This is part 2 of a two-part post in answer to Karen who left the following comment regarding an earlier Juicing Q&A post: How to help the liver & colon eliminate more effectively?
“I’ve never done them during a juice fast because I use avocados (I’ll discuss my liver flush protocol in a different post)…”
Ndoema, I recently stumbled across your site because of your posts on juice feasting; I initially read the above quoted comment a few days ago, and it’s honestly been bothering me ever since. How do you use avocados during a juice fast to detoxify your liver? I’m sorry if you did write a follow-up post and I just haven’t found it at your site yet, but I am extremely intrigued. I am on Day 5 of my first major juice feast (shooting for 2 weeks but I’m thinking I may just want to continue into May)… I’ve juice fasted before, but juice FEASTING is an entirely different animal! That being said, I have a little avocado in my cupboard that I keep looking at, wondering how it might be incorporated into this great nutritional undertaking of mine. Do you puree your avocado and mix it with another juice? Do you take it with herbs? How do you use your avocados? Searching elsewhere online has only unearthed the thought that an avocado during a juice feast/fast will slow the body’s detoxification because of the extra fiber and fat it has to process–so I’d love to hear your reply, if you have a moment or two. Thank you very much.
(I recommend you read part 1 here first).
Embarking on my first 92-day juice fast was arguably one of the most life transforming decisions I’ve ever made. The most fascinating aspect of juice fasting in general and extended juice fasts in particular is the series of deceivingly low-key yet monumental shifts that take place pretty much at every level of your being. Certain milestones, in terms of inner and outer transformation, stare you right in the face while others may easily go unnoticed unless you happen to have some kind of barometer or reference point that can offer you a perspective as to how much regeneration has actually taken place. For me, the classic liver flush was such a barometer.
As my 92-day juice fast was coming to a close and I was transitioning back to “solid” foods, I tended to gravitate towards savory green smoothies. I kept them rather simple at first by combining cleansing greens such as cilantro and spinach with avocados and lemon juice. With my notoriously voracious appetite kicking back into full gear, I treated myself to generous portions of green avocado smoothies daily, when within a week or so the most surprising thing happened… I started releasing stones. In pretty much the same way (and quantity) as I did when following the classic liver flush protocol however without the required intake of the epsom salts and that dreadful olive oil/grapefruit juice combo. This seemed rather inexplicable at first and I anticipated it to be an isolated “incident”. Yet my assumption proved to be wrong. I continued to release stones systematically following every intake of avocado-laden green smoothie.
Then the detective work started… After the initial surprise, I noticed the immediate similarities between my avocado smoothies and the classic olive oil and grapefruit juice drink. Large amount of fats (in my case large by comparison to fats being non-existent for a full 3-month period) combined with citrus juice. The only puzzling fact remained the epsom salts, which I wasn’t taking, and are used to dilate the bile ducts to ease the release of stones.
I then started experimenting with the smoothies. I made them more “complex” by adding larger amounts of greens as well as cucumbers, onion, garlic and seasoning like cayenne pepper. None of these adjustments altered in any way the fact that my body was continuously flushing large amount of stones.
I still can’t quite fully explain this phenom but I’ll have to admit I don’t particularly feel compelled to. I’m quite content with the fact that I can treat myself to the most delish avo treat and reap the same liver boosting and health enhancing benefits as I would drinking a rather repulsive brew 😉 Plus interestingly enough avocados aren’t only tasty, they happen to be a particularly liver-friendly food (they’re rich in glutathione, a powerful anti-oxidant that promotes liver detoxification). Talk about the ultimate win-win!
So there you have it. Detox and natural healing are a fascinating journey of discovery that can be puzzling at times and quite unpredictable. The beauty of it all is that the body knows best. By observing and listening to our inner guidance we are invariably led to what’s ultimately best for us.
3 thoughts on “Detox Q&A: My Surprising Liver Flush Alternative (part 2)”
I heard that passing stones is painful 🙁 but I know that it is a good thing, in a way, Because at least its being released by the body. Thanks for all the info. This is really helpful!
Really? Avocado can do that? Amazing!
Another intriguing post, Ndoema. Thank you for wrapping up your tale for us! I may have to experiment with more avocados and citrus drinks in the future. 🙂
That being said, I just want to mention that your recommendation of Bernard Jensen’s bowel book (the “Guide to Better Bowel Care”) has really been of help to me in recent months. I read it and followed the 7-day cleanse (only for 6 days, as I felt as though my body needed me to break it early) with enemas, not colemas. The results were impressive, and I’ve been eating as the doctor recommends since: keeping starches from proteins, and melons from everything else. As a former personal trainer who’s now returning to her athletic schedule, I’m impressed with how I’m re-acquiring my LBM with so much less protein/free-range meat than before! (I attribute that fact to better digestion/absorption of nutrients.) Also, my major health issue–developed from overwork and ignoring my body’s needs last summer–is now practically nonexistent as long as I eat properly, get enough rest, exercise regularly and intensely, and keep my negative stress levels low.
I’m still juicing, too, after my husband and I both enjoyed a couple of juice fasts, although my diet is presently heavy with complex carbs–my body thrives on those, and when I’m not juice fasting/cleansing I need to consume them in spades. (I plan on doing another “Bowel Book cleanse” in the autumn, however, so I’m still a work in progress.) I just appreciate you sharing your own experiences with health and diet with the rest of us, here at your website. They’ve been very educational for me; thank you! It’s just a shame more people don’t realize the power of the whole, nutritious foods that God gave all of us to enjoy. I think so many people would feel so much better if they did, and ate accordingly.