Tried the master cleanse or something similar?

I have never really bought into any type of "cleanse" that requires you to not eat anything. It has always struck me as hippy new-age pseudoscience that is most likely not good for you.

What is your goal in doing this? Just trying to clean out your guts?

 

4 times a year, I ditch all meat, processed food of any kind, alcohol, coffee,
tea, pop, whatever.... for a week. I just eat nothing but veggies and drink water - nothing else. Why? No hippie crap - just makes me feel better. I have no idea of any
factual benefit... just something I do.

 

That's smart. I don't buy into the "cleanse" notion either but most of us would be shocked to know what toxins we're ingesting on a daily basis. Doing without all those processed foods and chemicals periodically is a great way to de-tox your body a bit.

Doing this along with some time in the steam room has made me feel like a million bucks.

 

The "Just Seven Day" ones are ineffective and can cause a lazy colon, as they are basically laxatives. The ones that work require a strict diet and a 30 day round of specific herbs.

This one, in particular, is good. http://www.blessedherbs.com/bh/colon_overview

 

Do you feel lethargic at all? I've been wanting to try something like this, and been eating a lot less lately so my stomach will shrink, but I feel like I wouldn't last a day on a diet like this.

 

Not at all! I get a weeks-long burst of energy and LOSE the lethargy. Yeah, if
you don't like LOTS of veggies, then no it's not for you. I happen to love my
veggies so it's not that big a sacrifice. And afterwards, it takes just a little
fatty yumminess to satisfy me. Just having a rich salad dressing after my week
thing is a treat. Gotta EASE back into meats

Jedi

 

I may have come off a little to harsh in my original reply.0

What you are talking about is a little different then consuming nothing but lemonade and maple syrup for 10+ days, which is what the master cleanse proscribes. I still question the health benefits of these type of things but I would be curious to hear some of the FChat docs weigh in on the real health benefits of these regimens though. I'll give anything a shot if it can holds up to scrutiny and will improve my health.

I don't drink coffee, soda alcohol, don't eat fast food and eat pretty damn healthy.

If I want to clean the old colon I just down 30 grams of rough texture Psyllium Husk Fiber before bed and take a 200 mg caffeine tablet in the morning. If you are going to give that a try, I recommend making sure you can commit some time.

 

One FChat doc checking in. I think there are two issues--not ingesting more "unwanted chemicals", and getting rid of "unwanted chemicals" already stored in your system.

Very little hangs out in your colon for very long--so I have never read much (in medical journals) about any benefits of blowing out your colon (colonics, etc.).

Unwanted chemicals are stored in fat, in the liver, etc. Some of it very hard to get rid off, some of it does not respond to dietary manipulation, and a most of it has no proven detriment to health.

Having said all that, a balanced vegetarian diet is never a bad idea. Organic (no pesticides) avoids the potential issues with those chemicals. A break from animal protein could always be beneficial (in that it could mean less exposure to residual antibiotics, hormones, etc.). Some sushi fanatics have to stop eating certain fish because of high mercury levels.

The concept of drug holidays (not what you are thinking) is well documented in medicine. There is often value in taking a break from certain prescription drugs for a couple of weeks. There are lots of biochemical reasons for this. No reason that this couldn't apply to chemicals in foods as well.

 

What sort of meals do you create from the veggies, how much/often do you eat? Do you also eat fruits during this time or strictly veggies?

I've been contemplating on doing something like this I just have no idea what to get and what to make.

 

I've done the "master cleanse" twice in the past year or so. Both for 10 days. My partner and I do it at the same time, sort of as a challenge.

Do I feel better after? Generally, yes. I actually feel better during - especially after the first couple of days. Am I "cleaned out" after? I don't know. But something is cleaner for sure.

Lemons, water, Grade B maple syrup and cayenne pepper for 10 days really isn't too bad. Getting past the first 2 days is the hurdle. After that it's pretty easy. Drink as much water and green tea as you want, "Smooth Move" tea at night.

The hardest part of the whole thing for me is drinking 32oz of warm salt water in the morning as the "flush". You need to mix it accurately, so your kidneys won't "use" the water - and it will come out that "other" place instead. You need to have a bit of time in the morning to make sure you are "flushed" as you wouldn't want to be stuck in traffic for sure...

I don't know if it really helps or not. I do feel better during and after. I do lose weight. YMMV.

If anyone wants to try it, PM me and I'll send you the recipe to mix a whole days worth of lemonade at once. There is also a good "support" forum for people trying it.

 

LOTS of salad variations - we have our own garden, so lots of zucchini, acorn squash,
bib lettuce, romaine, radishes, plus 'bag salad' as a base to which I add the other
fresher stuff. And yes, lots of fruits - apples, oranges, pears, and bananas. When
doing this I eat 2 'major' meals, with a number of snacks of fruit and veggies during
the day (oranges, apple slices, cauliflower with vinegar, etc.). And of course, ZERO
alcohol, soda, milk, energy drinks, etc. I DO drink non-fat milk (which is the only
kind I drink anyway) and LOTS of orange juice. No 'recipes' - sorry - I just put lots
of the above veggies in a bowl and add vinegar. They are ALL good to me when raw,
with a good vinegar added to add some 'zing'. Harder in the winter when we don't have
the garden - grocery store has to substitute.

NO this is NOT for everyone - as I said, you have to like veggies or you'll just
die during the week.

I just love the 'energy boost' I get by about the 5th day - I feel 20 years younger,
and have LOTS more energy that then seems to last into the coming weeks when
I go 'off' the regimen.

Not diet advice in any way. Just something I enjoy doing 4 times a year for a week,
and makes me happy. YMMV

Jedi

 

Thanks Jedi. I appreciate your thoroughness in your answer. It was exactly what I was looking for.

Glad you mentioned fruits, as I was going to ask if they could be included with the week long "diet".

I'll have to do some thinking about how I will approach it, but I plan on doing this sometime soon.

I like veggies so it shouldn't be difficult. I drink OJ every morning, so I'm good there too.

 

One more question. Would you consider a sweet potato part of this 'veggie cleanse'?