When you have completed the diet, you should gradually introduce other foods. The best food to break the fast with and to give your body nutrients it has been lacking during the fast, is Mung Beans & Rice with Vegetables. This is a very easy-to-digest source of high-quality balanced protein, vegetables and fiber. It is a good alkaline food that is nurturing and rebuilding. Depending on how long you did the cleansing diet, you should have Mung Beans & Rice with Vegetables as your main food for several days to two weeks.

DEALING WITH CRAVINGS AND DEPRIVATION: Whatever program you choose to follow, if you find yourself beset with cravings for the foods you "can’t" have, try shifting your mind-set, so that it is a choice you have made, rather than a restriction put upon you. Usually within a week (often, just 1-2 days) the cravings subside, and you are feeling the effect of the diet: feeling more energy, lighter, and increased mental clarity, Importantly, if you go ahead and have that cup of coffee, or doughnut, or whatever, don’t feel guilty about it. You will probably find that whatever you ate or drank really wasn’t so satisfying after all. Let yourself feel renewed with inspiration to keep up!

Once, when I was on a long melon fast, every time there was a special meal, party, or feast with any food that I wished I could have… I took one serving and put it in the freezer. At the end of my fast I had a freezer full of cake, lasagna, pizza… you name it. And, you know what? I ended up not eating ANY of it; I had so lost the desire to eat that food. But, knowing I had some treats in the freezer for later did help me, in my weaker moments, from feeling deprived.

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES: You may start cleansing in ways you had not anticipated. Skin is the greatest organ we have for elimination, and it is not uncommon to have outbreaks of acne when on a cleansing program. Along the same vein, you may experience (actually, others may experience) increased body odor with an even less-inviting aroma. Also, your colon may go through some changes. Although beets help with regularity, you may find yourself with a little constipation or even runny stools. This is why it is important to drink lots of water and also drink Yogi Tea. Also, adding ground cardamom to the beets will help with your elimination. If you are going on the one-week mono diet, keep in mind it is a week to cleanse, heal, relax, meditate, and do yoga. Choose yoga postures that are for the liver and digestion. It is not a time to go mountain climbing, run five miles a day, work out for two hours in the gym, or work under stress. If you are accustomed to a protein-based diet, you are not likely to have the stamina for any type of strenuous exercise.

AND DON’T FORGET FRESH JUICES: Carrot, beet and radish juice are also excellent for liver detox. Start with a combination of 6 oz. carrot, 1-2 oz. beet and 1-2 oz. radish (any type radish will do, daikon is a good choice) juice. The beet and radish juices are very potent and you should only very gradually increase their proportion. The radish juice, especially, is best taken immediately after juicing. (It’s flavor quickly deteriorates.) Always mix juices very well with saliva. They are a very concentrated food and need that saliva to digest the best and to give you their full effect. Chew your liquids and drink your solids is an old saying. Simply put: chew chew chew.