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Clean, a doctor’s detox program, hailed by Gwyneth Paltrow
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Clean, by Dr. Alejandro Junger
The book Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Health Itself (HarperOne, 2009), written by a New York City cardiologist and leader in integrative medicine, Dr. Alejandro Junger, offers readers a three-week detox program that focuses on fresh, plant-based foods and exercise, and eliminates processed and mucus-forming fare. Dr. Junger’s program is designed to ease digestion and to help rid the body of toxins that contribute to and cause illness.
It often seems to help when a celebrity lends his or her name to a diet or nutrition program, and Dr. Junger’s book is no exception. The celebrity this time is Gwyneth Paltrow, the 36-year-old multi-award winning actress who claims that the detox program offered in Clean left her feeling full of energy and lighter.
The Clean food program
Basically, the detox program involves eating two liquid meals per day and a solid one in between. You should eliminate any allergenic and mucus-forming foods and focus solely on plant-based, whole organic foods. Along with the diet is a regimen of yoga, breath work, exercise, and taking olive oil daily to help maintain the health of the liver.
Although the Clean program seems to have its benefits, with weight loss and a shedding of toxins being two of them, there are some drawbacks as well. Many people may find it difficult to make a three-week commitment, especially people who work full-time and have families and multiple commitments.
Another is that although you will likely lose weight on the program (as Gwyneth Paltrow did), the weight loss is temporary and lost pounds will be regained once people return to their original eating habits.
Yet another downside of the program is the daily consumption of olive oil, which many people do not find appealing. Also, the food restrictions can be difficult to follow: alcohol, dairy products, caffeine, sugar, red meat, processed foods, flour, gluten, and soy are not allowed. Herbal tea, water with fresh lemon juice, and coconut water (not coconut milk) are allowed.
The Clean exercise program
Clean also suggests engaging in gentle yoga and breath work every day along with some type of aerobic exercise that makes you sweat. Saunas can also be included. Combined with the cleansing eating program, the exercise makes it more likely people will shed a few pounds on the three-week program.
About Dr. Junger
Dr. Junger is board certified in both internal medicine and cardiology, and also studied Eastern medicine in India. He is the former medical director of WE Care Holistic Health Center in Palm Springs, which is a center for cleansing, fasting, and detoxification. Currently he is in private practice in New York City at Eleven Eleven Wellness Center and is the director of integrative medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital, also in the city. Clean: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Health Itself is Dr. Junger’s first book.
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