Detox Stages

[peanutterb]

remembered reading this article back during my MC1 in march.
Thought i'd share with everyone, esp since there's so many questions about why ten days and complaints about the ten days being too much...

Detoxification Stages

Here is an overview of the detoxification stages during a juice fast. The time periods are a general estimation.

Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2)
On the first day of fasting, the blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dl. To restore the blood to the normal glucose level, liver glycogen is converted to glucose and released into the blood. This reserve is enough for half a day. The body then reduces the basal metabolic rate (BMR). The rate of internal chemical activity in resting tissue is lowered to conserve energy. The heart slows and blood pressure is reduced. Glycogen is pulled from the muscle causing some weakness. The first wave of cleansing is usually the worst.

Headaches, dizziness, nausea, bad breath, glazed eyes and a heavily coated tongue are signs of the first stage of cleansing. Hunger can be the most intense in this period unless the enema is used which quickly assists the body into the fasting state by ending digestion in the colon.

Stage 2 (Day 3 To Day 7)
Fats, composed of transformed fatty acids, are broken down to release glycerol from the gliceride molecules and are converted to glucose. The skin may become oily as rancid oils are purged from the body. People with problem-free skin may have a few days of pimples or even a boil. A pallid complexion is also a sign of waste in the blood. Ketones are formed by the incomplete oxidation of fats. It is suspected that the ketones in the blood suppress the appetite by affecting the food-satiety center in the hypothalamus. You may feel hungry for the first few days of the fast. This effect is temporary. The desire to eat will disappear. Lack of hunger may last 40 to 60 days, depending on whether you are on water or juice.

The body embraces the fast and the digestive system is able to take a much-needed rest, focusing all of its energies on cleansing and healing. White blood cell and immune system activity increases. You may feel pain in your lungs. The cleansing organs and the lungs are in the process of being repaired. Periodically, the lymphatic system expels mucoid matter through the nose or throat. The volume excreted of this yellow-colored mucus can be shocking. The sinuses go through periods of being clogged, then will totally clear. The breath is still foul and the tongue coated. Within the intestine, the colon is being repaired and impacted feces on the intestinal wall start to loosen.

Stage 3 (Day 8 to Day 15)
On the latter part of an extended fast, you can experience enhanced energy, clear-mindedness and feel better than you have felt since childhood. On the downside, old injuries may become irritated and painful. This is a result of the body's increased ability to heal during fasting. If you had broken your arm 10 years before, there is scar tissue around the break. At the time of the break, the body's ability to heal was directly related to lifestyle. If you lived on a junk-food diet, the body's natural healing ability was compromised.

During fasting, the body's healing process is at optimum efficiency. As the body scours for dead or damaged tissue, the lymphocytes enter the older, damaged tissue secreting substances to dissolve the damaged cells. These substances irritate the nerves in the surrounding region and cause a reoccurrence of aches from previously injured areas that may have disappeared years earlier. The pain is good as the body is completing the healing process. The muscles may become tight and sore due to toxin irritation. The legs can be the worst affected, as toxins accumulate in the legs. Cankers are common in this stage due to the excessive bacteria in the mouth. Daily gargling with salt and water will prevent or heal cankers.

Stage 4 (Day 16 to Day 30)
The body is completely adapted to the fasting process. There is more energy and clarity of mind. Cleansing periods can be short with many days of feeling good in between. There are days when the tongue is pink and the breath is fresh. The healing work of the organs is being completed. After the detoxification mechanisms have removed the causative agent or render it harmless, the body works at maximum capacity in tissue proliferation to replace damaged tissue. While a short fast will reduce the symptoms, a longer fast can completely heal. Homeostatic balance is at optimum levels. The lymphatic system is clean except for a rare discharge of mucus through the nose or throat. After day 20, the mind is affected. Heightened clarity and emotional balance are felt at this time. Memory and concentration improve.

Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast)
The sticky, toxic, mucoid coating on the intestinal wall is loose, and the first meal frees it from the intestinal wall. Toxins enter the blood through the colon. The gallbladder dumps its waste in a heavy discharge of bile. This can cause an instant bowel movement upon eating followed by intense diarrhea. If the symptoms are too uncomfortable, an enema will help.

[LisaS]

Thank you for this peanutterb I should have read this earlier, I had the worst day yesterday on Day 7 and today, Day 8, I'm starting to feel what they say I will keep this for future cleanses I appreciate it!

[Peter]

This posting makes some excellent points and is worthwhile reading. However, some points need adjusting to the Master Cleanse and there is additional data on two others from Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Eat to Live" and "Fasting and Eating for Health" (brief reviews of both can be found at http://www.TheRawFoodSite.com/reading.htm).

Stage 1 (Day 1 To Day 2)
No enema is needed on the MC to end digestion because the laxative tea and salt water flush do that.

Stage 2 (Days 2 and 3)
Dr. Joel Fuhrman, author of "Fasting and Eating for Health" says that the body initially begins to digest its own protein during this time to create blood sugar. These are usually the roughest days of the MC.

Stage 2A (Days 4 through 6)
The body changes over from digesting its own protein to digesting fat, waste, dead and decaying cells according to Dr. Fuhrman. These are good days usually. Lots of energy.

Stage 2B (Day 7)
The body seems to have a 7-day detox cycle. I personally believe that it takes about 7 days to break down a layer of waste in the intestine. It seems days 14, 21 ,etc. are like day 7 in that they generally contain detox symptoms, such as tiredness, irritability, boredom, wanting to chew something or quit, etc.

Stage 5 (Breaking the Fast)
Burroughs says if diarrhea or other problems occur while breaking the fast to continue it another couple days. So, again an enema wouldn't be necessary.

Peter

[Apples]

Great article, I started the Mc today and can't wait to see a newer more healthier me.

Today is day 12 for me on the MC. Like the stages state, you may feel pain from old injuries, well yesterday and this morinng my back was really hurting me, I think from an injury about 18 years ago. Now at the end of the day my back feels fine and I feel great. The only time I don't feel good is if I have slacked on drinking the Lemonade. In the monining I put 2 tablespoons of MS in my drink and the rest of the day I use only one tablespoon. (My energy level is low in the morning and picks up in the afternoon) I doing the cleanse to detox, loose weight, spiritual strength, energy without "energy" drinks and mental clairity.

I enjoy reading this board, it is very informative. Thank you all.

[tessa]

Peter, In stage two, when the body digests it's own proteins does that mean muscles? Is it true that when you lose muscle it's gone forever? Because I've learned that you can't gain muscle just enhance the muscle you already have.

[slcoy]

WanBClean,
You mentioned you put to tablespoons of MS in your drink. What is MS? Am I correct in saying that you have to drink tea moring and night throughout the entire cleanse?

[RoyalFlush]

slcoy: MS = Maple Syrup

[jr5star]

Wow...I fasted with Joel Furhman back in 1998. I did a 26 day water fast. I recently attempted the MC back in December, but quit on day 7 (very tired, dizzy, and a bit shaky). Now, I realize that I did not follow the directions as well as I should have: I never did the SWF, I rarely used the laxative tea (maybe every other day), and I barely drank 50 - 60 oz of the lemon drink per day. With my next MC, I plan to be more stringent with rules.

Does Joel Furhman support the MC? I know he is a big proponent of the water fast and natural hygiene.

If the seven day rule is true, I should start the MC on either a Friday or Saturday (I work Mon - Thurs). I really appreciate the advice. Maybe I can stick with it over 20 days!!

[jr5star]

About protein loss: We all have a limited number of muscle cells. When we digest protein, we are not decreasing the number of muscle cells in our muscles; rather, we are breaking down the protein filaments (myosin & actin) inside the cells. The cell size simply reduces, but you still have the same number of muscle cells as before. To regain muscle size, simply resume protein ingestion and strength training after the MC.