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As I am sipping on the first of my green juices for a 3-day detox, I am reflecting on the movie “Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead” which I streamed last night from my Netflix account.

This inspiring film was created by Australian entrepreneur, Joe Cross, documenting his astounding weight loss and reversal of several chronic medical conditions all through “rebooting” his system through a 60-day juice fast.

At a truck stop in Winslow, Arizona Cross met a man who was the same age, extremely overweight and suffered from exactly the same painful skin condition (Urticaria) that had plagued Joe for years.  What seemed like a random meeting lead to a life-changing moment for both of these men.  While Joe had already begun his journey to conscious self-care and better health, Phil Staples weighed over 400 lbs and was living a very reclusive and lonely existence.  When he reached out to the filmmaker, Cross flew back from Australia and gave Staples all of the tools to change his life.

I strongly recommend downloading or renting this 95 minute film through Netflex or Itunes.  The use of animation and provocative interviews with nutritionists and healthy eating pioneer Dr. Joel Fuhrman (“Eat to Live”) and other case studies.

Cross recommends at least a 10 day “reboot” of consuming nothing but fresh juice made from fruits and vegetables –mainly greens, particularly when there are chronic medical conditions.  I periodically fast on juices or do the “master cleanse” lemonade mixture as a way of giving my body a rest.  It also helps me break some bad eating habits that inevitably creep in over time; once I fast for a few days, making those “bad foods” non-negotiable, it gets me back on track.

If you want to join us on this Green Juice fast – check out our Facebook Fan page for guidance, feedback and support.

Here are some of the advantages of periodic Green Juice Detox fasting:

• The breaking down of fats stored in the body (via a process called autolysis, which releases the fat cells through the bloodstream so that they can be utilized by the liver).
• Elimination and neutralization of stored toxins in the body from the major organs, including the skin, which is technically your largest organ.
• Cleansing and clearing the colon of undigested food, thus improving elimination and overall well-being.

• A natural healing process occurs when the attention of the body is drawn away from the digestive system. Approximately 30% of our daily energy is channeled into digesting and metabolizing the food that we eat – so when we limit our intake to water, juice, or specially combined drinks (as I will describe below) many fasters experience surges of energy and vitality.
• Weight loss is generally a by-product of fasting, but people often gain back at least half of the weight when returning to normal eating.

When you lose 15 lbs. a good visual is to realize that you have just lost a “bowling ball” that you have been carrying around! Here are 2 of my favorite recipes for juice fasting:

GREEN FAIRY LEMONADE

Ingredients:  Kale, Cucumber, Romaine Leaves, Lemon, Ginger, Pineapple, Green Apple

Directions:  You can either juice these fruits and vegetables or combine in a blender with ice.   When using a blender put the greens in first, closest to the blades.  If the mixture seems too foamy or fiberful, you can also squeeze through a mesh (nut milk) bag or cheesecloth or strain through a sieve.

Drink immediately.  If the blend is too tart, you can add some stevia or honey (however, not recommended through a fas