This article is excerpted from Dr. John’s new Ayurveda 101 eCourse in partnership with Yoga Journal and Kripalu’s Larissa Hall Carlson. Sign up now and save!
Spring is a naturally very low-fat season, and if you’re eating in accordance with nature, the lean spring harvest essentially forces you to burn your own body fat (the “emergency padding” you held on to during the winter). And this has benefits beyond weight loss! When you burn fat, you automatically detoxify your body of environmental pollutants, as well as the mental/emotional ama, or toxins, stored in your body fat.
This super simple 4-day detox supports what happens naturally in springtime and encourages your body to more efficiently burn fat. It’s a great way to help the body get into fat-burning mode, and stay in fat-burning mode throughout the spring. As a result of this detox, you may lose between four and 11 pounds, some of which will be water weight. Here’s how to do it.
Your 4-Day Detox Plan
1. First thing in the morning, take your ghee.
Take increasing doses of a grass-fed ghee each morning: 2 teaspoons the first morning, 4 teaspoons the next morning, 6 teaspoons the next morning, 8 teaspoons the next morning.
You can take it straight or warmed up in almond milk, coconut milk, cow’s milk, or a little lemon juice. The golden rule to get your body into fat-burning mode is to have all your fat for the day in the morning and very little to no fat for the rest of the day.
2. An hour or so later, have breakfast.
For breakfast, lunch, and dinner, choose from one of the following three meal plans (without snacking in between):
The Monodiet
For all 3 meals, enjoy kitchari, the split yellow mung bean and long grain white rice dish cooked with Ayurvedic species. >>> See a kitchari recipe here
The Duodiet
For all 3 meals, enjoy rice and beans (it could be kitchari but it doesn’t have to be) and a vegetable. You could even go to Chipotle and have black beans and rice.
The Polydiet
For all 3 meals, you can eat anything—soup, rice, beans, salad, fruits, vegetables, lean meat—as long as there’s no added fat and no packaged or processed foods, only whole foods.
3. On the evening of the fourth day of the detox, create a mild laxative effect.
Take a hot bath, then drink 1 cup of senna tea, Smooth Move tea, or a cup and a half of warm prune juice.
After the detox, continue to eat in accordance with the spring harvest, and you will continue to lose weight, detoxify, and feel more energetic, happier, and better rested throughout the season.
*Republished and reinvented with permission from Yoga Journal 2017.*
Wonder if I can use Organic Coconut oil instead of ghee?
I have a friend who is vegan and uses coconut oil instead of ghee. My understanding is that it’s okay to do that.
I would say using coconut oil would be ok..the point is to eat good source of fat in the morning
Does the ghee HAVE to be taken away from breakfast? I typically eat a high fat breakfast anyways because that gives me more mental and physcial endurance for my late morning workouts. (Typically grass-fed lamb or salmon with Brazil nuts or pecans) And I cook that in ghee.
Since the article mentioned ama: Is raw unrefined honey in tea ok on the cleanse? Lifespa previous info indicated not to heat honey ie baked in muffins as it creates ama when heated. But is the low heat of tea or even heating slowly and at low heat below boil to liquefy a bit (ie to mix with citrus rind as bioflavonoid source) ok?
Hi Rita. While cleansing we ask that their is zero use of sweeteners of any kind, including honey. Be well.
You mentioned to do this in the spring. Would I get similar results by doing it in the fall?
Is it ok to do the increasing amounts of ghee with a longer, 7-10 day cleanse? Or should the ghee protocol be limited to a 4 day cleanse?
Hi Niki,
During the Colorado Cleanse – our 14-day cleanse – one performs oleation with ghee for 7 days. We do not recommend to do this protocol for longer than 7 days. It should be reserved for times of cleansing ONLY.
Hi Dr. Doulliard! You are my favorite teacher out of all that I learned from at IIN. Ayurvedic really resonates with me. Can I please ask a question re: the 4 day cleanse? Is there any supplements that I should avoid during the 4 days or add to my daily intake. I currently take “Immunitone Plus” (Elderberry, Echinachea, Astragalus) Gota Kula, Buffered Vitamin C and Juice Plus.
Thanks in advance!
Hi Melissa,
Thanks for your question. This program is designed to boost digestion and detoxify. Following the herbs on the 4-Day cleanse is highly recommended, and while you can continue with other herbal supplementation, we know that can become overwhelming.
Be Well
i Just want to make sure .. So for all 4 days we are suppose to eat the same 3 meals ?
Sorry I’m also curious.. so i work out in the mornings. what if i eat breakfast first, work out, and then eat the ghee ?