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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by morganator on June 25, 2010, at 12:57:48
So I am about 36 hours into a juice fast. Lately I have found myself craving coconut water more than juice, which would actually be better for more intense detoxification because it is so low in sugar. I may try to start the "master cleanse" which consists of only drinking water mixed with fresh squeezed lemon juice, cayenne pepper, and organic maple syrup so I can prolong my fast for up to 10 days maybe. I could do just juice vegetables and fruits for ten days but I am interested in the possibility of the "master cleanse" to detoxify and promote weight loss.
The reason why I am reporting this is because after 36 hours I am feeling so much better already than I did before starting the cleanse/fast. I have done some research and found that there are studies that suggest that all types of fasting and calorie restriction may have neurogenic effects promoting healing in the brain and neurogenesis. I'm hoping to come out of this fast with not just a healthier cleaner body but a healthier and better functioning mind. After my fast I plan to make an attempt to go completely raw food for 2 months. I may also practice intermittent fasting during this period where I would eat a healthy raw food diet one day and fast(probably drinking just coconut water and an electrolyte liquid drop mix with water) the next. I would repeat this with possibly a few days break once a week. I hope that in a few months I will feel like a totally different person. Maybe some of you out there that feel well enough to discipline yourselves to do some form of fasting(even eating just one healthy meal a day then juicing or drinking cocunut water and water the rest of the day may be beneficial) will reap the potential mental health and physical health benefits of fasting/calorie restriction.
Posted by Hombre on June 25, 2010, at 19:35:36
In reply to Juice Fasting/Intermittent fasting/Fasting, posted by morganator on June 25, 2010, at 12:57:48
Just keep in mind that:
a) juices tend to be energetically cold
b) raw foods are energetically cold and tend to reduce HCL acid in the stomach - although "healthy", they may have detrimental effects on your body. it depends on your current state of health and the strength of your organs, but in general a diet based on extremes will tend to cause imbalance.
c) too much energetically cold food + purging through foods/herbs that cause elimination can cause Qi and other deficiencies, cold, dampness, and general weakness. this can take a long time to reverse.
If one tends towards excess and stagnation-type symptoms, the occasional partial or complete fast can give the digestive system a break and allow detoxification and healing.
Best of luck. The spiritual benefits of breaking bondage to food and other things are profound.
Posted by morganator on June 25, 2010, at 21:50:40
In reply to Re: Juice Fasting/Intermittent fasting/Fasting, posted by Hombre on June 25, 2010, at 19:35:36
Thanks man..So far so good. I feel bad in waves but for the most part I have been feeling surprisingly good. I'm just hoping this will cleanse everything out of me that I don't want and promote some much needed brain healing.
It's just weird taking medication while fasting and cleansing. I guess I will not ever be completely clean. Oh well.
Posted by Hombre on June 27, 2010, at 22:58:23
In reply to Re: Juice Fasting/Intermittent fasting/Fasting, posted by morganator on June 25, 2010, at 21:50:40
I hope your cleansing experience improves your health and brings you new awareness.
I'm sort of interested in trying Triphala as a mild detoxifier. I get backed up from taking Effexor, but regular doses of magnesium help with that. Since I find magnesium citrate powder the most effective for that, it makes me want to find a more convenient method.
I think at some point I will need to take a "liver holiday", get off the meds or lower the dose temporarily, and take a bunch of herbs to cleans the liver.
Posted by morganator on June 28, 2010, at 9:58:10
In reply to Re: Juice Fasting/Intermittent fasting/Fasting, posted by Hombre on June 27, 2010, at 22:58:23
Yeah I'm a bit concerned about my liver too. Although in the past I drank quite a bit while on Zoloft and at least never appeared to have any problems.
Thank you for your well wishes. Yeah I hope this fast brings much healing(body and brain) and clarity. I am a bit concerned about taking medication while doing the fast. Currently I take 20 mg Prozac, 300 mg Lithium, 1 capsule of New Chapter SC27 St. John's Wort and some New Chapter Holy Basil. So yeah I'm not sure what to think about fasting while on meds and herbals.
Do you think getting off medication for a brief period while you do a cleanse is really going to help much? It just seems very temporary. Maybe doing it once or twice a year is a good idea to rejuvenate the liver. The only problem is will we function well enough to continue on with our lives during the holiday? And, I think there is always that risk of returning to our medication and it not working the same. I believe the chances of this happening are greatly reduced with keeping the holiday fairly brief and taking measures to prevent feeling much worse during the holiday. I mention the latter because I believe that relapsing and falling into an episode can alter our brain chemistry and this may have an effect on how a medication works. I think things like regular moderate exercise, diet, some supplements, meditation, and therapy(especially group therapy) can help to prevent a significant relapse during the holiday.
Posted by Hombre on June 28, 2010, at 10:05:29
In reply to Re: Juice Fasting/Intermittent fasting/Fasting » Hombre, posted by morganator on June 28, 2010, at 9:58:10
Actually I haven't given the fast/cleanse serious thought. I need to be in a different place both physically and psychologically for me to feel comfortable with rocking the boat. In the meantime, however, I am going to read up and test as many herbs as I can in order to have a robust non-med toolkit available should I decide the meds are causing more harm than good.
Also, nobody's perfect, so don't sweat taking meds while cleansing. You do it your way and no doubt you will learn something regardless. The cleanse is to serve you, not the other way around. Best of luck.
This is the end of the thread.
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