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Page 38
| the standard American diet to vegetarian food or eliminate wheat and dairy products or adopt macrobiotic fare or a raw food diet, they occur more gently and over a longer period of time, but they still take place. |
| In some cases, the cleansing reaction is caused or exacerbated by the rapid destruction of internal parasites, Candida albicans yeast cells or other pathogens. The waste products of these organisms are difficult for the body to deal with when they are alive; when billions suddenly die, their decomposing remains have to be disposed of as well. |
| Dramatic cleansing reactions, although some people swear by them, are not necessarily desirable, for in the case of serious illness or exposure to toxic chemicals, the liver and other organs of detoxification and elimination are overworked. In extreme cases, sudden detoxification can be fatal. People who are young, healthy, active, health-conscious, well-nourished and free from major toxins can embark on the most arduous cleansing programs with good results and few side effects, but for most of us, ambitious programs are best approached with caution and common sense. Severe cleansing reactions can be incapacitating and truly painful. It isn't necessary for most people to suffer in order to rid their bodies of stored toxins, and the unpleasant side effects of detoxification can be minimized, even in those who have seriously toxic conditions. |
| Effective and relatively painless detoxification programs are those that work slowly, over a period of months or years. They rely on dietary fiber, freshly prepared raw juices, herbs that support a gradual improvement in health, toxin-absorbing foods or supple- |
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