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.

Probiotics

Gut Bugs

Recently, a friend asked me for recommendations for building and maintaining a healthy gut flora.  A healthy balance of good bacteria in the Gastrointestinal (GI) tract is vital for healthy digestion, elimination, strong immune system and even proper hormonal and cholesterol balance. So the question is, are there ways of eating your way to a healthy gut, or are supplements the only way?

Simply put- yes. Of course there’s a way to build and maintain a healthy GI tract using food alone. Humans have done so for generations using the tradition of fermented foods. That is as long as we continue to eat traditionally, avoid excessive use of antibiotics and pasteurized foods.

Unfortunately, modern lifestyle has strayed from those traditions. The biggest culprit? Our society’s obsession with sanitizing everything and pasteurizing our food. We are basically killing off the good bacteria along with the bad.


I'm not saying it's not possible- I'm just saying it's a lot of work, time and/or money that most of us (including myself) don't have. This is because to guarantee you're getting enough through your diet you'll have to either pickle your own veggies (like traditional kimshi for example,) make your own sauerkraut, your own yogurt OR find a whole food supplier or health food store that sells it or does it the right way (read: expensive.) Pickled foods in most grocery aisles are pasteurized; so commercial sauerkraut and pickles have no bacteria (thanks FDA!) Milk, cheese and yogurt found on the shelves are also pasteurized specifically to KILL bacteria. Yogurt then is inoculated with specific strains of bacteria for minimal viability (and not to mention then loaded with sugar) and stamped with a label "active cultures."

So what's left? Here's some ideas of what to add to your daily menu to get gut healthy:

• Plain and low sugar yogurts- The excess sugar messes with the GI integrity giving the bad bacteria fuel to grow more. Try kefir or lassie also for a low sugar alternative. ALWAYS look for the rBGH label to ensure you’re not getting extra hormones in your dairy. Lactose intolerant? It doesn't have to be dairy try soy and coconut yogurt. And if you’re feeling extra adventurous- make your own! 

• Kambucha teas- These have become pretty popular on the meditation/yoga/hipster circuit ;) – you can find an extensive variety of bottled tea at whole foods or at most health food stores. But getting  a daily bottled can get pricey (they run about $5 a bottle.) Alternative- make your own. 

• Traditionally pickled veggies and sauerkraut- Easy enough to find if you have an Asian grocery nearby or even at health food store or Whole Foods. Making your own is a more cost effective option (especially handy for left over veggies you don’t want to go to waste.) Check out this video on how!

• Traditionally fermented soy like miso and tofu - Not the packaged stuff in the supermarket most likely made for GMO soybeans (but that's another topic you can check out from a previous blog). Try looking for organic, non-GMO products at your health food store or Whole Foods. Your best value is probably an Asian food store that either makes properly or imports it. Making tofu is a little more challenging at home, but could be worth it for the fresh results!
  
  

So what happens if you can't realistically get these foods everyday? Or if you think you need a little extra boost? There are Pro-biotic supplements... but all are not the same. You should be just as cautious about the quality and source of your probiotic supplements (or ANY supplements for that matter) as you are about the food you’re eating. 

In my opinion- I'd say 95% of the probiotics in the stores/online are terrible! First to have a high quality probiotic, the bacteria needs to be particular strains, stored under controlled temperatures, the expiration date should indicate the "real" expiration date (most are stamped with the date of half the viability) and the fillers and capsule should be made of quality material that is well tolerated and enhances, not blocks, absorption. Most probiotics found on the shelves of drug stores and supermarkets do not even meet the minimal guidelines for a high quality supplement. And the worst part is that they're expensive!

 
So knowing the source is very important- there are a couple you can get in most pharmacies that are pretty good. The thing is they're expensive and depending how they are shipped (I'll tell from experience NOT refrigerated) the integrity of the bacteria can be compromised. For the price and quality I recommend Metagenics- They have several formulas with variations in strain for various indications, high quality control standards and GMP-certified facilities, constant testing and assaying to ensure optimal viability, controlled transportation and storage AND they don't cost an arm and a leg! 

I hope this has inspired you to get more fermented foods into your daily diet, or maybe even to start making your own. If you still think you need to take additional supplements, check out the Metagenics and find out how you can order your product through me at https://wealthofhealthrx.mymetagenics.com/ . If you have any questions email me at Lara@WealthofHealthRX.com