09-23-2010, 03:09 AM
I have few suggestions for a 24-hour fast that may be helpful. At least these methods have worked for me and my body type. *Yours may be different so only do what feels right to you*. I have been doing a fast once per week and have been tweaking a few things to make it more effective. My last one was the best so far so I will detail the steps.
-At some point after your last meal before the fast, consume raw, pickled, or crystallized ginger. The taste is a bit strong for some, so do just eat what you can. A few pieces should be enough. This rhizome nourishes the liver and helps it to detoxify.
-Dandelion root. This may be consumed raw (from your backyard as long as you know there are no chemicals in your soil) or made as a tea. Warning: very, very pungent taste if taken raw. Tea can be found at a health food or herbal store. This stimulates detoxification of the liver and kidneys.
-Drink only water for 24 hours (does not have to be exact). I would suggest avoiding tap water at all costs. The more you drink, the more opportunity your kidneys have to flush toxins out of your body. (About a gallon works for me).
-POSITIVE INTENT!!! Keep your spirits up! Instead of feeling sad about the things you could be eating, focus your energies on cleansing your body. Encourage yourself! Feel the negative vibrations leaving you. Meditate. Great time for chakra balancing as well! Ask the water to cleanse you and bless it with love before drinking it. (check out Dr. Masaro Emoto's water experiments on youTube if the concept of water consciousness is new to you)
-Salt Water Cleanse. Optional. You can wake up the next morning and drink one quart of warm water to 2 tablespoons unprocessed sea salt. This will cleanse whatever debris may be remaining in your gastrointestinal tract. Wait about 20 minutes and you will HAVE to go to the bathroom. The results are worth it. Afterward drink plenty of normal water and...
-When coming out of the fast, listen to your body and give it what it needs. You may not want to do a heavy meal at first. I find fruit or veggie smoothies to be the best thing to start with, in generous quantities. I then go to eating fruit and maybe a salad, then whatever else from there. You may notice you need less food to fill you up.
SUGGESTION #1: Make yogurt, kefir, or raw milk part of your first meal to restore a healthy culture of beneficial bacteria to your intestines, especially if you did the salt water cleanse.
SUGGESTION #2: Raw honey or maple syrup if you are feeling weak due to low blood sugar during the fast.
SUGGESTION #3: Take it easy! Rest during fast, no heavy activity as you will be pulling from your energy reserves (muscles, then fat cells are used). Do it on a day off if possible.
-At some point after your last meal before the fast, consume raw, pickled, or crystallized ginger. The taste is a bit strong for some, so do just eat what you can. A few pieces should be enough. This rhizome nourishes the liver and helps it to detoxify.
-Dandelion root. This may be consumed raw (from your backyard as long as you know there are no chemicals in your soil) or made as a tea. Warning: very, very pungent taste if taken raw. Tea can be found at a health food or herbal store. This stimulates detoxification of the liver and kidneys.
-Drink only water for 24 hours (does not have to be exact). I would suggest avoiding tap water at all costs. The more you drink, the more opportunity your kidneys have to flush toxins out of your body. (About a gallon works for me).
-POSITIVE INTENT!!! Keep your spirits up! Instead of feeling sad about the things you could be eating, focus your energies on cleansing your body. Encourage yourself! Feel the negative vibrations leaving you. Meditate. Great time for chakra balancing as well! Ask the water to cleanse you and bless it with love before drinking it. (check out Dr. Masaro Emoto's water experiments on youTube if the concept of water consciousness is new to you)
-Salt Water Cleanse. Optional. You can wake up the next morning and drink one quart of warm water to 2 tablespoons unprocessed sea salt. This will cleanse whatever debris may be remaining in your gastrointestinal tract. Wait about 20 minutes and you will HAVE to go to the bathroom. The results are worth it. Afterward drink plenty of normal water and...
-When coming out of the fast, listen to your body and give it what it needs. You may not want to do a heavy meal at first. I find fruit or veggie smoothies to be the best thing to start with, in generous quantities. I then go to eating fruit and maybe a salad, then whatever else from there. You may notice you need less food to fill you up.
SUGGESTION #1: Make yogurt, kefir, or raw milk part of your first meal to restore a healthy culture of beneficial bacteria to your intestines, especially if you did the salt water cleanse.
SUGGESTION #2: Raw honey or maple syrup if you are feeling weak due to low blood sugar during the fast.
SUGGESTION #3: Take it easy! Rest during fast, no heavy activity as you will be pulling from your energy reserves (muscles, then fat cells are used). Do it on a day off if possible.