Optimal Time For Detoxification
How does one know when it is time to detoxify? According to Dr. Elson Hass in his book The Detox Diet (1996), almost everyone living in Western societies needs to detoxify their bodies from the excess of food and drugs that are a part of these cultures. There are times, however, that are better suited for cleansing than others. These are based on both internal and external factors. Internally, it is recommended by Dr. Hass to cleanse whenever one feels congested. An example of this is given by Hass: “When I start to feel congested from too much food, people, or activities, I will feel better if I exercise, sauna or steam, drink loads of fluids, eat lightly, take vitamins C and A, and get a good night’s sleep.” (27) Our bodies go through cycles of wanting to cleanse, and these cycles correspond to external factors as well. Every day, for example, our bodies will detoxify during the night until midmorning if given the opportunity to do so. Women also cleanse with each menstrual cycle. Changes in the seasons are external times when our bodies can highly benefit from detoxification. Elson Hass recommends a one to two week cleanse during these seasonal changes.
In order to better understand the cycles of cleansing, we can look at Hass’ “trilogy of nutritional action.” In this trilogy, detoxifying is one part, while building and maintaining are the other two aspects. If an individual eats a balanced diet low in fats, meats, dairy products, chemical foods, and processed foods, Hass says that he or she will need a lighter detoxification process. With this type of diet, the body is able to detoxify itself naturally, which occurs mostly at night and during the early morning. Someone who eats a diet high in fats, meats, dairy, chemical and processed foods, however, will need to cleanse more deeply in order for the body to release the high amounts of toxins. If the body has signs of disease, high toxicity, or congestion, Hass strongly recommends cleansing. According to Hass in The Detox Diet (1996), signs of toxicity include, “headaches, fatigue, congestion, backaches, aching or swollen joints, digestive problems, ‘allergy’ symptoms, and sensitivity to environmental agents such as chemicals, perfumes, and synthetics.” (23)
Another way to determine whether one’s body is highly toxic, and thus potentially in need of a cleanse or fast, is by looking at the tongue. When peoples’ bodies are completely detoxified, their tongues will be bright red. If one’s tongue has a coating, which is often yellow, gray, or white, it is a sign that the body is toxic. Richard Anderson states in his book Cleanse & Purify Thyself (1988) that the tongue shows what is happening in the digestive canal. Often when people go through intestinal cleanses, their tongues become clearer and their breath more sweet.