The digestive system is the body's key means of delivering the right
nutrients to the right places. Research indicates that many diseases are
related to poorly balanced dietary habits. Several methods - fasting,
supplements and a balanced diet - can work together to help restore proper
functioning of the digestive system.
One solution is fasting to "reset" the body, a treatment recognized as
effective by a variety of health professionals, cultures, and religions.
Fasting, by definition, is the elimination of solid food. A strict fast
involves only water intake; other fasting may involve fresh fruit juice or
fresh vegetable juice. Before going on a fast, it is imperative that you
seek proper supervision. The minimum length of fasting for cleansing is
three days, while a prolonged fast may last up to three or four weeks.
Research has been done on fasting in the treatment of many diseases such
as arthritis, allergies, cardiovascular disease, colds, diabetes,
gastrointestinal disease, and skin disease.
Fasting can help the treatment of colds by encouraging the elimination of
toxins through all channels. If colds are actively suppressed, one can
eventually lose the ability to release the toxins. This will usually
result in the development of chronic disease, of which bronchitis,
emphysema, and other respiratory tract diseases are examples. A liquid
fast is best for a cold and, in general, herbal teas, grapefruit, hot
water with lemon and honey, or hot water with apple cider vinegar and
honey are excellent liquid fasts.
Other reasons for fasting include general debility or lowered vitality,
chronic illness, any acute disease or healing crisis, and the achievement
of mental clarity. Usually, a dietary fast or juice fast pertains to a
specific condition. Apple juice is a good alkaline diet for gout;
grapefruit juice is especially useful in liver conditions, colds, or
mucous conditions; carrot juice, a very alkaline juice, is useful in
digestion problems such as colitis and ulcers; beet juice is good for
liver toxicity; and grape juice is suitable for heart conditions.
In addition to fasting and resuming with a balanced diet that includes
fibre, the digestion process can be fine tuned through supplements.
Chromium is excellent for keeping your body healthy and fit by aiding in
the metabolism of fat, controlling blood sugar levels and lowering
cholesterol levels. Other supplements can restore your digestive system:
Mega Digestive Enzymes will let you get the most out of your food; the
enzymes in Bromelain, Mega Papaya Enzymes, and Grapefruit Plus can help to
break down fat before it can be absorbed; and Super Lacto-Dophilus can
restore the balance of good bacteria needed by the digestive system. After
a fast is the perfect time to get the digestive system back on track so
that your body will absorb more nutrients and fewer toxins.
The fasting process can be helped by herbal combinations like DTOX, LIVR,
LB and PARA. Consult your health care practitioner and your local health
food store for more information on how to plan your cleanse.
By Dr. Elvis A. Ali, ND
Fine Tuning the Body
