Cleansing seems to be a theme for me this year. I kicked off 2011 with the SpaFusion Cleanse coupled with a series of colonics. It was a wonderful experience with a few ups and downs (due to some detox symptoms), but an absolute great way to start off the year!
I was thrilled to try colonics for the very first time. I signed up for a 6-session series, twice a week, and I've continued with a maintenance session once a month. I did a fair amount of research on colon hydrotherapy, and I was careful to find a therapist who I resonated with. I was also very careful to find a practitioner who uses the best quality water.
After calling around town, I found a local colon hydrotherapist who uses the gentle Woods Gravity Method, along with triple filtered UV water. This method resonates with me because it doesn't use machines, motors, or pumps. Instead, it uses gravity to gently awaken the bowels, promoting release.
I was fortunate to connect with the lovely Karen of GravityBoulder.com, a raw foodie who trained under Natalie Rose, author of The Raw Food Detox Diet. The first colonic was definitely my most memorable! I was in colonic euphoria that entire next 24 hours, in pure and utter bliss. My body felt so light and free. But as my body began to release years of stored waste, a few of the sessions that followed were more challenging.
The cold weather also made it difficult to maintain the cleanse (I may try it again during the summer months), so I slowly transitioned back. But luckily, I was inspired to pick up a copy of The Body Ecology Diet by Donna Gates shortly thereafter.
The Body Ecology Diet is a challenging program (at least it was for me) that takes you completely off of sugar, and all other stimulants for that matter! And when I say NO sugar, I mean no sweeteners, no fruit, nada, zilch! The book mentions a handful of symptoms (related to candida) that the raw food diet alone, including a low-glycemic juice fast, has never been able to correct for me. So here I am cleansing yet again, this time with a stronger focus on probiotics, food combining and less SUGAR!
I feel like this book came into my life just at the right time and for a reason. This program feels like a much deeper, and much needed cleanse. Truth be told, I only lasted 10 days on the initial stage of the program (no grain, no fruit, no alcohol, no starchy veggies, no tomatoes, not even gum or sweetened toothpaste). Literally, nothing with any trace of sugar or anything that metabolizes as sugar passed my lips. Hands down one of the more challenging cleanses I've attempted yet. In those brief 10 days I went through a pretty intense detox and severe withdrawal symptoms. Nothing like the mild detox from going high-raw almost 4 years ago.
It just goes to show how many of us (even those of us who are healthy), are completely addicted to sugar. I was shocked to realize how strongly sugar affects my body. I'm seriously starting to think that sugar (in ALL forms) is one of the most commonly overlooked toxins in the health movement.
Even though I didn't complete the entire program, I have to say, I will never look at sugar the same way again. Going forward I hope to play around and find a more balanced approach to creating raw desserts - those that are much lighter, low-glycemic, and definitely far less stimulating!
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