We are all subject to toxic substances, which often get stored in our fat cells and brains. The Colorado Cleanse is a gentle way to clear detox pathways and reset your digestion so you can feel better.
Why We Eat the Way We Do
Today, we are all victims of a failed dietary strategy that was imposed on us in 1961 when the American Heart Association declared cholesterol a public health concern, putting cholesterol on the “Nutrient Concern” List. (1) When that happened, consumption of cholesterol and saturated fats greatly declined (2) and, in turn, a slow burning, more stable source of fuel was lost in the shuffle.
Shortly after cholesterol-free foods hit the market, the federal government subsidized farmers to grow wheat and corn in an attempt to eradicate hunger. (1) That meant that American farmers were being paid to grow wheat and corn, which helped farmers, but flooded the market with highly processed wheat and corn products such as high fructose corn syrup.
Soon, sugar, in the form of processed wheat and corn replaced fats as our primary source of fuel or energy. Without regularly consuming fats, slowly our ability to burn fat weakened. We gained weight, moods became unstable, heart disease skyrocketed (3), we became inefficient detoxifiers of fat-soluble toxins, and became less able to assimilate and use the body’s good fats.
Many of us need support to reboot optimal fat burning and the body’s natural detox pathways. This is why I developed the Colorado Cleanse.
My Story
After years of struggling with my own digestion as a result of over-cleansing, I committed most of my career to learning about the digestive system. It was Ayurveda that gave me the insights to link the digestive wisdom of Ayurveda with the natural health practices of the west.
After decades of working with the relationship between the two, and guiding tens of thousands of patients through the Colorado Cleanse and Ayurvedic detox programs, I have observed time and time again that without a doubt, for optimal digestion, yes, we must cleanse regularly. But before that can be successful, the digestive strength must be repaired.
This is why I developed the Colorado Cleanse in the first place – because I rarely find a patient whose digestive system is actually functioning optimally. Without a well-functioning digestive system, our bodies are loath to receive the cleansing benefits we are so eagerly looking for. And while we are told that we just don’t digest as well when we age, in my practice as I help my patients reset their digestion, I find that this doesn’t necessarily have to be true at all.
So this fall, let’s gear up the digestion and help the body flush out some of the old toxins we have been carrying for years, all while we reset our digestive strength!

A Cleansing Casualty
I remember fasting for the first time when I was 19. I had read Paul Bragg’s book, The Miracle of Fasting. I got hooked on health back then, and one cleanse led to another. Soon I was reading Bernard Jensen and doing colon cleanses, drinking clay and ingesting a cornucopia of herbs that left me all cleansed out, but unable to digest like I used to.
Though I was still just 20 years old, I had cleansed myself into having a digestive tract that only worked if I kept cleansing it. I called myself a “cleansing casualty,” weakened from too many harsh detox programs.
What I have observed with most detox programs is that they are very effective at detoxification, but little or no attention is given to the reasons the body became toxic in the first place. I think many of us assume that, because the world is toxic, we must be toxic as well and therefore must detoxify.
What most of us do not realize is that the body has an amazingly effective detox system that can process just about anything short of DDT. Basically, if the body is toxic, we must ask how it got that way, and fix that first.
Toxic Substances – The Fat is Where It’s At
Most of the harmful toxins in our environment are fat soluble, such as pesticides, preservatives, heavy metals, environmental pollutants, and parasites. Because they are not soluble in water, the kidneys cannot excrete them until they are processed through a functional digestive and detox system.
Poor digestion is your cue to a poor detox system. So many folks who do not tolerate wheat, dairy or fried food may, in fact, have weak digestion, and are therefore at risk of toxicity. In the presence of a weakened digestive/detox system, not only do we not tolerate hard-to-digest foods, but the fat soluble toxins will find their way into fat cells for storage, which unfortunately includes the brain.
If we jump into a detox program without resetting digestive strength and the body’s natural detox ability first, we run the risk of just moving these fat soluble toxins from one fat cell to another. This often causes uncomfortable detox reactions.
The Colorado Cleanse
I designed the Colorado Cleanse based on years of experience with detoxification. In fact, I have been administering Ayurvedic Detox programs since 1986.
What makes the Colorado Cleanse so effective and popular is fourfold:
- After 60 years of a flawed, low-fat, high-sugar diet, the Colorado Cleanse aims to repair the damage to the digestive system and reboot a robust detox process for the body.
- Before we cleanse toxic fat cells, we reset the body’s natural detox and digestive pathways so the body can process the toxins released during the Cleanse.
- During the Colorado Cleanse, if you are straining, the body will just store the fat we are attempting to burn/detox. Therefore, we don’t encourage straining. In fact, we say that if it isn’t comfortable, it isn’t working.
- Because of the digestive and detox reset, there are little to no post-cleansing cravings or severe cleansing reactions.
I continue administering and guiding this cleanse for my patients as well as the Guided Group Cleanses for one simple reason: over and over again, I see it delivering amazing results.
Patricia says
Dear Sir,
I will be doing your ghee-Kitchari cleanse at home and am wondering how many teaspoons of ghee is the maximum if one would go longer than 4 days (8 teaspoons). Do I keep adding 2 teaspoons a day or just stay at the 8 teaspoons?
Kind regards,
Patricia (Netherlands)
Belinda says
Hi dr John
I have pyrooluria and endometriosis and take vitamins and herbs from the naturopath is this cleanse ok to keep taking my supplements ?
Thanks
Belinda
Irene Cook says
Hi Dr John.
I would really like to start your cleanse programme, but as I haven’t a gall bladder would I use all the same ingredients that you suggest.
I have had a bloated stomach for two years and nothing I have tried works,
I also have polymyalgia and am sure this is connected.
Many Regards
Irene
celeste says
Hi, I’ve done your cleanse before, but am wondering if you have any new research regarding the protocol for people who don’t have a gall bladder. Last time I stayed with the lowest serving of ghee each day of the main cleanse, but I’m wondering if there are any changes to the herbs as well. Thanks,
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Celeste,
Thanks for your question. Dr. Douillard has recommendations for those without a gallbladder:
10 Tips to Digest Fat: https://lifespa.com/gallbladder-or-not-10-tips-to-digest-fat/
As for the cleanse protocol, the only change is to substitute coconut oil for the ghee, and to stay at 2–3 teaspoons of coconut oil per day
without increasing the dosage as one normally would during the cleanse. No need to adjust the herbs.
Be Well.
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Celeste,
Thanks for your question. On our Colorado Cleanse, if you do not have a gallbladder or you have gallbladder issues, coconut oil may be a good option as it does not flush the liver and gallbladder the same way the other oils do. Coconut oil is predominantly a medium-chain fatty acid, which means it goes straight to the body to burn as fuel. Ghee, with its full spectrum of short-, medium-, and long-chain fatty acids, has to be broken down first, making the gallbladder work to flush bile and detox. All other cleanse protocols should be fine. Dose: Take 2–3 tsp of coconut oil daily in the morning on an empty stomach. No changes to the herbs.
Be Well.
Sally Carleton says
You talk about the problems with low-fat diets but all the meals in the cleanse are low-fat or no-fat. Why? Is it to balance the ghee?
laura says
I know your digestive reset relies on lemons but I’m allergic to citrus. Is there something I can do instead?
Judy Wells says
I have fat above and below the knee. My legs are disportionally fat impaired to the rest of my body. Also had varicose veins. I really want to reshape my legs and have never had any results moving this fat full of toxins. Any suggestion?
LifeSpa Staff says
Hi Judy. Thanks for reaching out. Have you heard of our 3 season diet challenge? It’s completely free, and offers a comprehensive outline for how to eat – every month of the year – in season with nature. Coming back to balance can offer amazing support for any hurtle or block, be it physical or mental. You can find out more here: https://lifespa.com/3seasondietchallenge/
Reducing the amount of stress in your life and the potentiality for the mind to obsess can be beneficial as well. Check out Dr. John’s free 1 minute meditation video, try doing this daily in conjunction with a normal exercise routine as well as seasonal eating and you may start to see some shifts! https://lifespa.com/one-minute-meditation/
Paula says
Please read about lipodema and look at the pictures to see if this could be your problem. There are face book groups for support also. Diet is very important.
anne says
Hello,
Is this cleanse safe to do while pregnant? I am currently ~ 14 weeks.
Thank you.
Anne
John Douillard says
Hi Anne,
No, please wait until you are at least 6 weeks postpartum and finished nursing before you begin the Colorado Cleanse. According to Ayurveda, pregnancy is considered a deeply healing time for a woman, a time when the body is able to balance itself in an extraordinary way. We encourage that you allow for this time to do its healing work. In the appropriate time postpartum, taking a gentle approach to the Colorado Cleanse is a wonderful way to rebuild the body and transition into the next phase.