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~ Back to Articles Index Page ~  Fruit cures, also known as mono-diets, are an age-old, simple, natural and effective means of detoxification using fruits. As the name suggests, a mono-diet is made up of eating only one kind of fruit at a time for it's specific properties. The purpose of a cure is to extract deeply lodged waste hiding in the tissues and fluids in your body. Called "saturated waste", this substance stagnates so long in the internal environment that it will eventually imbed itself in cellular tissue, then becoming very difficult to dislodge. Once dislodged from your tissues, this waste must find its way into the slow-moving streams of fluids outside your cells and eventually rejoin the bloodstream to be taken to a point of elimination. A fruit cure should only be prescribed and undertaken under the supervision of a professional health care practitioner who, after lengthy investigation, has determined that you are an appropriate candidate for such a treatment. Usually, the practitioner will guide you through a preparatory cleanse of circulating waste to clear your elimination points, or emunctories. If the intestines are blocked, the liver congested, the kidneys are tired and the skin is closed, waste cannot leave the body. Once an initial cleanse is done, you can undertake the detoxification of the deeper saturated waste with a fruit cure. Summer and autumn are the perfect seasons to undertake most cures, as there is an abundance of fresh fruits available at these times of the year. Read on to find out more about the properties of certain fruits and how a cure is conducted.
DAY ONE Upon rising: Drink the juice of one orange and half a lemon. Breakfast: Fruit. – Bananas are usually not included because of their starch content. You may prepare a fruit salad with a bit of honey and spices or a fruit shake in the blender using mango or orange juice. Lunch: A large raw vegetable salad. Supper: Vegetables. – Three or four steamed or fried quickly in a tablespoon of best quality olive oil with fresh herbs and a small amount of tamari (organic soy sauce). You can add sunflower or sesame seeds, a few almonds or nuts in the wok. DAYS TWO THROUGH SIX Continue as for Day One. DAYS SEVEN AND EIGHT The two final days should contain some cooked foods to allow your body to get used to them again. Hopefully, during the last six days, you will have become accustomed to eating large amounts of raw vegetables and fruits and will continue the practice. On the last two days, emphasis is still placed on fresh, raw products, but one meal per day should contain cooked food such as a thick pea soup or whole grains and/or legumes with poultry or fish. To avoid stress on the digestive system, every day a single type of fruit is consumed. If you wish to eat more than one type of fruit per day, you need to wait at least two hours before eating the second type of fruit. Because fruit is digested so quickly, you will feel hungry more often. It is best not to consume fruit continually. Wait until you are hungry before you eat. Hunger signals that digestion is thoroughly underway, if not completed. You will not suffer nutritionally from this type of nutritional plan. Fruits and vegetables will supply you with all the fibre, vitamins, minerals and water you'll need to stay healthy. Drinking extra water (2 to 4 litres per day) will help with the elimination of toxins from your body.
 FRUITS AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL PROPERTIES APPLES are excellent for detoxification thanks to their pectin content. Pectin also prevents the putrefaction (literally means "sits and rots") of matter in the intestines. Their high fibre content makes them an excellent intestinal "brush". Apples cleanse the liver and the digestive tract and stimulate bodily secretions. They are also high in vitamins and minerals and are very effective at cleansing the skin. Some studies have shown that apples reduce the risk of heart disease and help control cholesterol. 
CHERRIES help purify the blood and contain high amounts of vitamins. Cherries contain anthocyanins, which are what gives them their red color. Anthocyanins are used by the body to produce essential amino acids. They also act as antioxidants, protecting the cells from damage, aging and disease. Anthocyanins are considered natural pain relievers and anti-inflammatories by inhibiting the production of COX-2 enzymes, which is what over-the-counter pain relievers do. Cherries also contain melatonin, another natural pain reliever, which also regulates sleep. Vitamin C and fibre are also components of cherries. GRAPES are very effective in cleansing the skin, liver, intestines and kidneys thanks to their anti-phlegm properties. Grapes are an excellent source of energy and are easy to assimilate. They are rich in minerals, promoting the creation of new cells and purifying the blood. PINEAPPLES contain high levels of bromelain, an enzyme which backs the action of hydrochloric acid in the stomach and helps digest protein waste. Eating pineapples contributes to reducing internal inflammation, accelerates tissue healing, balances the glandular system and eliminates phlegm. 
PAPAYAS AND MANGOS are tropical fruits which contain the enzyme papain. This enzyme resembles pepsin which is produced by the stomach and, like bromelain, helps to break down protein and protein waste in tissues. Papaya and mango are suggested for cleansing the digestive tract and eliminating digestive disorders. Mangoes are also claimed to have anti-depressant properties. STRAWBERRIES have strong anti-acne activity. Strawberries contain alpha-hydroxy acid, which, in cream form, sloughs off dead skin cells. Strawberries contain high amounts of potassium which, in conjunction with sodium, help maintain the body's water balance. They also contain phosphorus, which aids in cell growth and kidney function. WATERMELON is a wonderful diuretic and cleanser. It is used in the treatment of ulcers, hypertension and to soothe the digestive tract. To get the optimum benefit, place part of the peel, a few pits and some flesh in a blender and drink the mixture. The peel contains chlorophyll and the pits contain vitamins. Chlorophyll has anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. It has been seen to help in the growth and repair of tissues, neutralizing environmental pollutants (a good supplement for smokers), efficiently delivering magnesium and helping the blood to carry oxygen to cells and tissues. There are a whole host of other benefits from chlorophyll which can be obtained from green leafy vegetables (however cooking destroys much of the chlorophyll). The best way to obtain it is via liquid supplement form. Carol Roy is a Natural Health Practitioner, registered with Natural Health Practitioners Canada, who received her diploma from the Alternative Medicine College of Canada in Montreal, Quebec. With 9 years experience in her area of expertise, naturopathic medicine, Carol has also trained to become a fully qualified Reiki Master, Quantum Touch ® Practitioner and Reflexologist. are recommendations only and not a substitute for any medical advice or a replacement for any prescriptions. Seek medical advice for any health concerns. Consult your health care provider before using any recommendations herein. |
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