Cleansing diets are designed to release toxins stored in the body’s tissues and cells. The released toxins entering the bloodstream can cause a variety of symptoms: fatigue, malaise, headache, or sore muscles. Plan to initiate the diet when you have few obligations or responsibilities and when you can rest and sleep as your body needs; this will minimize the possibility of an unpleasasnt experience. Be kind to your body always, but especially when you are asking it to cleanse and heal itself. Minimize stress during this vulnerable time.

Another important aspect of preparation is to have clear goals of what you wish to accomplish through the cleanse. If one of your goals is to embark on a healthier diet or lifestyle, it is wise to examine the specific behavior you wish to change. What are the feelings and beliefs that control your present eating and living patterns? Success in making major long term changes depends on addressing these fundamental issues.

General Instructions:
all fruits and vegetables: should be fresh, in-season, and organic when possible; wash produce well and discard peels of nonorganic items

herbal teas: drink as much as desired; suggested teas include peppermint, fenugreek seed, chamomile, red clover, nettles, roasted dandelion root, ginger root; do not add sweeteners other than the naturally sweet herbs licorice or stevia

water: it is advisable to drink 2 quarts or more of filtered water; chlorinated tap water is not recommended during a cleansing diet in the evening of day 2, take 2 “00” capsules of cape aloe and wormwood (“42” capsules)

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We consider the wormwood & cape aloe caps an optional part of the diet. The cape aloe helps the constipation which is sometimes a problem, and the wormwood is specifically for eliminating worms from the bowels. While it would be a good idea, it may be a bit strong, if you have a lot of toxins built up. You might simply take one or two caps of the cape aloe, if there is any constipation. On a subsequent Detox, you might think about doing the wormwood, if there is a concern about worms (most of us DO have intestinal or biliary parasites, so it would actually be beneficial.)
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days 1, 2 and 3
• concentrate on eating cooked whole grains, nuts, seeds, and fresh, raw or lightly cooked fruits and vegetables

• eliminate fried foods, coffee, cola drinks, black teas, simple carbohydrates: sugar, honey and white flour; processed foods, breads, pastas, animal proteins: meat, dairy, eggs

days 4 and 5
breakfast:
• have a fruit meal early in the day, examples include grapefruit, oranges, apples, pears, grapes, papayas, melons, strawberies; do not combine sweet fruits with acid fruits and eat melons alone
lunch and dinner:

• fresh vegetables and sprouts, cooked and/or raw; take your cues from the produce in-season

• examples: salad of various greens with onions, carrots, celery, cabbage, mushrooms, etc., and a dressing of virgin olive or cold pressed flaxseed oil and lemon juice with herbs; lightly steamed vegetables: squash, carrots, daikon, onions, celery, and kale; vegetable soups; baked root vegetables: parsnips, rutabagas, turnips, onions, carrots; steamed greens: mustard, collards, kale, chard, beet or radish greens

days 6, 7 and 8
breakfast:
• “liver flush cocktail”:
3 tablespoons cold pressed, virgin olive oil or flaxseed oil
1-2 cloves fresh garlic
juice of one lemon
juice of one orange (optional)

• Mix the above ingredients in a blender and drink for breakfast; if you do not have blender, mince the garlic finely and shake the cocktail in a closed jar chewing the garlic bits well before swallowing. 30-60 minutes after the cocktail, drink 2 cups warm herbal tea.

remainder of the day:
• you can drink up to 2 cups diluted (1:1) prune, apple or black cherry juice per day. Fresh vegetable juices are unlimited. If using purchased juices such as carrot, beet, or green drink, dilute with water (2:3, juice to water). If making your own use the following suggested combinations and proportions.

• Combine 1 ingredient in the amount indicated from each group:

Group 1
4 oz. apple
4 oz. carrot

Group 2
4-6 oz. romaine
4-6 oz. celery
4-6 oz. cucumber

Group 3
1 oz. parsley
1 oz. beet
2 oz. spinach
2 oz. beet tops
3 oz. red cabbage

Include one or both of the following mineral rich broths:

1) alkaline broth: fill a pot with 1.5 quarts pure water. Add 2 unpeeled potatoes, 1cup sliced, unpeeled carrots, 1 cup sliced celery, and 1 cup of one of the following: onion, cabbage, chard, broccoli, zuchini, or any other in season vegetable. Add cayenne, basil, oregano, or other desired herbs or seasonings, except salt. Cover and cook slowly for at least 30 minutes. Let cool another 30 minutes. Strain and drink the broth only. Makes 4-8 cups.

2) bieler broth: steam the following until soft: 2 medium zucchini, handful of green beans, 2 stalks of celery. Place vegetables, steaming water and handful chopped parsley in a blender and puree until smooth. Makes 2-3 bowls.

* if you have not had a bowel movement by the end of day 6, take 2 “42” capsules; a colonic irrigation is recommended for day 8

days 9 and 10:
• same as days 4 and 5

days 11 and 12:
• same as days 4 and 5, but add 1-2 cups cooked brown rice, millet or buckwheat

days 13 and 14:
• same as days 8 and 9, but add one of the following proteins to one of the meals: 4-6 oz. fish, 2 soft eggs, poached or boiled, 8 oz. raw milk, 6 oz. nonfat yogurt, 4-6 oz. lentils or beans

continue gradually adding heavier foods back into your diet: nuts, seeds, cheese, soy products, bread and baked goods, etc.