an accolade. An amazing bath is your reward. This is not just for women, by the way. Men will also enjoy this soothing, mineral-rich bath. Once the bath is filled with water, add the following (all available from health food shops):
2 teaspoons flax oil
some liquid minerals
1 teaspoon liquid silica
2 teaspoons aloe vera
3 or 4 drops each of the essential oils of frankincense and myrrh
This will probably be the most expensive bath water you’ve ever had to let drain away! But be aware that the skin is the largest and most absorbent organ we have. And so all of these nutrients, in the bath water, will be absorbed most efficiently through your pores and other obvious openings.
9:00pm Those late-night munchies
Munch on lettuce and celery stalks before bedtime. (Celery is loaded with the mineral magnesium, one of the most calming nutrients.)
Get to bed early (between 9:30pm and 10:30pm) if you can.
TOP ONE-DAY DETOX TIPS
Just one or more of the following herbal and plant leaves can add a real zip to your juices. You can either put them through the juicer, or mix the leaves and juice together through a blender.
Sprouted seeds, such as fenugreek and radish, can also be added to your juices to spice things up and further warm you up.
WHAT IF I’M HUNGRY?
If you experience hunger attacks, you can drink more herbal teas, miso broth or juice. Warm soup is fine if you feel cold or if it’s chilly outside. Plenty of liquid is important – aim for 2 litres per day (can be a combination of juices and plain water). The problem is that many people don’t drink enough liquid needed to flush out accumulated toxins. In addition, the juices and herbal teas will act like natural diuretics, lessening the possibility of water retention.
Finally, I tell all my patients that there’s no need to be a slave to the juice. If you need to, you can eat some solid fruit and/or vegetables, even salad and seeds. If you absolutely must, amaranth, millet or quinoa are good grains to include. It may take some time before your body is ready to accept a full day of juicing. Don’t force it before it is ready; listen to your gut feeling.
THE HEALING CRISIS
During or after a detox, some people experience what is referred to as a healing crisis. This means that the elimination or detoxification was so efficient or so powerful that they can feel unwell for a few days or few hours during or afterwards. My patients are usually spared because of the gentle and nutritionally balanced manner in which I conduct the detox. If anything, you will probably feel energized, clear-headed, rejuvenated and revitalized. But there is always a chance that you may still have an adverse feeling from such deep elimination. You may experience headaches, joint pains, skin eruptions, and more. Don’t be alarmed by these symptoms – you can stop the detox whenever you like and go back to gradually incorporating the detox principles in your everyday diet.
THE DETOX MASSAGE
Take five minutes in the morning and evening of your Detox Day to rub your liver region. Simply lie flat on your back and gently massage the liver using your fingertips. This will further spur the detoxification process, and although it may not sound like it at first, it can feel really nice too!
Method:
You will find your liver at the base of your right ribcage. Simply place your hand at the bottom of the set of ribs on your right side. Move your fingers in a clockwise direction around the liver for approximately five minutes. Do not dig into your liver with your nails; use your fingertips, take it slowly and gently. You will be helping to stimulate the liver-cleansing action and the processing of body toxins.
EMOTIONAL REACTIONS
Another form of healing crisis is the emotional crisis which some people might experience when going through a deep detox. Don’t be surprised if you feel weepy or emotional when you start detoxing – you may find that years of pent-up tensions may be processed and released.
Some people may prefer to extend their detox to two, three and even four days. This is OK if you feel ready and if you have previously experimented with the Detox Day on another occasion. There is no right or wrong here. It’s about educating yourself with proper information and listening to your feelings.
DIG DEEPER: CLEAN OUT THE DIRTY SINK
If you never cleaned your sink, think what it would look like? Your Detox Day is like a spring clean, but you can dig deeper too with the help of enemas and colonics. You can either buy an enema kit from a pharmacy (instructions are supplied) or you can treat yourself to a colonic hydrotherapy treatment. Either way, it’s best if you do the enema or colonic on the day of your cleanse, in the evening perhaps. If you can spare the time, have a treatment one to two days before your Detox Day in addition to the Detox Day itself. It’s not something you have to do but it can be very helpful, increasing the level of cleansing in one swoop so to speak. Think about it and go with it if it feels right for you.
THE COLON: YOUR CRITICAL ORGAN
The colon, large intestine or bowel is situated in the abdominal region and forms the last part of the digestive tract. An extremely important organ in its own right, it carries out a number of vital functions including the completion of the digestive process involving absorption of water, assimilation of minerals, as well as the synthesis of vitamins.
The colon is a major part of the excretory system, and is responsible for eliminating food and other body wastes, as well as protecting us from infection and disease. In a normally functioning colon, all this is achieved with the help of billions of friendly bacteria which inhabit the colon and make up some 70 per cent of the dry weight of our faecal waste.
However, the delicate balance of this internal ecosystem can very easily be disturbed by a number of factors including stress, pollution, electromagnetic influences, poor food and drink choices, medications, smoking and exposure to toxic substances. The worse your colon is, the quicker you will age. Your own internal filth could be slowly poisoning you.
COLONIC HYDROTHERAPY
I often describe colonic hydrotherapy as an enema, except that it’s 40 times more powerful in terms of cleaning out the colon. The colonic hydrotherapy procedure gently sends warm, sterile water into your lower bowel and colon to assist in cleansing years of excess mucus, gas, faecal matter, pollutants, medication and toxic substances.
Whether you opt for this or an enema, make sure you take some beneficial bacteria afterwards. You can buy beneficial bacteria supplements in any health food store. They often have different names – look for the words ‘probiotics’, ‘Acidophilus’ or ‘beneficial bacteria’ – and simply ask for help if you’re not completely sure. The supplements come in either powder or capsule form. If you have capsules, open up two, pour the contents into a little water and sip slowly. According to the International Colonic Association, colonic hydrotherapy is often beneficial for weight loss, constipation, haemorrhoids, colitis, yeast infections, diarrhoea and other conditions, and may even help to prevent cancer of the colon. The treatments often result in increased energy, advanced mental clarity, clearer skin, improved circulation, enhanced immunity and proper weight control for the patient. The procedure itself will take approximately 45 minutes. You lie down on a comfortable table for the treatment. A tube is then slightly inserted into your anus. This does not hurt, nor is it painful; you might feel a mild pressure, but nothing else. Just don’t get hung up on it! The benefits are worth it.
Depending on the therapist, abdominal massage may be administered to aid in the movement of trapped gas pockets and waste matter. You can usually see what is coming out. (Psychologically speaking, this can be good for many people.) At my clinic in London, it is not unusual to view whole pieces of broccoli or other food items sailing through the colonic tube – obviously not properly chewed. Remember, your colon does not have teeth! The feeling of a colonic is akin to the feeling you have when you produce a bowel movement. The key is to relax, let go and embrace the cleaning out of your insides.
Colonics are the perfect complement to my Detox Day, but I am quite happy if you don’t want to opt for one. They are not everybody’s cup of tea. The most important thing is to at least implement the other six simple detox tips at the beginning of this chapter, and please embark upon my Detox Day every so often, say once every other month or so. It’s all so simple and easy to do, and the health benefits will be immense.