I have been reading about the (possible claimed) benefits of "fasting" for one or two days with a "cleansing cocktail" of water, lemon juice, honey, minerals and aloe vera juice. I have always believed that the body can naturally heal itself, but I have become curious enough to consider a day of cleansing. I'm wondering---have any of you tried a similar cleansing cocktail, and how did it work for you?
However, according to the Mayo Clinic, fasting and detox diets are not really needed to remove toxins from the body (and, of course the more extreme detox diets can actually be dangerous). Some of the "high" or good feelings that comes from these detox diets are actually from calorie restriction, which can enhance heightened feelings (albeit, for a short amount of time, and too much calorie restriction can be extremely dangerous, resulting in nutritional deficiencies).
Also, many of the "health stores" sell so many products that are various degrees of "natural supplements" to add minerals, protein and vitamins to your diet. They claim these products reverse almost any condition you have, from depression, PMS to being overweight. I had learned that if you eat a well-balanced diet, you don't need these extra supplements. However, I do take a multivitamin, which I feel keeps me healthier, so maybe an extra supplement is not harmful, and may be helpful?
I would love to hear your experience with any type of detox diet or cleansing cocktail or supplement that you've tried. I hope no one has gone to extremes with any of these, and it is recommended to speak with a doctor before undertaking any of these new "diets".
I'll let you know if I try this cleansing cocktail, and will be talking to my doctor about it on Monday.
All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.
Add a Comment2 Comments
Well, I tried the cocktail and wow...it was hard to swallow! The aloe vera juice was a little thick, and I had to add more agave nectar (natural sweetener) to be able to drink it...which is not the idea of "cleansing". ha!
So, my day of cleansing ended up lasting about 15 minutes. I went to the grocery store today (not even a "health food" store), and noticed aloe vera juice for the first time. I was surprised that it is so common.
I may try this again, and work my way up to the recommended dose of aloe vera juice. I will also look into the juicing that you recommended...thanks!
October 12, 2008 - 2:38pmThis Comment
I have never heard of that mixture to help cleanse but I did want to tell you about 'Juicing'. I remember in Grad School we could teach a class on any subject we wanted to and there was a Fire Investigator for the City of Cleveland that taught a class on Juicing. I pulled out my old, dusty notes and found the website that he referenced in his lecture. http://www.mercola.com/nutritionplan/juicing.htm
The investigator did bring in some samples of the juices that were all natural and they were pretty tasty. He was highly interested in the subject of juicing and even quit smoking using it. From what I understood from the class is that your body definitely gets a 'high kick' of nutrients.
If you don't try the one you mentioned, maybe you can try the alternative. Let us know either way, sounds pretty interesting.
October 12, 2008 - 10:32amThis Comment