12 Steps to Whole Foods

Bye-Bye, Stimulants — Hello, Green Smoothies
What to Do about a Cleansing Reaction
Remember that you are, in a very literal sense, what you eat. Your body’s cells are programmed to preserve
themselves and build whenever they can. You are, at a most elemental level, without even knowing it or
making a conscious effort, very industrious! Thus, when the quality of the food coming into your body is of
higher quality than the tissues your body is built of, your cells begins to throw out the inferior materials and
tissues to make room for the good materials that it now wants to use to build healthier tissue.
When you make a change to throw out the bad and bring in the good, a “cleansing reaction” is common. For
instance, abandoning caffeine or other stimulants (like sugar, even) can cause headaches and the other
symptoms described in Reason #7 to get off soft drinks/coffee above. Introducing live, natural foods like
greens can initially cause changes in digestive habits, including loose stool. The point is to recognize the
cleansing reaction for what it is—a good thing, not a bad one—and push through it. Generally, headaches and
other reactions last no longer than three days and are followed by a period of feeling rejuvenated and newly
energetic because of a layer of toxic burden being eliminated.
If you suddenly gave up alcohol, cigarettes, and junk food, your body would move from a mode of struggling
to cope to a mode of fighting to cleanse and rebuild. In particular, your body will attempt to rid itself of
chemicals like caffeine and theobromine. Add in some good, raw plant food fuel, and the body will throw off
dead weight as fast as it can. Sometimes this can “swamp” the organs of elimination such as the kidneys, liver,
and skin. The skin can break out and other organs of elimination can take on more toxicity than they can
process in a short time—fatigue, weakness, and susceptibility to viruses can be the result.
Know this in advance and be aware of two things you should do:
1. Cleansing is a normal process and a good sign—and while it can be uncomfortable, the rewards are
worth it. Don’t quit because of an initial period of discomfort or pain. Instead, visually imagine tiny
armies of plant fiber and antioxidants marching the bad guys out of your body! The more bad guys who
fall, the more likely a traffic jam or pileup is likely. Get extra rest, drink extra water (at least one ounce
per day, for every two pounds of body weight), and be patient. Love your body and honor the way it
serves you well—enough to not stop the good process you have begun. After the cleansing reaction,
you should feel the best you’ve felt in a long time.
2. Respect your body’s signs and be willing to go slowly. If whole foods are relatively new to you, take the
12 Steps in this book as they’re intended: one at a time. If you want to accelerate the program to
tackling a new step more than once a month, fine—especially if you already eat several raw vegetables
a day, avoid processed food, and are not overweight. But consider that your body will be detoxifying
the whole time you introduce new habits. If you spent 30 or 50 years accumulating toxicity, you won’t
get rid of it in a week or a month. In particular, adding greens, raw foods, and coconut oil will be very
effective at cleansing. Just start small and add more of these vital foods gradually as your body adjusts.
At the same time that you’re getting off soft drinks (and to those who aren’t addicted, lucky you!), you’re
adding in a very positive habit: daily green smoothies.
32 12 Steps to Whole Foods
© Copyright Robyn Openshaw