Contributed by Jennifer Peachey

"You could try a week-long juice fast," my naturopath suggested. It was the cheaper way to cleanse my liver and help with the mild symptoms I was having. "Great," I thought, "now all I need is a juicer." As I drove home, mulling over the idea of a week-long fast and the expense of a juicer, I decided to check out the auction center. There, sitting all alone on an old table, was a clean, working juicer. It was fate. If I could get the juicer cheap I would do the fast.

The bid started at two dollars and ended at my five-dollar bid. Sold. And so began my week of a modified juice fast. I included nut milks, salads with seeds and a light dressing, fresh fruit, and raw, whole vegetables. As a 115-pound dance teacher who eats every two hours, I was concerned that I would never last the week. I had done three-day cleansing diets, but this was going to be a challenge...

Today is day seven and it has been easier than I thought. I feel great. I didn't lose weight (my fear), my body and mind are clear, and my energy is endless. It was a week of learning about juicers, fasting, and cleansing.

I learned that:

* Bananas, avocadoes and papayas are better for blenders than juicers;
* Everyone will want some of your fruit juice but not your veggie one; four whole fruits make a perfect size drink;
* Everyone else's meal smells so much better when you're not eating;
* You still have energy to function, even teaching dance for hours; veggie juice keeps in a thermos;
* If invited out you can offer to take a salad to share, explaining what you're doing, and your friends will understand;
* Old toothbrushes are ideal for cleaning juicers;
* Herbs can't be juiced (in my machine anyway);
* Nuts and seeds are easier to pulp in a coffee grinder than in a blender;
* Fruit pulp blended with rice milk works well for homemade popsicles for the kids;
* Veggie pulp can be blended and added to soups;
* A hot, sweat-inducing bath is wonderful for the soul and skin, and is a great place to read a book in peace;
* Enema is not a bad word; and
* A week-long modified juice fast to cleanse the body is a wonderful, simple thing to do for yourself. I highly recommend it!*

*Always check with a medical practitioner before fasting.

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