Demystify how to Detoxify

Have you considered a detox? For most people, the word cleanse brings to mind an image of a bottle of pills, powder or drink that smells terrible and is meant to send you running to the bathroom to “clear out” your intestinal tract. Not a very pleasant visual is it? I’d even say it’s quite a bit off track.

While an element of detoxifying your body does involve flushing out the system form the toxins it is holding on to, it does not have to be so intense. In fact, these colon cleanses can sometimes be dangerous because they can cause dehydration, disruption of the natural GI flora and nutrient loss.

a cleanse shouldn't have spending a lot of time in the bathroom

That’s not to say that there isn’t a safe way to cleanse your system. In fact I’m a big proponent of regularly hitting the “reset” button and detoxifying. The trick, however, is knowing what is appropriate for your body, your level of toxicity and your lifestyle. That’s where a little coaching comes in handy. Working with someone who is experienced in the field can not only be helpful in navigating the dozens of various options, but can also ensure you achieve the best results with minimum discomfort.

Some practitioners call these cleanses hoaxes and declare them all dangerous. I’d have to say, some are absolutely ridiculous and even border on dangerous. But I believe when conducted correctly, there’s overwhelming evidence that they do work. By following a detoxifying diet, people have corrected conditions like hypoglycemia, arthritis, irritable bowel disease, and infection; they’ve even fought cancer (and won!)

Fasting (see the blog on fasting and Ramadan for more,) is one way to achieve your detox goals. By abstaining from food, we allow our bodies a break from food breakdown and metabolism. During this break, our body can begin to “clean house” and eliminate any deposits or toxins that might be slowing it down. This break from digestion also gives our digestion track a much deserved rest and opportunity to restore. The problem is, when we fast we'll also releasing toxins at a very fast rate, possibly faster than our body can keep up with the safe elimination. And let’s face it, being hungry sucks.

Fear not! Abstaining from eating is certainly not our only option. There are juice, raw food, and fruit and veggie cleanses as well as cleanses with pre-made shakes and powder supplements. These options allow for various foods, and usually promote eating only foods that are detoxifying in nature. Some examples of foods with natural detoxification properties are:

• Cayenne pepper- along with a couple of cousins like jalapeño and habanera, have shown detoxifying and liver cleansing properties. 
• Lemons and limes- have antiseptic properties, loads of vitamin C (antioxidant) and properties that stimulate the liver to cleanse more efficiently (this is the premiss behind the famous Master Cleanse.) 
  
• Cruciferous vegetables- due to the amount and quality of phytochemicals/anti-oxidents, vitamins and minerals contained in these veggies, they have been used to help repair DNA damage and therefore block cancer cell production.   
• Spirulina- I can write an entire article on the benefits of this single super food. Aside from its super nutritional benefits, its antioxidant qualities make spirulina a potent free radical scavenger. It also has been shown to increase immune system function, making it able to fight cancer, infections and viruses including the flu and even HIV. 
• Wheat grass- one of the highest antioxidant activity of any plant organism. Also, its abundance of chlorophyll has been exploited to cure diseases including Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBS), cancer as well as side effects of chemo from traditional cancer therapy.

These natural food detoxifiers are powerful, and sometimes used in various formulas that can be found in the health food store. Please be careful when using those formulas- due to lake of regulation, many formulas could be misleading. I highly recommend using a tested and proven line like Metagenics. Not only is the quality guaranteed, but you're getting the support of a healthcare provider's guidance to tailor a program for your particular needs as well. 

It’s important to choose your method carefully to ensure you’re achieving your goal without causing harm. For example, some cleanses are better for removing heavy metal toxicity, while others are better for stabilizing blood sugar levels. And most importantly: Make sure you're getting the right liver and kidney support to ensure you don't overwhelm your system. Again, seek out the help and guidance of someone who’s experienced in this field. Besides, dietary restriction, even for a short period of time is hard! We can all use a coach in our corner! Find out more about my detox programs.