Autoimmune Detox – The Benefits and Side Effects

The essence of detoxification is to rid the body of poisonous substances.  From chelation to dietary detox, there are many ways to detoxify your body and in Ayurvedic tradition, spring time is one of the best times to do this.  My choice of autoimmune detox was to minimize any strenuous exercise and rely only on the essential supplements / medications for a month.  Items crossed out below were removed during detox:
Swimming exercises 2-3X per weekWii Fit+ Yoga & strength exercises
As of 3/17 I stopped exercising & at 3/20 I’ve removed all supplements from my diet.  3/20-3/22 visited Sarasota (2 hours North of where I live) & had the longest sustainable day since I began the diet on 3/21 from 8:30am to 11:30pm.  Back in Naples on 3/23 & crashed – 13 hours of sleep on 3/23 & 12 hours on 3/24.  This confirms I am still anemic & am back on my iron supplement.  Started feeling better and then had something that did not agree with me at Whole Foods on 3/30 (may have been tomato paste hidden) and flared up for the next 2-3 days.  Normally this would only take 1 day, but detoxing makes me more susceptible to flare-ups and I got a cold (1st time since I started the diet) that everyone around me was getting (lethargic, scratch throat) from 4/1 – 4/14.  Worst days were 4/5 & 4/6 as coughing prevented me from sleeping.  On 4/5 at 2am and 4/6 10pm felt a chocking feeling and violent cough to remedy which made me sore all over from shoulders to bottom of ribs.  Using an elevated pillow, Mucinex (Fast-Max severe congestion & cough), a sore throat spray, lots of chicken soup, and menthol cough drop while going to sleep improved my condition and allowed me to sleep.  Cold started to go away on 4/8 but is still lingering around and did not leave the house for a week.  The detox reduced weight slightly but the cold took my weight from 130 to 127lbs – my lowest since starting the diet.  Average weight in so far in 2013 is 131 lbs. and fluctuates from 127 to 134lbs.  Most days I average 8 hours of interrupted sleep (get up 2-3 times per night) and add 1 1/2 – 4 hours of sleep in the daytime.
Benefits
Helps identify which supplements are working and which are not.Allows the body to heal on it’s own terms.Lack of rigorous exercise made my body less sore in some areas, but exercise back in the pool will help other areas.  Finding a balance of exercise intensity is key and may need to work with a rehab facility with a pool to find out.Less pills to take!  Much less side effects from the medicine.
Side Effects
Longer lasting and more susceptible to flare-ups
More susceptible to colds / fluWeight loss since I’m underweightLess physical strength and endurance along with soreness in areas which may prevent from longer periods of sleep throughout the nightNeed to sleep more (but this might be the best thing for me)
While detoxing has it’s risks, you get to know the truth on what your body really needs and not what you think it needs.  Now that the detox is almost over, I can introduce one supplement at a time to see if it’s helping along with slowly starting my swimming regimen again.   In the next few months, I will start blood tests again to see how I’ve progressed without these supplements.

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Tips to understand the difference between the symptoms of detoxification and disease

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Kevin: Today let's just briefly start very, very quickly, because I know some people on this call have heard of who you are and know who you are, but very briefly just explain a little bit about your background, about the Hippocrates Institute and your book.

Nomi: Okey-doke, you already kind of talked a little bit about "The Raw Gourmet"

which has been out for a few years. It's considered the best first book to buy, it's kind of like the raw food bible. I wanted it to be like that, I wasn't sure, even when I was done, that it would be like that, but it turned out to be like that and I'm very, very happy. "The Raw Gourmet" in particular, is based on the program at Hippocrates Health Institute, which is a truly wonderful, wonderful place, it's in West Palm Beach, Florida. It's not an inexpensive program, there are others similar to it that are more budget. For example, Optimum Health Institute, in both San Diego and Texas, and a few other places, most of them are listed in the back of my book, where you can go for a three week all raw retreat.

And all of these programs follow the protocols, more or less, started by a lady by the name of Ann Wigmore. And she is the one who developed the use of wheat grass as a cleansing and healing product and also growing sprouts, soil grown sprouts, such as sunflower and buckwheat and the other kinds of sprouts that you are more familiar with like alfalfa.

I already was raw for probably a year or so, when through serendipity, and it would take an hour to even explain how it all came about, as a girl who was living in California wound up working in West Palm Beach Florida at Hippocrates Health Institute. It was a truly profound learning experience for me. I had absolutely no idea at all that I would ever wind up writing a book. It couldn't have been further from my personal radar screen. But I learned so much there, not only the program itself, I did run the nine-week health educator course -- I didn't teach it, I ran it -- and I was able to take everything that Hippocrates had to offer. I think the most enriching experience there was getting to know all the people that stayed. Everyone would come and most people would stay for three weeks. So it would go through a three-week cycle, three-week cycle, three-week cycle. It was a very interesting experience because you started to see trends.

I don't remember if I mentioned it when we were in person, it was only a week ago Sunday Kevin, about how, on the fifth day, everybody would become all angry and hated their roommate and all that stuff. I don't know if we talked about that, but that was the detox symptoms. So I learned a great deal there and I kept in touch with a lot of people.

And then when, in '95 I left there and moved back to California, I couldn't find any books that had delicious food in them. They were all the real basic kind of energy soup. Ann Wigmore was just wonderful, but it's a little hard to live on that day in and day out. So I decided to write one, and thus "The Raw Gourmet" was born. And then just about two weeks ago my new book came out and that's called "Raw Food Celebrations." It's a very different book to "The Raw Gourmet." I co-wrote it with my friend Sheryl Duruz, who at the time was running a very vibrant raw food business called rawpleasure.com.au, which is in Australia. That company still exists, but Sheryl and her husband Peers have moved to Canada.

And we decided to co-write a book. And it's wonderful recipes. Most of them are make ahead, but they're more like, I would say party food, but I don't want anybody to think, "Oh, I'm not going to get that because it's really complex stuff." Each thing is broken down into tiny little steps and most of the recipes are very make ahead. So, for example, I created a new lasagna, and yes it's about eight other things that are served in that suggested meal, it's a theme book, Thai, Italian, that kind of thing, bunch, cocktails. So in the Italian section there are all kinds of other things, a divine chocolate cheesecake and things like that. Or you could just go in and make lasagna for a wonderful weekend dinner or something like that. So that was a lot of fun because it was different. I guess I've talked to you about myself enough. I bore myself when I talk about myself too much.

Kevin: [laughs] Well let's talk about these over 400 questions that we've gotten here. I think I want to start with cleansing because I think people think that they're so uniquely different. And when you mentioned if someone goes through a three- week program, that on the fifth day everyone seems to have the detox symptoms, that seems to me that everyone is somewhat similar. Not completely similar, but somewhat similar. One of the biggest question that we got from this call is where do you start with cleansing, what do you do first?

Nomi: I think the most important thing with cleansing is to understand it. On the one hand we could talk about it for three hours and not be done and on the other hand it's rather divinely simple. So I think the first thing you need to understand is that your body was created, and you can choose how it was created, if god plunked you down in the garden or if you evolved from one cell, it doesn't matter to me. I mean, I think it's a combination of everything. However, we are quite divine in that our body is made to be a self-healing and self-cleansing unit.

The thing is, we, in today's times, live in a very complex--or eat, let's just say--in a very complex way so that we're barely giving it a chance to do this healing and cleansing. I wasn't around at the beginning, but I think that in the beginning food wasn't that easy to come by. So, we were hunter/gatherers; we often went hungry. And no one was thinking about, "I think I'm going to stop eating for awhile so that my body can rest and cleanse."

Everything's changed now. I mean, I'm bombarded with information. There are like these, like news magazine, talking about you know in 1970, you know everybody ate a quarter of a cup of high-fructose corn syrup and now everybody eats 60 pounds of it and that's why we're obese. And, I mean, this is a very big... I stumble over my words because it's such a big subject.

But for more than 99% of human history, the major problem in life was food- deficiency. And you know caloric deficiency has been and continues to be one of the most pressing problems of human life in third world countries. But in this developed society, the opposite is true and we're eating food with filler, artificial chemicals and really high calories and we're eating constantly. The typical SAD diet, standard American diet, is non-stop food. I mean, we've barely digested the one meal of food and we're on to the next. Well, the body can't, in its infinite wisdom, do what it's supposed to do when we're giving ourselves so much food.

This is the breakdown of health. And, you know, very significant of what's been going on the last whatever, 40 or 50 years with the 48 in longevity and health in the world. There's a reason for that and all you have to do is go to the supermarket.

So now we've come up with this rather artificial notion called cleansing. And it's, in many ways, just a cessation of overeating. And how to cleanse, there's a gazillion ways to do it. I know some of the questions are, "How should I do it? How long will it take?" Very simply, if you don't want to think about it a lot, just by eating a very high amount of raw food, your body will gradually, over time, cleanse because it's counter-intuitive to think about this, but your body digests, assimilates and eliminates raw far more easily, once it gets used to it, than it does all the cooked, process food.

Now, when you first eat a salad... I remember trying to convince my dad many years ago to--I know what it was, I made a soup, it wasn't even raw, I wasn't raw yet but it was filled with vegetables, many, many, 20 or 30 different vegetables. And, he said, "I can't eat that it gives me a stomach ache," which was his way of saying it gave him diarrhea. And the reason it did is the man never ate anything that resembled a vegetable. And so he thought, it's making me sick. But what it immediately started to do was cleanse, that's what that diarrhea was.

And, so, when I say you need to understand cleansing, it's because it's so easy to think you're sick when you alter your diet and start to eat more healthy. But it's really your body is like, "Oh, wow, she's letting me eat a salad. Good, I'm going to get rid of some of these toxins." And it manifests as you know various symptoms.

Kevin: What's the difference between detox symptoms and sickness?

Nomi: Yeah, well, sometimes they feel, well, they always almost feel identical. And that's why it's important to know what you're getting yourself into. And sometimes it's not always the smartest thing to jump right into it. Now, say you're very ill. You know, say you just got a very dire diagnosis. Well, it will probably be a really good idea to go to one of the places, scrape up the money and go to one of the places and be guided and be immersed in the program. And allow yourself to go through this, and some of it will be a little uncomfortable.

Like the people at Hippocrates, a lot of it was irritability, headache, nausea, lightheadedness, sometimes diarrhea, gas, that kind of thing. And symptoms can be much more serious.

I was just speaking with a lady today who might be on a call tonight. We got cut off, we couldn't finish, but we're going to have a consultation next week. And she was mentioning a lot of things that sounded like detoxification, but they were going on for a long time for her. And she felt like she was sick; like her skin broke out. So, then she went to the doctor and the doctor gave her some medication for it. Well, you know it's a little hard to be able to discern and it's really good to have some good books and some good guidance so that you can tell, because if you interrupt the cleansing process, you're kind of setting yourself back. And there are ways to sort of regulate or modulate. If you're not terribly ill and so you can take your time, so that you don't get to the point where you have to stay home from work, kind of thing.

Kevin Gianni the host of Renegade Health Show - a fun and informative daily health show that is changing the perception of health across the world. His is an internationally known health advocate, author, and film consultant. He has helped thousands and thousands of people in over 21 countries though online health teleseminars about abundance, optimum health & longevity. He is also the creator and co-author of "The Busy Person's Fitness Solution."

The Natural Detox: Take a Walk

Start the year fresh with one simple habit that will improve your health and longevity: take a 20-minute walk every day for the whole month. A daily walk will cleanse your body, boost your energy, and improve digestion. Practice consistently and by the end of the month, it will become a new healthy habit that will serve you for the rest of your life!

This is the first habit in the 2011 Longevity Program, a yearlong plan of monthly activities that come from the habits of centenarians from around the world. The idea of this program is that by choosing a simple activity and doing it every day, you will gradually develop 12 new healthy habits by the end of the year. Would you like to do the whole year program? Look at my previous Yahoo! Blog “The Longevity Resolution: Live to 100”.

If you are interested in a more formal longevity program, check out my new book Secrets of Longevity 8-Week Program, a journal that will transform your health and lengthen your years.

January’s Habit: Walk (or exercise) 20 minutes every day

Here’s why: In my two decades of investigating the daily activities of centenarians, I found that every one walked for at least 30 minutes a day, and most walked more than an hour. Aside from the proven benefits for your heart, walking is the perfect gentle exercise for cleansing your lymphatic system, increasing your circulation, and improving your digestion by helping food move along the digestive tract.

Your body is naturally equipped with a self-cleaning process. But too much sugar, caffeine, processed foods, stress, environmental toxins, and too little exercise can slow the body’s natural detox function to a slow pace. Your body will process and eliminate many of the toxins that enter it, but overflow gets stored in the liver, lungs, kidneys, fat cells, intestines, blood stream, and skin -- which can result in chronic illnesses down the line. Physical activity unclogs your body’s systems, helping it to eliminate wastes more efficiently. Even though walking is a gentle exercise, it is still enough of a physical activity to enhance bodily functions and help detoxify the body.

The directions say 20 minutes a day, but of course, you can always increase the time to 30 minutes or more, as long as the exercise is gentle on your body.

Reward Yourself

First of all, think of a way to reward yourself if you successfully walk/exercise almost every day. It you give yourself a goal with a perk in sight, you will be more likely to follow through. Some rewards could include a fun outing or purchasing a brand new pair of walking shoes.

Stay on track

Now, to really stay on track, ask yourself these questions every day. It will help you stay motivated to keep a written record of daily answers.

• Are you doing 20 minutes every day? How was the experience? Did you look forward to it or did you resist it?

• How did you feel today compared to yesterday? Also, look at your overall energy level. If you have more energy, it indicates that the exercise is having the desired effect of cleansing your body.

• What are the obstacles that are keeping you from exercising 20 minutes every day?

Consider having a friend or family member hold you accountable for your daily exercise; they can simply ask you how it’s going every few days. Better yet, have a friend do it with you!

How to make it happen: An answer for every excuse

• Missed a day? If you miss a day or two, don’t feel like a failure! Forgive yourself and examine the reasons behind the break. What could you do differently next time? Then, recommit and continue where you left off the next day. Never give up!

• No time! First, see if you can find any wiggle room in your schedule. If time truly is an issue, find ways to work exercise into your schedule as it is. Park farther from your destination so that you will be walking ten minutes to and from. Walk to your errands. Take the stairs whenever you can.

• Winter is too cold. Bundle up, put on your boots if necessary, and take a walk, enjoying the winter nature. Another option is to walk indoors around a local mall. Also, you can try a different indoor activity.

• Not a fan of walking. If walking is just not for you, get your blood circulating with a daily 20 minutes of dancing, cardio, yoga, swimming, or other indoor activity that really interests you. An all-around excellent choice is tai chi, a gentle practice that can be done at any age and improves cardiovascular capacity, cultivates balance, lowers blood pressure, and relieves arthritis. Find a teacher in your area or learn with an instructional DVD. Whatever you choose, don’t forget to warm up before and cool down after exercise to avoid wear and tear.

• Too out of shape. If you are recovering from an illness or just feel completely out of shape, begin gently by exercising only five minutes a day -- but do it every day. Incrementally increase the time by five minutes each week. By week 4, you’ll be up to 20 minutes.

On January 31: If you have been walking every day, you have most likely created a new habit. Keep up the good work and stay tuned for February, which will focus on practices for restoration! Look for my monthly articles to guide you through a healthy and happy 2011.

You can find many more ways to live to 100 in Secrets of Longevity: Hundreds of Ways to Live to Be 100, which is now available on Kindle.

I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me.

May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

—Dr. Mao

This blog is meant to educate, but it should not be used as a substitute for personal medical advice. The reader should consult his or her physician or clinician for specific information concerning specific medical conditions. While all reasonable efforts have been made to ensure that all information presented is accurate, as research and development in the medical field is ongoing, it is possible that new findings may supersede some data presented.

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