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Still Dreading the Dreaded Detox?

Girl w: SmoothieThis past Thursday, I talked about the dreaded diet detox and how the length and detoxification symptoms from eliminating cooked foods are really not so scary.

You should expect a headache or two, some achy joints, and low energy for a few days.

That’s really it!

With that said, I do realize that there are some people – like those coming from cases of chronic disease or who consume severely nutrient-deficient and toxic foods (i.e. fast food) – who are worried about experiencing a more severe detox.

As I mentioned last time, the more toxic load you regularly place on your body, the more long-lasting and uncomfortable your detox symptoms will be when you reduce the load and go raw.

But no worries!  There is a way – a super simple way, of course – to adopt a healthy raw food diet without fear of yucky detox symptoms.

Transition Slowly

Adopting a raw food diet does not mean that you have to go 100% raw right away.

In fact, this usually is not the best plan.  It is much easier and much less stressful on your physiology and psyche to gradually replace the cooked foods you already eat with tasty raw fruits and veggies.

And you can do this at whatever pace you want!

For instance, I offer a 5-week mini-course The Fool Proof Transition to Raw with free subscription to my ezine.  Starting on the day you subscribe, one lesson is sent straight to your email inbox for a total of 5 weeks.  Each lesson contains a new step to take, as well as tips, tricks, and recipes for transitioning.

You can subscribe using the form in the upper right hand corner of this page or by visiting www.fitonraw.com.

And, of course, there’s more than one way to transition.

There’s the 75% raw method (sweet fruit for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ending with a cooked dish).  There’s the “as much fruit as you want before each meal” method.

There’s also Tonya Kay’s No-Willpower Approach to transitioning to raw.

She’s such a cutie! :)

By transitioning to a raw food diet slowly, your body will gradually be able to release waste and adjust to the lower toxicity level.  This way, you will bypass most or even all of the detox symptoms.

Want to Up the Ante?

For those of you brave souls wanting to blast through your detox as quickly as possible, there’s no better option than fasting.  A short 1-2 day fast (that means nothing but water and lots of rest) followed by completely clean eating will allow the body the opportunity it needs for some serious repair work.

I only recommend a short fast of no more than 2 days (which is not technically a fast) because long-term fasting requires extensive knowledge, experience, and often outside care.  If you are interested in a long-term fast, be sure to check out Dr. Graham’s Costa Rica Fasting Retreat.

Go raw and be fit,

Swayze

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2 comments

1 Annalise { 02.24.10 at 9:19 pm }

Swayze, I’ve been eating 811RV for 5 days. Before that I was eating 80/10/10 vegan, with 80% raw. So I wouldn’t think it’s *that*much of a transition for me. But I am still having digestive troubles which lead to low energy. I know my body is just adjusting as it heals from my health problems. Anyway my question is, do you think I should exercise now, or wait for better health before starting an exercise regimen? It seems my body just wants to rest for a while (been resting for a couple weeks) but I think Dr. Graham says healing won’t happen unless your body is active, outdoors, in the sun, etc. I thought Natural Hygeine recommended full rest while healing? So which is it?

Swayze Reply:

According to the principles of Natural Hygiene, and I’m sure Dr. Graham would agree, it is always better to rest than to force your body to expend more energy when you are exhausted. Yes, being active will help with detox, but so will getting the appropriate amount of rest you need.

If I were you, I would get as much sleep and relaxation in the next few days as possible. Once you feel up to it, start gradually incorporating exercise into your regimen.

Hope that helps! :)