3-Step Detox

A simple plan for clearing the junk out of your body and hitting the reset button on your health.

By Emily Kane, ND, LAC

Q: I need to “reboot” because my eating and commitment to exercise have gotten a bit sloppy. I’m excited about things getting more “normal” with Covid starting to fade, and I want to look and feel my best. How do I start?

A: There’s a two-week reboot program that I’ve used for decades, and I keep coming back to it because it helps me stay trim, get real about foods that don’t work, and “go inside” quietly and kindly for a spell. Don’t plan to go on this regimen if you have adventure travel or gourmet food experiences on the near horizon. Set yourself up so you can take a little downtime.

This is a three-part program I learned from Dr. Steven Bailey of Portland, Ore. He’s no longer in practice, but was a guiding light to many naturopathic physicians over the years. He also wrote The Fasting Diet, a marvelous book that’s still available. Here are the basics of his detox plan:

1. FLUSH OUT THE BAD

The first part of the cleanse is 3 days of “bulking” to scrub out the colon. Start each day with a “liver flush.” Mix 3 Tbs. of extra virgin olive oil with the juice of 1 lemon, the juice of 1 orange, and 2 crushed cloves of garlic. Shake well or blenderize, and chug it down first thing in the morning—before you drink anything else, including water. Then rest for 15–20 minutes, ideally on your right side to promote blood flow through the liver.