In my experience, a full body detox is great for overall health and longevity purposes once or twice per year. I’ll get into how to do that later. Right now lets talk about a basic cleanse that is gentle enough to use every day yet strong enough to work. Here is this simple recipe:

1. 2 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar

I’ve heard that Braggs ACV is the best brand because it is the only one I’ve run across with raw enzymes. Honestly, I’ve had wonderful results and have only used a generic supermarket brand which is about a dollar and change for a liter compared to $5 for Braggs.

2. 1/8-1/2 Teaspoon Baking Soda

Baking soda neutralizes the vinegar, preventing you from damaging the enamel on your teeth. It neutralizes in your stomach anyway so you are still getting all the benefits of the apple cider vinegar (ACV), but it is actually easier for your body to absorb what it needs if you neutralize it first. By taking out that step, you saved your body that work (read: work = energy) and now it can use all of its energy to absorb what the nutrients from the ACV. You want to get it to about a 7% alkaline level. The ACV you buy in a grocery store is about 5%. The more that acid bothers you (GERD, acid reflux, etc.), the more Baking soda you should use. Start with 1/8 of a teaspoon and assess your tolerance. I have found ¼ teaspoon to be the magic number for me.

Remember Baking Soda is sodium based, you may find yourself retaining a good amount of water for the first couple of days until your body becomes accustomed to the additional salt. I am extremely sensitive to salt and couldn’t get my feet into my heels the first night!

3. 1/2 fresh lemon, juiced
4. 1 Tablespoon Organic Honey

Add about 4-6 oz of water and drink 2-4x/day. If you can get it down once on an empty stomach, you’re doing better than most people out there. I warm my water and make it into a tea. I find it to be a lot tastier when I throw in the additional (less palate pleasing) ingredients listed below.

ADDITIONAL INGRIDENTS - OPTIONAL:

1. 20 drops Ginger Extract. Ginger/Gingerol has TONS of benefits. Check out www.superhumanradio.com and tune in to the show on Ginger-”The Uber Herb.” Carl Lenore explains all the benefits of ginger.
2.   1/2 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper, if you can stand it. Go slow with this to assess your tolerance. I LOVE spicy food so the first day, brass guts over here decided to throw an entire teaspoon right into the mix. I thought my throat was going to close. Me and my daring (read: dumb) Rosanneisms! Heehee. Cayenne pepper heals and rebuilds tissue of the digestive system, increases the effectiveness of other foods and herbs when used with them, and is also linked to healing the heart and cardiac tissue. Cayenne has been known to stop heart attacks. Contrary to popular belief, it does not cause ulcers, it actually heals them. That’s if you can deal with the burn if you suffer from one. Enough facts, lets get down the nitty-gritty of why everyone is reading this….cayenne is a natural thermogenic which has been proven to raise body temperature, boost metabolism and ultimately aid and speed fat loss. Just think increased circulation = increased lymph flow (that means decreased cellulite ladies) = detox = ULTIMATE HEALTH, FATLOSS AND BODY WEIGHT MAINTENANCE (we’ll get into that another time).
3. I’ve also been adding 1 Teaspoon of Turmeric Powder. It’s an extremely acquired taste. To be perfectly frank, this stuff is icky!!! (And I can stomach most everything “nasty.”) However icky it is, it helps restore flora in the intestinal track. Turmeric has also been proven to clear the skin of those who suffer from acne and blemishes, help eliminate facial hair growth in females (not sure that this is proven internally, but I found a lot of studies on using it topically). CAREFUL with this stuff, however….it STAINS!! After all, Tumeric historically has been used as a dye in India, but I learned this the hard way. It stains EVERYTHING! And I mean everything from bed sheets, clothing, towels, down to the skin on my face. It’s a nasty orange color but stains a fluorescent yellow color…think the color of a yellow highlighter exploding all over you!

Start with this recipe to ease yourself into a detox routine. I’ll be posting additions and other remedies regularly, so look for my updates! — Rosanne Clemente