Detox and Gall Bladder Cleanse

I just finished a detox and gall bladder cleanse. This is the second time I completed the gall bladder cleanse and I have mixed feelings about the results.

I am cautiously optimistic that I have stumbled across a new diet plan that works. As I have written previously, I have experimented with various combination's of supplements, exercise and dietary change. I think the addition of the detox and gall bladder cleanse is helping with weight loss in a general sense.

I completed my cleanse and detox a few days ago. The cleanse and detox always makes me lose 3-4 pounds even though weight loss is not the purpose of either. I find that the strict regime of the detox (fruits for 3 days and then fruits and vegetables with only 20% cooked vegetables for 4 days) is a great way for me to get disciplined about my diet. It's actually a great way to get disciplined in general. I find that I work better and get more exercise during and after the detox process.

The first time I did a cleanse I was pretty satisfied with the results. My experience this time was a little bit disappointing. Let me start by explaining what the cleanse entails. The cleanse that I have done is specifically a liver gall bladder cleanse and is for the purpose of eliminating gall stones. It is generally a 4-5 day cleanse and I tend to start it on day 3 of my detox. I should explain that the cleanse and the detox are not related and can be done at separate times.

The first 3-4 days of the cleanse require you ingest almost a litre of apple juice per day. Unfiltered apple juice is recommended. The first time I did the cleanse I was in Nicaragua and unfiltered apple juice was unavailable. This most recent time I drank unfiltered apple juice. The high concentration of malic acid in the apple juice is supposed to break down the gall stones and make them easier to pass.

On the evening of the 4th day you drink a table spoon of Epsom salts dissolved in 3/4 of a cup of water at 6pm and again at 8pm. I added the juice of half a lemon for taste. At 10pm you drink 1/2 cold pressed extra virgin olive oil mixed with 3/4 cup of fresh grapefruit juice. The next day at 7am and 9am you repeat the Epsom salt drink.

Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate, as you may know, is a powerful laxative which causes you to eliminate anything that might be lingering inside you. The olive oil is supposed to cause the gall bladder to spasm and push out gall stones which end up as bright green floaters in your toilet bowl. My first cleanse ended with me eliminating clear liquid with green floaters and green "sand" with each bowel movement. During the second cleanse I only ended up eliminating brownish green clouded liquid.

There are three possible reasons for the differences between the first time I did the gall bladder cleanse and the second time. The first time I had a hard time finding Epsom salts and therefore I had long finished the detox and had begun to eat regular (albeit mostly raw) food again. The first time I did the cleanse I bought generic Epsom salts or magnesium sulfate (in Nicaragua). In Canada they sell Epsom salts for external use (magnesium sulfate) and Epsom salts for oral use (magnesium sulfate hepahydrate). I used the latter the second time. The final difference is that I did not consume all of the olive oil mixture (although I did consume at least 80%).

For whatever reasons I didn't feel quite as cleansed the second time around. Actually physically I didn't feel a lot different but there is a gratification in seeing the green floaters that was missing. Also the second time I did the cleanse I recovered to having normal bowel movements much faster.

Despite being slightly disappointed with the "results" of my most recent cleanse, I really believe in the health benefits of the detox and gall bladder cleanse and intend to do both every six months or so. Neither the detox or the cleanse is specifically designed to help with weight loss but I find the process motivates me to achieve better health and achieving a healthy weight is just part of the process.