Hi Shechnatre,
Of course, I was offering insight from my own experience... but ultimately we must follow our own inner guidance as to what path to choose, and it sounds like you are doing just that!

I personally have found that short intense cleanses can be unbalancing and hard on the system - particularly if it is a marked contrast from your normal habits. I guess it depends on where you are beginning (what you normally eat, and how much), and your general overall health (if you have food addictions, it might indicate you have some significant imbalances going already). It is possible to detox too quickly thus overwhelming your body's ability to neutralize and eliminate toxins - you can actually cause more damage. Also, certain types of cleanses, like the master cleanse, I find to be imbalancing overall. Again, depending on the relative health of your system to begin with, a cleanse like this can make you feel much better, and have a regenerative effect, but the sugar can create other problems, and I think this is similarly true with intense fruit (especially sugary fruit) cleanses. For sure, I would recommend doing a good probiotic supplement after the cleanse to help bring back some balance to your inner ecology.

For that matter, and in answer to your question >I'm sure there must be some specific foods that are gentle on the system allowing time to detox? > I think one of the most health giving foods we can eat is cultured vegetables, like raw sauerkraut and kim chee. These foods, which are the best way (in my experience) to reestablish a healthy intestinal microflora, will absolutely start cleansing and detoxing (it's good to start with small amounts), particularly if you make an effort to avoid things that set you up for intestinal imablances: sugar, caffeine, wheat and gluten grains (if not all grains), pasteurized dairy products, meats containing hormones and antibiotics etc. For that matter, if you tend to have food cravings -- for sugar, carbohydrates (i.e. grains and starchy veggies), greasy or salty foods, alcohol etc., eating these fermented foods can alleviate those cravings substantially. Finding support for emotional healing is important too, of course.

There are many good cleansing systems on the market these days, that use herbs and nutrients that will detox help with elimination. And while it is great to take time out to focus on this, it is not absolutely necessary. Likewise, begin to add your own supplements and herbs that will help detox and cleanse and also bring *balance* to your chemistry as a part of your regular regime, things like chlorella, coconut oil, ground flax seed, there are many herbs that are anti-viral, anti-parasitic, and anti-fungal that will help, increase your intake of raw foods ........well, there is a long list of foods and supplements.... looks like several tribe members have some good suggestions already. I've learned a lot from the herbal medicine tribe myself, and I'm sure there are many other tribes too.

Many blessings on your path to better health and well-being!

Namaste'
AzurA

Green Smoothies, thanks for the great idea!