Guide to Diet & Detoxification

In his book Guide to Diet and Detoxification, Dr. Jensen explores numerous tried and true approaches to detoxifying the body.

His opening line may or may not be familiar to you: Death Begins in the Colon! I know, gross huh. Why is that, you may be asking? Aging and death are gradually caused by the destructive power of toxic metabolic byproducts that build up as bowel bacteria.

Dr. Kellogg an American doctor that lived from 1852-1943 believed that the primary culprit for toxemia in the bowel is eating meat which putrefies and creates a residue of undigested flesh foods. This idea of toxemia was widely accepted in during his age.


It is estimated that across the world, 20% of all men, women, and children suffer from a GI disorder.

Autointoxication
The poisoning of he body, or some part of the body by toxic matter generated therein. Jensen identifies a few likely suspects that contribute to this toxicity: heavy metals, industrial toxins, drinking water (esp chloriniation), tobacco smoke, air pollution, and dietary toxins.

In this book Jensen outlines several methods for reversing autointoxiciation. His primary approach is to have patients complete a detoxification program and then transition to a health balance diet to minimalize the future build up of toxins.

Unlike Campbell & Campbell, Jensen sees animal products as part of a healthy diet... even a vegetarian diet. Jensen's approach is to include as many fresh fruits and vegetables as possible and minimize the consumption of saturated fats.

Here is a list of the primary detoxifying programs:

• 11 day elimination diet
• Fasting (water only)
• Carrot juice diet
• Grape diet
• Watermelon flush
• Potato peel diet

Along with all plans Jensen recommends daily skin brushing (to remove uric acid crystals), nigh time hot baths, and enemas.

I recently completed the 11-day elimination diet, which Dr. Jensen recommends 2-3 times a year for good measure. The 11-day plan allows for normal activities.. as opposed to the water only fast which really requires a lot of rest.

Here is what the plan entailed:

• 3 days of juice (orange or grapefruit) for meals with lots of water all day
• 2 days of fruit only for meals with lots of water all day long
• 6 days of fruit for breakfast, salad for lunch, and steamed vegetables for dinner with the integration of a vital broth at lunch and dinner
  

Dr. Jensen highlight that deviating from this plan will result in less than optimal detoxification. Which I totally believe.. though I did not follow it to the letter.

I found that during the first 3 days I was not really hungry. My biggest challenge was facing my habits of eating as a social activity or out of boredom. The next two days of fruit only I felt great! I felt full but not heavy and totally energized. It slacked off a bit in the last 6 days.. really only pulled off 3.5 days.. but found that on day 7 I felt the very best.

I think that Dr. Jensen's plan is very doable for most people. I also feel really different.. which is really the only proof I need to say that it is worth doing. I plan to revisit this regime in the winter (though not during Christmas :)

Dr. Jensen writes about something called the "Healing Crisis" which occur when symptoms that where thought to have been eliminated by the detox come back. I did not experience a healing crisis because I was not really sick to begin with. Jensen cautions that this experience can be very confusing but, ultimately resolves itself leading to better health.