Body Detox Diet: Symptoms to Expect When You Improve Your Diet

by Dr. Stanley S. Bass
3119 Coney Island Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11235
(718) 648-1500

If I were asked which is the area of greatest misunderstanding and confusion in the field of nutrition, I would immediately be forced to reply that it is the failure to properly understand and interpret the symptoms and changes which follow the beginning of a better nutritional program.

What is meant by a better nutritional program?

It is the introduction of foods of higher quality in place of lower quality ones. For example, if a person replaces a protein rich food such as pork with beef, the beef may be considered the superior of the two due to its easier digestibility, lower and less saturated fat content, etc.; chicken is superior to beef and fish is superior to chicken because of its more rapid digestibility and lower saturated fat content. Lima beans, lentils, or chick peas, which are eaten at the same meal with vegetables are superior in all the nutrients needed to rebuild health.

As we go higher on the scale of quality, we begin to include protein rich food which may be eaten in the unfired state, such as cheese which is made from raw milk and unsalted. Then we ascend to the nuts and seeds which are eaten in the natural state (raw and unsalted).

To summarize: the closer the food comes to the natural state in which it occurs, or the closer to its raw, unfired form, the higher its quality. In this condition, all the enzymes are found intact. The amino acids are in their finest form. The minerals, vitamins, trace elements, carbohydrates, and “life force” are present. The life force, in turn, is capable of reproducing healthy tissue.

This same classification of quality which we analyzed in relation to protein rich foods applies to the carbohydrates (the starch and sugar-rich foods), the fats, and the mineral-rich foods.

The quality of a nutritional program is also improved by omitting toxic substances such as coffee, tea, chocolate, tobacco, salt, pepper, etc. from your diet.

What is the relation of quality of foods to recovery from illness? It is this in a nutshell: The higher the quality of food we eat, the quicker we recover from disease, provided we are able to digest and assimilate properly.

To this must be added the knowledge of (a) proper food combining; (b) proper order of eating the different kinds of food at a meal, e.g., the most easily digested food should be eaten first, the more complex one second, and the most concentrated item last; (c) the correct quantity of food to be consumed (of each type) in the meal; and (d) the correct time for eating (when hungry and not by the clock).

Now, what happens when a person follows these rules and makes a decided improvement in the quality of food consumed?

Remarkable things begin to happen to the body as well as the mind. The amazing intelligence present in every cell of the body and the wisdom of the body in its operation immediately becomes manifest. The rule may be stated thusly: When the quality of the food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissues which the body is made of, the body begins to discard the lower grade materials and tissues to make room for the superior materials which it uses to make new and healthier tissue.

This is the plan of Nature — the body is very selective and always tries to produce health and always will, unless our interference is too great. Only then do we fail to recover and degenerate further into disease. The self-curing nature of many conditions such as colds, fevers, cuts, swellings, injuries, etc., furnishes endless examples of how the body tends towards health–always–unless we do something to stop the process.

Symptoms and Signs

What are the symptoms or signs which become evident when we first begin to omit the lower grade foods and instead introduce superior foods–those which are most alive, more natural than we are accustomed to? When the use of toxic stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate, or cocoa is suddenly stopped, headaches are common and a let down occurs. This is due to the discard by the body of the toxins called caffeine and theobromine which are removed from the tissues and transported through the bloodstream during its many bodily rounds.

Before the noxious agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as pain–in other words, headache. The letdown is due to the slower action of the heart–the resting phase which follows the stimulation of more rapid heart beat forced upon the body by certain poisons called stimulants. The more rapid heart beat (or pulse) produces a feeling of exhilaration, and the slower action produces a depressed state of mind. Usually, within three days, the symptoms vanish and we feel stronger due to the recuperation which follows.

To a lesser extent, the same process occurs when we abandon lower quality foods and replace them with better foods. Lower quality foods have undergone more preparation. Spices, salt, and other ingredients have been added, as they tend to be more stimulating than less prepared and more natural foods. Animal foods such as meat, fowl, fish, etc. are more stimulating than cheese, nuts, and vegetable proteins.

Consequently, the withdrawal of stimulation which follows the abandonment of animal food produces a slower heart action–a resting phase–which registers in the mind as relaxation or a decrease of energy. This initial letdown lasts about ten days or slightly longer and is followed by an increase of strength, a feeling of diminishing stress and greater well-being.

Now let us return to the symptoms which occur in the process of regeneration. The person who starts a better diet, stays on it for three days to a week, and then quits will say, “Oh, I felt better on the old diet–the new one makes me feel weak.” He failed because he didn’t give his body a chance to adjust and complete its first phase of action–recuperation. If he had waited a while longer, he would have begun to feel better than before he started.

Initial Stage

During the initial stage (lasting about ten days on the average to several weeks in others), the vital energies which are usually in the periphery or external part of the body such as the muscles and skin, begin to move to the vital internal organs and start reconstruction. This shunting of much of the power to the internal region produces a feeling of less energy in the muscles, which the mind interprets as some weakness.

Actually, the power is increased, but most of it is being used for rebuilding the more important organs and less of it is available for muscular work. Any weakness which is felt here is not true weakness, but merely a redeploying of forces to the more important internal parts. Here it is important for the person to stop wasting energy, and to rest and sleep more. This is a crucial phase, and if the person resorts to stimulants of any kind, he will abort and defeat the regenerative intent of the body.

It is important that he have patience and faith and just wait it out, and after a while he will get increasing strength which will exceed by far what he felt before he began the new program.

Success in recovery or improvement of health hinges upon the correct understanding of this point — realizing that the body is using its main energies in more important internal work and not wasting it in external work involving muscle movements. Be wise, take it easy here, and relax. Just coast in your work and social obligations until you’re out of the woods.

Improving Diet

As one continues on the improved diet and gradually raises the food quality, interesting symptoms being to appear. The body begins a process called retracing. It says to itself, “Now we have a chance to get rid of this old garbage and build a beautiful new house. Let’s get started immediately. Let’s get this excess bile out of the liver and gall bladder and send it to the intestines for elimination. Let’s get the sludge moving out of the arteries, veins, and capillaries. These smelly, gassy, brain-stupefying masses have been here too long–out with them! These arthritic deposits in the joints need cleaning up. Let’s get these irritating food preservatives, aspirins, sleeping pills, and drugs out of the way, along with these other masses of fat which have made life so burdensome for us for so long. Let’s get going till the job is down–till we have a beautiful house–and from there on we’ll keep it a beautiful ideal model house.”

First Phase

During the first phase (called catabolism), the accent is on elimination, or breaking down of tissue. The body begins to clean house–in short, to remove the garbage deposited in all the tissues–everywhere. During this period, the body removes the ashes from the furnace preparatory to getting a better fire. Here the accentuation is on removal of the gross and immediate body obstructions. Wastes are discarded more rapidly than new tissue is made from the new food. This becomes evident as weight loss. This persists for a while and is then followed by the second phase–called stabilization.

Here, the weight remains more or less stable. During this phase, the amount of waste material being discarded daily is equal to the amount of tissue which is being formed and replaced by the newer, more vital food. This occurs after the excess of obstructing material in the tissues has been removed.

Third Phase

This state persists for a while and is then followed by a third phase — a build-up period called anabolism, wherein weight starts to go up, even though the diet is lower in calories than it was before. At this point, much or more of the interfering wastes have already been discarded — the tissues which have been formed since the diet was raised in quality are more durable and do not break down easily. Also, new tissues are now being formed faster. This is due to the improved assimilation made possible by the ceasing of wrong food combining. The body’s need for the usual amounts of food decreases, and we are able to maintain our weight and increased energies with less food.

Many are able to function very efficiently on two meals a day. As the body progressively increases in efficiency and decreases in tissue breakdown under exercise, so do we gradually need less and less food to maintain life. The higher the percentage of raw food one lives on, the slower the rate of tissue deterioration which one evolves into. A sick body requires a gradual, carefully worked-out entry into this stage, where one is able to live on a 100% unfired (raw) diet, if desired.

Detox Symptoms

Returning to the symptoms which occur on a superior nutritional program, people who have had tendencies in the past to recurring skin rashes or eruptions will frequently tend to eliminate poisons and harmful drugs through the skin with new rashes or eruptions. If they go to a doctor now who is not familiar with this aspect of nutrition, he will diagnose it as an allergy.

They ask, “How come? I’m eating better now than I ever did before, and instead I’m getting worse.” They don’t understand that the body is retracing.

The skin is getting more alive and active. It’s throwing out more poisons more rapidly now that the body is building more power which is saved from those hard-to-ingest meals which have been discontinued. These toxins being discarded are saving you from more serious disease which will result if you keep them in your body too much longer–possibly hepatitis, kidney disorders, blood disease, heart disease, arthritis, nerve degenerations or even cancer–depending upon your hereditary or structural weaknesses. Be happy you’re paying your bills now in an easy-payment plan.

With some, colds which haven’t appeared for a long time may occur, or even fevers. This is nature’s way of housecleaning. Understand that these actions are constructive, even though unpleasant at the moment. Don’t, but don’t, try to stop these symptoms by the use of certain drugs, or even massive doses of vitamins which will act as drugs in huge concentrations. These symptoms are part of a curing process, and don’t try to cure a cure.

These are not deficiency conditions or allergic manifestations — not if you’re eating properly in quality, quantity, combination and sequence. Here is where experienced advice is a great value. Unfortunately, there are few good books present today which give full guidance to the average reader. Try to find guidance through a doctor or teacher who has the requisite experience in this most confusing of all subjects–nutrition in relation to health and disease.

You may be eating perfectly in regard to quantity, quality, and observing all the correct rules, and still symptoms will occur. Those who have lived better lives in the past–who have eaten better foods and who have abused their bodies less with over-eating will have reactions ranging from almost none at all or very mild symptoms which may be uncomfortable or acute. Those who have lived worse lives and poisoned themselves more will experience more severe symptoms if their liver, kidneys, or other important eliminating organs have been damaged. When they have been renovated to the point of fair working order, they will no longer produce symptoms.

Headaches may occur at the beginning; fever and/or colds may also appear; the skin may break out; there may be a short interval of bowel sluggishness, occasional diarrhea, feelings of tiredness and weakness, disinclination to exercise, nervousness, irritability, negativity or mental depression, frequent urination, etc. However, the great majority of people find their reactions tolerable and are encouraged to bear with them because of the many improvements which have already occurred and are becoming more evident with each day. This acts as an inspirational force to them.

The symptoms will vary according to the materials being discarded, the conditions of the organs involved in the elimination, and the amount of energy you have available. The more you rest and sleep when symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are terminated.

Be happy you are having symptoms. Realize deeply that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day because you are throwing off more and more wastes which would eventually have brought pain, disease, and much suffering. Those who have the worst symptom-reactions and follow through to their successful termination are thus avoiding some of the worst diseases which would eventually have developed had they continued their careless eating habits.

Don’t expect to go on an ascending scale of quality, that improving your diet will make you feel better and better each day until you reach perfection. The body is cyclical in nature, and health returns in a series of gradually-diminishing cycles. For example, you start a better diet and for a while you feel much better. After some time, a symptom occurs–you feel nauseous for a day and have diarrhea with a foul-smelling stool. After a day, you feel even better than before and all goes fine for awhile. Then you suddenly develop a cold, feel chills and lose your appetite. After about two or three days (assuming you don’t take drugs or do anything else about it), you suddenly recover and feel better than you did for years.

Let us say this well-being continues for two months, when you suddenly develop an itch or rash. You don’t take anything special for it. This rash flares up, gets worse and continues for ten days, and suddenly subsides, immediately after this you find that your hepatitis is gone and your energy has increased more than ever before. The rash became an outlet for the poisons in the liver which produced the hepatitis.

This is how recovery occurs–like the cycles in the Dow-Jones Average at the beginning of a bull market recovery. You feel better, a reaction occurs and you don’t feel as well for a short while. You recover and go even higher. Then another reaction occurs, milder than the last. You recover and go even higher. And so it goes, each reaction milder than the last as the body becomes pure–each becoming shorter in duration and being followed by a longer period of feeling better than ever before, until you reach a level plateau of vibrant health. Here you become relatively disease-free.

We must learn to obey the laws of Nature. We must learn to eat simple, pure, and natural foods, properly prepared and combined, and our bodies in return will cast off all the poisons we have taken in during our lives. The mysteries of the body, the operations of nature, the vital forces working in nature are far beyond what our minds are prepared to understand at present. Every great physician or scientist who ever lived marvelled in awe and humility at the wonders of nature. Yes–we are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”

What is a Healing Crisis? Common Detox Side Effects from Transitioning to a Healthy Diet

BY Dr Stanley Bass,
N.D. D.C. Ph.D.

If I were asked which is the greatest misunderstanding and confusion in the field of nutrition, I would respond, “to properly understand and interpret the symptoms and changes that follow the beginnings of a better nutritional program – (A healing crisis)”

Now, what happens when a person follows the rules and makes a decided improvement in the quality of food consumed?

Remarkable things begin to happen to the body as well as the mind. The amazing intelligence present in every cell of the body and the wisdom of the body in its operation immediately becomes manifest.

The rule may be stated thus: When the quality of food coming into the body is of higher quality than the tissue that the body is made of, the body begins to discard the lower grade materials and tissues and makes room for the superior materials that make new and healthier tissue.

What are the symptoms or signs that become evident when we first begin to omit the lower grade food and instead introduce superior foods-those that are more alive, more natural than those we are accustomed to?

When the use of toxic stimulants such as coffee, tea, chocolate or cocoa is suddenly stopped, headaches are common, and a letdown (healing crisis) occurs. This is due to the discard by the body, of toxins called caffeine and theobromine, which are removed from the tissues and transported through the blood stream during its many bodily rounds. Before the toxins agents reach their final destination for elimination, these irritants register in our consciousness as pain-in other words, headache.

The letdown is due to the slower action of the heart – the resting phase that follows the stimulation of more rapid heart action forced on the body by certain poisons called stimulants. The more rapid heartbeat (or pulse) produces a feeling of exhilaration, and the slower action produces a depressed state of mind.

Usually, within three days, the symptoms vanish and we feel stronger due to the recuperation that follows.

To a lesser extent, the same process occurs when we abandon lower quality foods and replace them with better foods. Lower quality foods have undergone more preparation.

Spices, salt and other ingredients have been added, and they tend to be more stimulating than less prepared and more natural foods. Animal food, such as meat, fowl, fish etc, is more stimulating than cheeses, nuts and vegetable proteins. Consequently the withdrawal of stimulation, which follows the abandonment of animal food produces a slower heart action, a resting phase that registers to the mind as relaxation or a decrease in energy.

This initial letdown (healing crisis) lasts about ten days or slightly longer, and is followed by an increase of strength, a feeling of diminishing stress and great well-being.

Now, let us return to the symptoms that occur in the process of regeneration.

The person who starts a better diet, stays on it for three days to a week and then quits, will say, “Oh, I felt better on the old diet – the new one makes me feel weak”. He failed because he did not give his body a chance to adjust and complete its first phase of action, recuperation. If he had waited a while longer, he would have begun to feel better than before he started.

During this initial phase (lasting about ten days on the average, to several weeks in others), the vital energies that are usually in the periphery or external parts of the body, such as the muscles and skin, begin to move to the vital internal organs and start reconstruction. This shunting of much of the power to the internal region produces a feeling of less energy in the muscles, which the mind interprets as some weakness.

Actually power is increased, but most of it is being used for rebuilding the more important organs, and less of it is available for muscular work.

Any weakness that is felt here is not a true weakness, but merely a redeployment of forces to the more important internal parts. Here it is important for the person to stop wasting energy, and rest and sleep more. This is a crucial phase, and if the person resorts to stimulants of any kind, he will abort and defeat the regeneration intent of the body.

It is important that he have patience and just wait it out and after awhile he will get an increasing strength that will exceed what he felt before he began the new program. Success in recovery or improvement of health hinges upon the correct understanding of this point – realizing that the body is using its main energies in more important internal work and not wasting it in external work involving muscle movements.

Be wise – take it easy and relax. Just coast in your work and social obligations until you are out of the woods.

As one continues on the improved diet and gradually raises the food quality, interesting symptoms begin to appear. The body begins a process called “retracing”.

The cellular intelligence reasons something like this “Oh! Look at all those fine materials coming in. How wonderful – now we have a chance to get rid of this old garbage and build a beautiful new house.

Let us get started immediately. Let us get this excess bile out of the liver and gall bladder and send it to the intestines for elimination. Let us get this sludge moving out of the arteries, veins and capillaries. These smelly, gassy, brain-stupefying masses have been here too long- out with them! These arthritic deposits on the joints need cleaning up. Let us get these irritating food preservatives such as aspirins, sleeping pills and drugs out of the way, along with these other masses of fat that have made life so burdensome for us for so long.”

During the first phase of the healing crisis (called catabolism), the accent is on elimination or breaking down of tissue. The body begins to clean house – in short, to remove the garbage deposited in all the tissues. Wastes are discarded more rapidly and new tissue is made from the new food. This becomes evident as weight loss. This persists for a while then is followed by the second phase-stabilization.

Here the weight remains more or less stable. During this phase, the amount of waste material being discarded daily is equal to the amount of tissue that is being formed and replaced by the newer, more vital food. This occurs after the excess of obstructing material in the tissues has been removed. This stage persists for a while and is then followed by a third phase – a build up period (called anabolism), wherein weight starts to go even though the diet is lower in calories than it was before. At this point, much or more of the interfering wastes have been discarded.

Returning to the symptoms that occur on a superior nutritional program – people who have had tendencies in the past to recurring skin rashes or eruptions will frequently tend to eliminate poisons and harmful drugs through the skin with new rashes and eruptions. If they go to a doctor now who is not familiar with this aspect of nutrition, he will diagnose it as an allergy.

They ask, “How come I am eating better than I ever did before and instead I’m getting worse?” They don’t understand that the body is “retracing” The skin is getting more alive and active. It is throwing out more poisons more rapidly.

Headaches may occur at the beginning, fever and/or colds may also appear, the skin may break out, there may be a short interval of bowel sluggishness, diarrhea, feeling of tiredness and weakness, disinclination to exercise, nervousness, irritability, negativity, mental depression, frequent urination, etc.

However the great majority of people find their reactions tolerable and are encouraged to bear with them. With some, colds that have not appeared for a long time may occur, or even fevers.

Understand that these actions are constructive, even though unpleasant at the moment. Do not try to stop these symptoms by the use of certain drugs. These symptoms are part of a curing process; so don’t try to cure a cure. These are NOT necessarily deficiency problems or allergic manifestations.

The symptoms will vary according to the material being discarded, the condition of the organs involved in the elimination, and the amount of energy you have available. The more you rest and sleep when the symptoms are present, the milder they are and the more quickly they are terminated. Be happy you are having symptoms. Realized deeply that your body is becoming younger and healthier every day. You are throwing off more and more wastes that would eventually have brought pain, disease, and following through to their successful termination, avoiding some of the worst diseases that would eventually have developed had you continued your careless eating habits.

Do not expect to go on an ascending scale of quality. Do not expect that improving your diet will make you feel better and better each day until you reach perfection. The body is cyclical in nature. And health returns in a series of gradually diminishing cycles. For example, you may start a better diet and for a while you feel much better. After some time, a symptom occurs – you may feel nauseous for a day and have diarrhea with a foul smelling stool. After a day, you feel better than ever before, and all goes fine for a while. Then you suddenly develop a cold, feel chills, and lose your appetite. After about two or three days (assuming you do not take drugs or do anything else about it), you suddenly develop an itch or rash. You still do not take anything special for it. This rash flares up, gets worse, and continues for ten days, and immediately subsides. Immediately after this, you find your hepatitis is gone and your energy has increased more than ever before. The rash became an outlet for the poisons in the liver, which produced the hepatitis. This is how recovery occurs.

You recover and go even higher. And so it goes – each reaction milder than the last as the body becomes purer, each becoming shorter in duration and being followed by a longer and longer period of feeling better than ever before, until you reach a level plateau of vibrant health. Let us give ourselves, through our “healing crisis” a chance to experience what it means to be really healthy and fully alive.

Why Dr. Melina Jampolis Loves Kaeng Raeng

Kaeng Raeng Detox was featured in an interview with CNN’s Health and Fitness expert, Dr. Melina Jampolis in First for Women Magazine.

Kaeng Raeng Review – From a Customer

BY KAENG RAENG CUSTOMER DANA

I felt the strongest urge to do a detox the last few weeks, and Vegan Cuts had discount offer for Kaeng Raeng products, so I jumped on it. I have fasted before, but I wouldn’t say I’ve done a cleanse, so I appreciate the idea of a pre-made mix that has all the nutrition packed into it for me. Plus? Vegan, non-GMO soy, recycled packaging, local ingredients, etc. This is not meant to be a fast. You are encouraged to drink the three servings per day in any order or combination, and then supplement your drinks with a raw, vegan diet (per the box). I recall the web site saying raw fruits and vegetables, which is different from everything a raw, vegan diet can be, so I am sticking with just raw fruits and vegetables if I feel the need to crunch on something.

You are supposed to use 24-32oz of water/liquid with each pack, but the cup that came with my inversion blender only holds about 25-26oz, so I will fill it to 20oz, blend, then top it off with ice to get to 24oz. They tell you repeatedly to drink lots of water during the detox, and you do need to. I find myself very thirsty by the early morning hours when waking up.

Day 1
7am: Glai Roong “Daybreak” (mango, peach, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz water. This combination was delicious. The banana gave it a lovely consistency somewhere between a watery smoothie and full-on smoothie.
11am: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1/2 cup OG blueberries and 20oz water. The flavor was okay. I definitely missed the creaminess the banana added.
6pm: Juu Juu “Into the Blue” (blueberry, blackberry, banana) with 1 small banana and 20oz water. It was the end of the first day, so I was craving anything other than my beverage, but it was good.

Throughout the day I probably drank only another liter of water. I should probably drink closer to 2-3 liters. I snacked on some OG baby carrots in the evening.

Day 2
7am: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz water. Nothing wrong with this combination.
11am: Glai Roong “Daybreak” (mango, peach, pineapple) with 1/2 cup OG blueberries and 20oz water. This combination was okay. Adding a water-dense fruit is probably not the best option.
6pm: Juu Juu “Into the Blue” (blueberry, blackberry, banana) with 6oz unsweetened almond milk and 20oz water. The almond milk was not a good addition. I will stick to water from now on. I had to really work to finish this one.

I was down 1-lb the morning of Day 2. Losing weight is not my main goal, but to feel better. I do believe I have become much more in tune with my body’s signals since becoming vegan. That doesn’t mean I always listen, but I do hear them now. I don’t recall if I was able to get in closer to 2 liters of water this day. I had some OG mixed greens with one half of a (soon to go bad) OG avocado, 1 cup OG broccoli, and a handful of baby carrots at dinner time.

Day 3
7am: Juu Juu “Into the Blue” (blueberry, blackberry, banana) with 1 small banana and 20oz water. Good combination.
12pm: Glai Roong “Daybreak” (mango, peach, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water plus lots of ice. Just what I needed after a quick trip to the gym on this hot day.
5pm: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water. Snacked on some baby carrots and 0.05lb of raw pine nuts at home.

I was down 2-lbs the morning of Day 3. I feel really good. No strong cravings. The funny thing is if you read up on detox symptoms, in theory, I should be feeling like crap as toxins are being released, but for the most part I feel fine. I am curious to see how that changes over the next 24-hours since I am only two days in, going into my third. I definitely drank a ton more water Day 3. Sadly, the expansion party at the co-op is tonight as well as an invite out to the Blind Pig, but my willpower is strong so I will abstain from the alcohol and just snack on any raw fruits and vegetables, if available. (No problems at the Blind Pig and had a few bites of fresh fruit at the co-op party.)

Day 4
9am: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water.
3pm: Glai Roong “Daybreak” (mango, peach, pineapple) with 6-8 slices of frozen peach and 20oz of water.
6pm: Juu Juu “Into the Blue” (blueberry, blackberry, banana) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water.

No weight loss on the scale the morning of Day 4, but that’s okay. I am still feeling really good. I went to the gym yesterday for a quick 20 minute bike ride over lunch and some weights and yoga stretching. It was a long day yesterday with lots of events to go to after work, so I am not at all surprised at the lack of loss. Hence the late start to my day as well. It was 80F and muggy by 8am, and 99F with the heat index by noon. I should have gotten up at 6am for a jog. Finished the OG greens and OG broccoli with 1/4 OG avocado in between morning and lunch smoothies before they went bad. Definitely had lots of water today. Snacked on a few baby carrots.

Day 5
9am: Juu Juu “Into the Blue” (blueberry, blackberry, banana) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water.
1pm: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1 small banana and 20oz of water.
6pm: Glai Roong “Daybreak” (mango, peach, pineapple) with 1 medium banana and 20oz of water.

Down 2-lbs this morning. Late last night I noticed the inside of my right bicep felt bumpy along with my forearm, but more so on my bicep, and not perceivable on my left arm. It reminded me of the allergic reactions I have had in the past to mango, but I didn’t notice it until 9pm or so, and I had the mango smoothie in the late afternoon. It’s possible it was that smoothie. The frozen peaches were not OG. Each smoothie is made with real fruit, so in theory every batch can be different, so even though I’ve had better luck with OG mango, there is no guarantee it wasn’t the mango that set off the reaction. I am doubtful since the first three days were fine, but I will keep an eye out for another reaction. The bumps are mostly gone and never got as red or hot as they have in the past. I did take an antihistamine. Snacked on some baby carrots around noon and the other 0.05-lb pine nuts (They are expensive!), some more OG baby carrots, and another 1/4 of the OG avocado in the evening. Other than the random apparent allergic reaction, I still feel great. I can’t say I’ve felt poorly at all with the exception of the cravings the first day or so.

Day 6
7am: Reunn “Joyful” (strawberry, raspberry, pineapple) with 1 medium banana and 20oz of water.

No weight loss the morning of Day 6, in fact, I gained 1-lb. I attribute this to the pine nuts and avocado. 😉 (Plus, even though I felt like I drank a ton of water, perhaps I didn’t get as much as I thought.) I am still having an allergic reaction to something, and the similarities to my reactions to non-OG mango make me believe it is the mango in the smoothies. Perhaps it just took 4-5 days to take effect since mango is one ingredient among many? I think I am going to save the last two smoothies for a day when I feel the need to replace a meal. Starting at lunch today I will return to eating something other than the detox drinks.

Overall, this was a pleasant and easy detox/cleanse. Not bad for my first experience. The funny part of supplementing the drink was how it felt like effort to get through a small salad. While my brain is sending excited signals at the thought of eating something solid, cooked, or made from a grain, I don’t feel like I have been deprived, and I do feel healthier. I would recommend Kaeng Raeng to those wanting to reboot their digestive system. They have a quiz to help you find the best product for you (3-day, 6-day, beginner, veteran or master). I think I started reaping the benefits around the end of Day 3, so it was important that I go the six days. I think this is due to the fact that I have been vegan for three years and therefore was already used to a pretty high fiber, raw-leaning lifestyle.

I think lunch is going to be overnight oats with OG blueberries. Yum. Exciting.

Kaeng Raeng in First Magazine

Kaeng Raeng detox was featured on the cover of First for Women Magazine this week!   Check out the upper left hand corner.

Kaeng Raeng was featured in the “nutrition” section of First

Read the section here!

Kaeng Raeng Review – from a Customer

“Even though I just tried the 3-day beginner (I’m vegan already, so the 6-day was suggested), I was very happy with the results of my detox. People told me how great and glowing I looked almost immediately.

The smoothies were tasty and filling, and I didn’t feel like I was missing out at mealtimes. The only physical discomfort was a mild headache on the second day, but I expected this, because I was also trying to detox from my normal 2 cup of coffee a day routine. By the third day, I had so much energy and felt great. The energy and general feeling of good health lingered for weeks afterward.

My fiance told me that my body looked the best it ever had! It definitely jump started weight loss (about 10 lbs so far, but going to do the 6-day cleanse next), and gave me lots of energy for maintaining with yoga. I’ve been recommending to friends who are interested in detoxing after winter bad habits, and one has already tried. He was so appreciative and happy with his results as well!” -K.E., New York, NY

Cleanses are the rage, but do they work?

BY LAURA CASEY

A FRUIT-and-vegetable-based cleansing product Marie Lebair O’Brient uses about every three months makes her feel like she’s getting her eating habits back on track.

After following the vegan, gluten-free Kaeng Raeng cleanse program for three days, her taste for salty foods diminishes. She feels more “regular” and is motivated to eat more healthfully. The regimen replaces all meals with a shake and all snacks with raw fruits and vegetables. It’s worth the $60 investment each time, she says, to detox and lose a little bit of weight.

“It’s a regimen of a few days where I am eating things that are really good for me,” the Moraga resident says. “I am amazed at how good I feel afterward.”

In the past couple of years, cleanse programs — everything from the do-it-yourself lemon juice and maple syrup Master Cleanse to designer cleanses such as Kaeng Raeng developed by a Stanford grad — have become the rage for people who want to lose weight, eliminate toxins from their bodies and gain some oft-needed eating discipline. Hollywood elites such as Beyoncé Knowles and Ryan Seacrest say they’ve lost weight using them, and Gwyneth Paltrow says a 21-day regimen she regularly follows helps give her “mental clarity.”

Depending on the program — and there are hundreds if not thousands on the market — anecdotal reviews are generally shining. But health professionals warn that people are wasting their money on cleanses and, at worst, they are risking their health.

Unlike some cleanses that promise dramatic weight loss in mere days with the help of starvation fasts or added stimulants, there’s nothing sneaky or nefarious about Lindsay Reinsmith’s Kaeng Raeng cleanse or the CAN CAN Cleanse developed by San Francisco’s Teresa Piro.

Reinsmith’s Kaeng Raeng follows the principles of a raw vegan diet. A cleanser uses her powders — which contain more than a full serving of fruit and fiber, lean protein, probiotic cultures, amino acids and vitamins — in shakes, and supplements those shakes with raw fruits and vegetables for three to six days. And that’s it. No coffee, no alcohol, no cupcakes or french fries. A healthy dose of water is also prescribed.

“What Kaeng Raeng does is help people get on the right track for long-term health,” Reinsmith says. “It gives people the chance to experience plant-based living. When you’re going on a detox, when you’re abstaining from meat, you get a glimpse of how your body feels in that lifestyle.”

Reinsmith says most people turn to Kaeng Raeng when they’ve “jumped off the wagon,” meaning they’ve found themselves consuming too much fast food, too much salt or sugar and not enough fruits and vegetables.

Piro says her $175 CAN CAN Cleanse — a three-day liquid cleanse program that includes organic fresh fruit and vegetable juices, soups and teas — is a tool to reset the mind and body.

Prompting change

“People tend to make some realistic and healthy changes to improve their diets after the cleanse,” she says.

And although Piro says the cleanse is not a weight-loss solution, “this is a great way to jump-start (a weight loss program).”

People report their cleanses have made them feel lighter. Users notice changes in their hair and skin. Sugar and salt cravings subside, and energy levels increase.

Providers of cleansing products, including Kaeng Raeng and CAN CAN Cleanse, say the process eliminates toxins from the body. And some cleansing proponents can be pretty convincing.

“We’re starting to understand the impact that toxins are having on our bodies and their contribution to almost every type of illness that we’re seeing, especially obesity and diabetes and cancers and neurological diseases,” says Cory Reddish, a Mill Valley-based licensed naturopathic physician who offers a two-week personalized cleanse for $395. “When I say toxins, we’re talking not only about chemicals, pesticides and PCBs but also things we are eating.”

Toxins abound

Add the chemicals found in the air and water with chemicals used in home cleaning products, for example, and additives and preservatives in our food, Reddish says, and you’ll find your body is full of toxins. Cleanses, she says, help remove some of those toxins. The people who participate in her Essential Cleanse, which includes classes, herbal supplements and a detox diet, lose weight and feel much better, she says.

“People start thinking more clearly, their energy is better, their mood is better after a cleanse,” she says. “It’s a result of decreasing the total toxic load in the body.”

But is it necessary?

Thomas Hargrave, a doctor with Alta Bates Summit Medical Center who specializes in the gastrointestinal tract, is clear about claims of toxin elimination by cleanse proponents.

“It’s ridiculous voodoo. All the people who are pushing this stuff have no medical training, and they are basing their claims in these phony ads where they show toxic stuff building up in colons,” he says. “There are no toxins in colons. There is no health benefit and no cleansing benefit.”

Although she says that eating a diet with lots of fruits and vegetables is great for you, Keri Gans, registered dietitian and spokeswoman for the American Dietetic Association, agrees that cleanses cannot deliver on all the promises their proprietors make.

“Anything will feel better after a couple days of not eating pure junk,” she says. “And I claim that people who feel better do so because of what they’re not eating, and they are not eating food very high in fats and very high in sugar.”

Toxins, she says, are naturally eliminated by bodily functions.

“Our bodies are normally cleansing every day. That’s why we have livers. I encourage people who feel like they need to clean out their system to eat fiber. Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains every day,” says Gans, author of “The Small Change Diet” (Gallery, $15).

As for permanent weight loss, Gans has doubts.

Do it yourself

“Quick weight loss usually means you haven’t changed any of your behaviors,” she says. “You will gain all that weight back and then some because you haven’t learned anything from your actions.”

Save your money and make your own fresh fruit juices and smoothies says Joan Frank, director of the Didactic Program in Dietetics at San Francisco State University.

She warns that cleanses should not be used by children or diabetics, and even healthy people should contact their doctors before they use them.

Frank adds it’s best to avoid toxins rather than relying on a cleanse to flush them out. Buy meat with no antibiotics or hormones added. Use the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program (www.montereybayaquarium.org) to find out which types of seafood have high levels of mercury and other toxins. Eat organic fruits and veggies or visit the Environmental Working Group (www.foodnews.org) to find out which produce has the most and least amount of pesticides used in production.

“The other thing to avoid is processed foods,” Frank says. “There are so many benefits to just eating whole foods, fruits and vegetables, lean meats and poultry. It’s nothing dramatic, but it really works.”

• To learn more about the Kaeng Raeng Cleanse, call 650-646-5474 or visit www.kaengraeng.com.
• To learn more about the CAN CAN Cleanse, call 415-439-0035 or visit www.cancancleanse.com
• Homeopathic doctor Cory Reddish can be reached at 415-383-3716. Her website is www.drcory.com
• American Dietetic Association spokesman and nutrition expert Keri Gans’ book, “The Small Change Diet,” retails at $15 and can be found at most major bookstores or online.
  Visit the American Dietetic Association at www.eatright.org for information on nutrition and healthy weight loss. The website can also help you find a local nutritionist.

Be Good to Your Body and the Planet with Kaeng Raeng Vegan Detox

From The Kind Life

All last month, you’ve been reminded to celebrate Earth Day by going green and buying eco-friendly. With all this sustainable spring cleaning, make sure to clean your body as well.

Get started with Kaeng Raeng.

Kaeng Raeng is an all natural vegan, gluten free meal replacement detox program. We love Alicia and The Kind Life because they promote being better to your body, to animals, and to the planet. We couldn’t agree more!

With Kaeng Raeng, you get to:

Be good to your body. Kaeng Raeng gently and safely helps to remove toxins, bolster immunity, jumpstart weight loss, cut cravings, and improve digestive health without depriving you. It’s a filling, nutritional, and delicious fruit smoothie – just drink 3 shakes per day for 3 – 6 days. You can eat as many raw fruits and veggies as you want! Each pouch is packed with a full serving of fruit and fiber, 15g non-gmo protein, 2 billion live cultures, amino acids, and daily vitamins.

Be good to animals. Whether you’re a lifelong vegan, a vegetarian, or just veggie curious, Kaeng Raeng’s vegan detox will help you transition to a healthier, kinder diet. Our company was founded by vegans looking to spread the health and happiness that comes with a plant-based diet. We give a portion of every sale to the Humane Society, so when you buy Kaeng Raeng, you’re directly supporting America’s largest animal protection organization.

Be good to the planet. We’re proud to have a sustainable product. We buy only local California ingredients (including our fruit directly from East Bay farmers), use low-impact packaging, and encourage reusable bottles. Losing weight and rejuvenating your body doesn’t have to be costly or harmful to the environment. When you make the choice to jumpstart better eating, you’re choosing better living.

Win a 3-Day Beginner Detox Program!

We love Alicia so much we’re giving away one free 3-day Beginner detox program to one lucky Kind Lifer! To enter to win, just comment below and tell us why you want to try a vegan detox.

Can’t wait? Visit us online and use code KINDLIFE15 for 15% off (exp 5/16, 11:59 PT). Kaeng Raeng comes in 3 day or 6 day and in Beginner, Veteran, and Master levels. Get started for just $16/day!

The Best and Worst Detox Diets on MSN.com

From Fitbie

Kaeng Raeng

Background: Kaeng Raeng (which means “be healthy, be strong” in Thai) started in the kitchen of Stanford graduate Lindsay Reinsmith who was experimenting with creating her own detox. This vegan cleanse donates a portion of its proceeds to the Humane Society.

Detox DL: This liquid- and raw-food regimen provides three drink mixes a day (blueberry blackberry banana, strawberry raspberry pineapple, and mango peach pineapple) and lets you eat as many fruits and veggies as your stomach desires. The mixture is dairy-, gluten-, and caffeine-free—although you can mix the powders with milk, juice, yogurt, or water—and is loaded with probiotics, fiber, protein, and freeze-dried fruit. Kaeng Raeng offers three different levels of cleanses (beginner, veteran, or master) that you can follow for 3 or 6 days. (Related: Is gluten making you fat?)

Calories: 600 to 700 calories per day, plus calories from fruits and vegetables

Price: Starting at $14 per day, plus produce

Pros: It’s cheaper than other juice-based detoxes, and in Zuckerbrot’s opinion, Kaeng Raeng is preferable to an all-juice cleanse, and you can eat as many fruits and vegetables as you like. When you eat whole fruits and veggies, you’ll feel more satisfied because you’re getting all that fiber, too.

Cons: The calorie count is low, and even though you can eat real produce, you don’t have any whole food sources of healthy fats and protein. Also, you’re getting many of your nutrients from supplements. “As a dietitian, I advise my patients to get the vitamins and minerals they need from natural foods rather than supplementing them through a pill,” says Zuckerbrot. Whole foods deliver a more complete package of nutrients, as well as pack in natural fiber, antioxidants, and phytochemicals.

Verdict: “This is just a little low in calories,” says Glassman. You’d need to take in 400 to 500 additional calories to reach a healthy level. While you’re getting real fruits and vegetables, you’re still missing out on other essential nutrients that your body needs for fuel. To get a dose of healthy fats—which you need to absorb vitamins A, E, and K, and to protect your organs—add a serving of avocado.

“The Next Cleanse” on VitalJuice.com

From Vitaljuice.com

Get the detox program made for your lifestyle and your budget.

Maybe you vowed to make this a healthier season and somewhere along the way, got off track. Or you want to cleanse, but dread the usual juice fasts (pricey, painful).

Turn to Kaeng Raeng. It’s an all-natural, vegan, gluten-free meal replacement detox program that helps to peel off pounds, relieve bloating, enhance energy and give you that natural vegan glow–without depriving you. And you can get started for just $20 a day! We named Kaeng Raeng “The Next Cleanse” last year and here’s why:

You’ll drink a delicious fruit smoothie three times a day for three to six days. Each shake is packed with fiber, protein, probiotics and vitamins, and you can eat as many raw fruits and veggies as you want, so you won’t be hungry or cranky.

Want to try it for free? Kaeng Raeng is giving away a three-day Beginner detox program to one lucky Vital Juice reader! Follow Kaeng Raeng on Facebook and tell them why you want to try a vegan cleanse to enter to win. Or order it today and save 15% off with coupon code VJUICE15 (hurry: offer expires May 4 at 11:59PST).

Way to clean up your act.