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July/August 2009 Featured Stories
Detox Now: Spiritual Juice Fasting

By Gabriel Cousens

Physical toxins can accumulate in the food we eat, the environment we live in and through daily emotional stresses, all contributing to stored toxins in our system. Spiritual juice fasting programs address the impact of accumulated stress and toxins on overall health, helping us to detoxify our whole system.

A body system overloaded by mental and physical toxins can exhibit symptoms such as bad breath, skin manifestations, headaches, weight gain, general malaise, allergies, fungal infections, gastrointestinal conditions, sciatica, various forms of low back pain, irritability, anxiety, insomnia and depression.

In recent history, humankind has managed to drastically change the chemistry of the environment in which we live. Chemicals released into the ground threaten a portion of the soil we grow our food in and the natural underground water tables that supply some of our drinking water. Pollutants discharged into surface waters, such as lakes and rivers, and chemical emissions pumped into the air we breathe threaten our physical health and well-being.

To compound the problem of our toxic environment, we have refined away much of the nutritional value of our food supply and replaced it with artificial colorings, preservatives, flavorings and conditioners. This poor quality diet combined with extensive use of antibiotics in medicine and agriculture may have predisposed many of us to experience a kind of "internal" pollution. Internal pollution occurs when toxins enter the body from the environment or are produced by unhealthy bacteria in the intestine. Internal pollution negatively impacts many aspects of our overall health.

While it is important to be aware of toxins and do our best to avoid major sources, we can't escape the reality of worldwide pollution on many levels. The best strategy is to practice good health habits and cultivate a vital life-force capable of dealing with environmental stresses. Cleansing is an important part of developing and maintaining a balanced body system, resistant to the excesses of the world.

Spiritual Fasting

Fasting is formally defined as a complete abstinence from food and water, however in a larger context it means to abstain from that which is toxic to the mind, body and soul. We have found juice fasting to be the best and safest method to allow for cleansing while still maintaining energy and rejuvenation on all levels.

Fasting is an excellent method for cleansing your entire system. The fasting process begins after day two or three when the body goes into autolysis, the process whereby the body is digesting its own dead and dying cells. In the body's wisdom, it selectively decomposes those cells and tissues that are in excess, diseased, damaged, aged or dead. This allows for an improved ratio of healthy cells in the body. Since this is a time of increased off-loading of toxins, it puts a cleansing demand on the many organs involved. During a fast we must give extra care to supporting the eliminative systems of the body such as the skin, kidneys, liver, bowels and lungs.

Juice fasting is a form of fasting in which organic, living-food juice supplies enzymes and living micro-nutrients that further aid the cleansing process. In comparison to water fasting, there also tends to be fewer healing crises or depletion of energy. Since juices are high in minerals, vitamins and enzymes, which help with the rejuvenating process of the body, the juices are assimilated directly into the body without stimulating digestive enzymes.

The alkalinizing properties of juices help to neutralize acidic conditions (from which many people suffer) and the toxins being released by the body. The alkaline component of the juices helps to reestablish the alkaline reserve needed for rebuilding health. With juice fasting, most people experience increased energy since the body is given a well-deserved rest from the work of digesting the complicated varieties of foods and beverages often consumed daily.

The Tree of Life juice fasting programs use primarily green juices, rather than fruit juices. Green juices minimize problems with hypoglycemia and fungus, and maximize the detoxification process with a minimum of healing crisis.

Fasting is also rewarding in spiritual pursuits. It has its history in the spiritual practices of almost all religions. Because fasting accelerates purification of the body, it enhances the movement of all levels of energy, including the spiritualizing energy. Fasting allows for the conditioning of instinct and bodily desires to be diminished, allowing for the desire to commune with the divine to be experienced more clearly. A common occurrence is people find it easier to meditate. In general, as the mind begins to clear of physical and mental toxins and becomes more tranquil, one begins to experience the joy that is our birthright.

Most people can benefit from fasting. The exceptions are those people more than 10 pounds underweight, those with severe wasting diseases such as neurological degenerative diseases and certain cancers, and pregnant and lactating women.

In our complex and toxic world, it is easy to become toxic and lose one's center on a regular basis. Spiritually-based detoxification programs are a wonderful antidote to this dilemma.

Gabriel Cousens, M.D., M.D. (H), D.D., Diplomat American Board of Holistic Medicine and Diplomat in Ayurveda, is the founder and director of the Tree of Life Foundation and Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center in Patagonia, Arizona. His is the best-selling author of many books, including There is a Cure for Diabetes, Spiritual Nutrition and Conscious Eating. He is a key presenter at the Juice Fast for Healing the Planet in Portland on Aug. 24-Sept. 1. Visit www.treeoflife.nu.