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Sinatra Solution Detox Drink

by Dr. Stephen Sinatra

Published 02/04/09

Along with eating a diet rich in colon-cleansing fiber, I’ve developed a super detox drink I make every other day to help me purify my body even more. Here’s the recipe:

• 4–6 ounces of one or two organic juices such as grape, pomegranate, berry, or peach. Dilute with equal amount of water.
• Up to one teaspoon of vitamin C powder. Start with 1/2 teaspoon and slowly build up. I like the fine ascorbic acid powder from the Mary Clinic in New Orleans, available by calling (504) 833-4338 or visiting www.maryclinic.com.
• One level teaspoon of glutamine powder—I like the Metabolic Maintenance brand (www.metabolicmaintenance.com). Glutamine, an amino acid, is a vital raw material for a healthy intestinal tract lining. It also helps the immune system and liver to remove toxins, including ammonia, a chemical produced from protein breakdown that contributes to neurodegenerative diseases and reduces ATP production.
• One heaping teaspoon of psyllium powder. My favorite brand is Yerba Prima (www.yerba.com), available at most health food stores. This fibrous plant material acts like an intestinal broom, sweeping out many toxins that might otherwise be absorbed into the body.
• One heaping teaspoon of greens. There are various powdered vegetable formulas rich in immune boosting detox nutrients that lower the acidity of the body, helping to make you less prone to disease.

To make the drink, pour the juice and water into a wide-mouth glass jar. Add all the powders. Shake up or blend the concoction. Add more or less juice or water according to your personal preference.

The flavor of this drink may be a little different from what you’re used to eating or drinking. It’s an acquired taste, but stick with it—the benefits are worth it. In the beginning, as your body starts to detoxify, it’s common to experience some bowel cleansing, gastrointestinal distress, or gas. The acute effects should pass after about a week.

In addition, I drink it down with 500–1,000 mg of N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC), an amino acid, and 100 mg of alpha lipoic acid, a versatile antioxidant. Both are precursors of glutathione, the body’s most important antioxidant that protects cellular energy production from free radical damage, and also binds to toxins, including heavy metals, solvents, and pesticides, changing them into a form that is excreted in urine or bile.

I also suggest taking a daily probiotic supplement, which you can find at most health food stores. Probiotics replenish the beneficial bacteria, such as lactobacillus acidophilus and bifidobacterium bifidus, which reside in the intestinal tract and protect the immune system against pathogenic bacteria and Candida.