Gwyneth Paltrow is the latest celebrity to comment about her detox diet success and she claims to  feel more pure, lighter and happier.

After three weeks of sipping juices along with light solid meals on the “Clean” detox program, based on the book of the same name by Dr. Alejandro Junger.

Add “Clean” to the growing list of celebs’ favorite detox plans.

Others include the Master Cleanse, or “lemonade diet,” which made headlines when Beyonce used it in 2006 to get in shape for her role in “Dreamgirls.”

Howard Stern sidekick Robin Quivers is also a Master Cleanse devotee. Another famous detoxer, Oprah Winfrey, cut out bread and red wine for a 21-day vegan cleansing diet in 2008, and wrote all about it on her blog.

Other popular programs, like the juice-based Blueprint Cleanse, deliver their prepared products right to clients’ doors.

It’s clear that cleansing has become a big business, but many health experts remain skeptical. “These kinds of diets are not a reasonable approach to weight loss, and there is no data that they do what they claim,” Gary Foster, director of the Center for Obesity Research and Education at Temple University in Philadelphia, told USA Today in March.

Why, then, do so many people seem to be jumping on the cleanse bandwagon — and is there any truth to the benefits of detoxing? “There is some truth to [cleansing], because colon cancer is caused by different factors: hereditary, environmental and dietary,” says Dr. Vincent Marrone, a gastroenterologist based in Fishkill, N.Y. “[Cleansing] can help get the toxins out of the colon to prevent cancers.”

Cleansing as a health practice need not involve any expensive products or nausea-inducing tonics, says Marrone, and buyers should beware of the claims made by various tonics on the market.

The simplest way to get rid of toxins in the body and boost antioxidants is to increase the amount of fruits and vegetables in your diet, Marrone says. Also, eating organic can have a benefit. “Eat as many organic foods as possible, because they do make a difference,” says Marrone.

“Unfortunately, animals are fed lots of hormones.” He also says anyone can make those kinds of dietary changes “right away,” and they can be permanent, unlike the restrictive fasting plans often touted by celebs.

“Cleansing and undertaking periodic fasting have been in practice for centuries,”  said Kimberly Snyder, a New York-based certified nutritionist who specializes in raw food and cellular nutrition.

“Undergoing a juice or liquid fast of some type is a traditional cleanse, though cleanses are certainly not limited to that. We can also be on an ‘ongoing cleanse’ by choosing to cut out certain toxin-inducing foods out of the diet.”

If you are interested in trying a short, one- to three-day juice detox for the first time, says Snyder, the first step is to check with your doctor. A common mistake, she says, is rushing into — or out of — a cleanse. “I see people not adequately prepare for a cleanse or fast, and/or incorrectly break the cleanse or fast,” Snyder says.

“As a general rule, for at least the number of days you plan on cleansing or fasting, you should be preparing your body by cutting down on the toxins and acidic products we ingest daily.”

Products to cut down on include all refined sugars, soy, eggs, coffee, caffeine, flesh products and white flour, Snyder says. “Then the day (or days) of the cleanse, drink green and vegetable juices.

You can mix in apples, lemons, and some other fruits.” She also recommends to complete a juice cleanse, you should wean yourself off the cleanse for the same number of days that you were on it.

“Digestion needs to be eased back in – so the days following the fast should entail ingesting only fresh vegetable juices, fresh fruits, then gradually move into blended or steamed vegetables, etc., depending on the cleanse.”

It’s not uncommon to drop a few pounds while detoxing — but if you’re looking for long-term weight loss, fasting isn’t the answer. “Eating a good, healthy diet, avoiding animal fat and exercising works just as well and is safer for you,” Marrone said. “I think people can save a lot of money with a little common sense.”

This video, found on the WGMB in Baton Rouge website, also discusses the truth about detox diets. http://www.fox44.com/news/the-truth-about-detox-diets

Author: Heather Stephens

Heather Stephens is an Examiner from New Orleans. You can see Heather’s articles on Heather’s Home Page.

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Preparation for fasting:

In preparation for fasting it is recommended that you

• stop smoking
• eating sugar
• red meat and
• drinking caffeine drinks

for a week before the fast. This will cut down side effect of fasting such as may dizziness and headaches.

Reduced you meals:

• Don’t overeat before you begin you fast, as it will only make you hungrier. Start eating smaller portions and add more vegetables to you meals. This will help with the transition.

• Juicing: Prepare you juices from raw vegetables. If you can afford it, as it is healthier. Juice a combination or raw  fruits and vegetables at the time you are ready to drink them.
• Portions: Drink from 32 to 64 ounces a day. Drink eight ounces five or six times a day. If you are still hungry just drink more juice. Also drink lots of water to help hydrate and flush out toxins
• How long to fast: If you have never fasted before, start with one day. Eventually build up to three to seven days. Set a goal before you start and if you feel good continue.
• Results of a juice fast: The benefits of a juice will vary depending on your physical condition when you start, but everyone will experience some benefit. You will feel lighter, your mind will be clearing you will feel more energetic and you will lose weight.
• What if you are sick: Always check with you doctor, before going on a fast. If you are on medication, do not stop taking medications while fasting.

Longer fasting has been know to cure sickness lower blood pressure, cholesterold and balance blood sugar.

Article from http://www.bukisa.com/

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What is a Natural Detox Juice Fast?

A juice fast is a type of detox diet.

A juice fast involves the short-term intake of raw vegetable and fruit juice and water only. Proponents of juice fasting use juice because it’s thought to be a good source of vitamins and antioxidants.

A juice fast is considered an extreme form of detoxification because no solid food is consumed. More moderate detox methods, such as the detox diet include solid food.

How Long Does a Juice Fast Typically Last?
A juice fast typically lasts for one to three days. A longer fast requires medical supervision and possibly monitoring to ensure that nutrient deficiencies don’t result.

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A wise man once said, ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst, for they are sticking to their diets.’

What a fit description of the seemingly endless battles that we fight to lose weight and to stay healthy and vital for as long as humanly possible!

Up and down, up and down, your metabolism bounces between walking pace and light speed; you have nightmares about celery sticks; you can work out the exact calorie count of every meal in 2.5 seconds; and the wheels on your exercise bike spontaneously combusted months ago.

In short, you wear yourself out and end up landing on a bottom that, despite all your best efforts, still looks like a pair of bowling balls.

• Juice fasting is a great way to get off the dieting rollercoaster and see real results quickly.

• Safe and effective when carried out correctly, juice fasting benefits your entire being:
• Your physical wellbeing increases as the body is rid of toxins and excess fat.
• Your mind benefits because fasting creates a stillness that brings mental clarity and helps you to develop will power and to better control your senses.
• As you lose weight and feel much better about yourself, self-esteem improves and sets you on the road to what could be a life changing experience, connecting you to your spirit and helping you to achieve balance in your life.

Juice Fasting and Weight Loss

A juice fast is a great way to shed some extra pounds, especially when you’re in a hurry. During the fast the body uses its own stored substances and, at the same time, detoxifies.

A healthy combination of juices squeezed from fresh fruits and vegetables adds vitamins, minerals and trace elements to the body.

Because your only source of nourishment during the fast is water and the juices that you drink, it’s imperative that the juices you drink contain the maximum possible amounts of enzymes, vitamins and other nutrients in the fresh produce.

Many of the juicers on the market process the fresh fruits and veggies in a way that destroys many of the nutrients in the food.

A top quality juicer such as the Oscar VitalMax juicer is an excellent tool for the job because it serves up living juices. The food is processed in such a way that it retains as many nutrients and essential enzymes as possible.

Juice fasting is a much better diet option than fad diets.

Fad diets literally starve the body of nutrients. On the other hand, juice fasting provides the body with the nutrients it needs for vibrant health, helping to fix any chemical imbalances in the body – even those created by fad diets.

Juice Fasting and Detoxification

Juice fasting for detoxification is probably the most well-known usage of this particular type of fast. Juice fasting allows the organs of the body to rest, cleansing and revitalising them. The organs’ functioning is much better, which in turn aids in the digestion of food and production of energy for day to day life.

Juice fasting may also be helpful for the treatment and prevention of fluid retention.

Juice Fasting: How To

Before launching into a fast, it’s a good idea to begin preparing the body a week ahead.

Cut out or reduce

• nicotine,
• alcohol,
• caffeine,
• sugar and
• wheat.

Ideally the diet prior to fasting should consist mainly of fruits, vegetables and beans.

If you’ve never fasted before it might be a good idea to limit your first fast to three or four days. Sometimes abstaining from food entirely is a bit much, so it’s ok to eat fresh fruit or veggies if your stomach is complaining.

Now its time to get juicing!

If you can’t make your own juices buy them from a health food shop – the fresher, the better. The GreenPower Kempo juicer is another excellent juicer that produces high quality juices to help you to get the best possible result from your fast.

Mix between one and three parts of pure water with your juice of choice.

To get you started, here a few tasty recipes courtesy of Fasting to Freedom, by Tom McGregor:

Jogger’s Paradise

3 oranges
2 hard pears
1 small yam

Mix and add a little crushed ice. Great for energy.

A Taste of Heaven

2 carrots
1 sweet potato
2 apples
Thin slice of Spanish onion
Pinch of Dulse powder

For energy and endurance.

Red Ice

1 beet
1 sweet potato
2 apples
1 lemon
1 tomato
Thin slice of Spanish onion
1 garlic clove
can of frozen apple concentrate

Sit back and relax!

With the aid of a good juicer or fresh juice from a health shop, give yourself a power up and try a juice fast.

Better than any fad diet, you can stop running yourself ragged. It’s a great way to remove toxins from the body, to lose weight, and to improve your health and wellbeing.

Look better, feel better, be healthier than ever before!

Please note: Its always safest to get the advice of a health care professional before making drastic changes to your diet, particularly if aren’t well to start with. Even natural juices can interfere with medication and you should consult your doctor before fasting.

Written by Sara Schell.
spellcast_advertising@yahoo.com.au. By: Sara Schell Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Resources For more information on the benefits of making fresh juices a part of your regular diet, visit www.vitality4life.com.
oscar-living-juicer.com

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