The grape cure… We’ve all heard of it; it’s certainly the most well-known and widespread detox mono-diet. Grapes are rich in minerals (especially potassium, magnesium, and calcium), and the grape cure is credited with numerous benefits… But they aren’t always the ones we think!
The benefits of a grape cure
This detox treatment helps cleanse the body of exogenous toxins (which come from the outside) and endogenous toxins (which are produced by the body).
Pollution, stress, processed foods (tea, coffee, alcohol, chocolate, tobacco), food additives, medications… all promote the accumulation of waste in the body.
Waste products that have harmful consequences, causing problems such as headaches, digestive issues, chronic fatigue, deficiencies, sleep disorders, mental disorders…
By eliminating them several times a year through different techniques such as fasting or mono-dieting, the body regains vitality.
Grape cure and weight loss: my opinion
Many people question the effectiveness of the “rational diet” for weight loss. So yes, like any restrictive diet, you consume few calories, so logically weight loss should follow…
And yet, I don’t recommend a grape cure for weight loss! Just as I generally don’t recommend any strict diet, but rather a rebalancing of your diet! This is the only way to lose weight permanently: you have to relearn how to eat healthily, and this for the rest of your life (eating healthily doesn’t mean not enjoying yourself!).
If you choose the grape cure just to lose weight, what will happen afterwards? You will return to your normal diet and regain the lost weight through the yo-yo effect.
Conclusion: Grape cure for detox: yes, for weight loss: no
Grape cure: instructions for use
To ensure the success of your grape cure, here are my recommendations:
Wanting it
Don’t start a cleanse if you’re not interested! Starting a cleanse when you’re tired or don’t feel like it will stress your body. You need to feel the desire and believe in your abilities.
Prepare the ground
Ideally, have a vegan dinner the night before the cleanse or a “cellulose” porridge to cleanse the digestive tract. This porridge is actually a soup of well-cooked green vegetables that promotes fibrous digestion.
Choosing your grapes
Choose high-quality, organically grown grapes . It would be a shame to introduce even more external waste by eating grapes laden with pesticides. White or red, it doesn’t matter! Avoid red grapes if you have a sensitive digestive system.
Choose the duration of the treatment according to your vitality.
1 to 3 days maximum, depending on your energy level. If you have very low energy, opt for evening meals only, for a maximum of 3 days. You can repeat this treatment once a week throughout the grape season.
Eat your fill
Eat reasonable and free quantities according to your real hunger and your activity during the day ( sedentary or physical job ).
Wash thoroughly
Ideally, wash your grapes in water with a few drops of lemon or cider vinegar added if necessary.
Move! (but not too much)
Engage in physical activity that gets your body ( and fluids ) moving to promote waste elimination. But be careful: this physical activity shouldn’t be too intense, or you risk feeling exhausted and constantly hungry! Brisk walking is a great example.
Listen to your body
Headaches, nausea, or skin rashes are healing symptoms, signs of toxin release. The greater the vitality, the more acute the symptoms! The more intoxicated the body is, the more intense the healing crises will be.
Listen to your body! Because your feelings will tell you if its symptoms are healing crises or warning signs alerting you to stop the grape cure.
Note that it’s rare to experience severe symptoms with a simple mono-diet unless you’re severely poisoned. Sometimes there are no symptoms at all! In that case, you’ll need to repeat several courses of treatment throughout the year to trigger the elimination of toxins.
Avoid stress!
If you are stressed, your body will hinder proper elimination because it will be constantly under the influence of the sympathetic nervous system, which allows you to fight or flee from a perceived threat. However, the body needs to be under the influence of the parasympathetic nervous system to eliminate waste.
Take walks in nature, take breaks during the day, even at work, meditate, or do breathing exercises when waking up and going to bed.
Gradual resumption!
As with the meal the day before your treatment, resume with a light vegan meal.
Dangers and side effects
As I mentioned in the “listen to your body” section, the release of toxins associated with the grape cure can cause some mild side effects such as headaches, nausea, or fatigue.
Otherwise, there is no real danger in doing a rational cure; the warnings are the same as for any mono-diet: it is not recommended for pregnant women and younger people.
If you have a chronic illness or are undergoing specific medical treatment, it is best to seek advice from your doctor.
