The term “detoxification” has been around a forever, but it remains one of the most misunderstood and misused terms in nutrition. It’s been used to describe a staggeringly wide range of protocols, from total fasting to highly sophisticated nutritional regimens of healthy eating to ensure the removal of specific toxins, such as mercury.
For our purposes, let’s define a detox as a period of time during which we give our systems a much-needed rest – a kind of “time-out” from the daily assault on our cells by unhealthy foods and environmental toxins.
That kind of time-out. which can last anywhere from a day to a month, can be a deeply valuable asset in our quest for a long, healthy life. Doing a detox is kind of like rebooting a sluggish computer or emptying the trash that’s taking up a huge amount of your computers memory.
Now here’s where it gets tricky. What, exactly, are we detoxing from? According to the National Resources Defense Council, more than 80,000 chemicals permitted in the United States alone have never been fully assessed for toxic impacts on human health, let alone the environment. When we do a detox, which ones are we eliminating? How are they measured (if at all)?
The actual results of a detox – in terms of chemicals eliminated – may be difficult to measure, but that hardly means that nothing takes place. The experiences of thousands of people who’ve had positive things to say about their detoxes can’t be objectively qualified. After all, there’s never been a double-blind, randomized, controlled study proving that water puts out fire, but we all know from personal experience that it does.
The Two Day Renewing Detox
A weekend is a perfect time to do a detox, assuming you don’t have any important appointments. Although most people feel renewed energy and vigor by the end of a detox, individuals vary widely in their response to a radical change in eating style. For instance, consuming far fewer calories and carbohydrates could cause you to feel lethargic at first, and the elimination of toxins could even make you feel a little lightheaded or queasy. So it’s best to do your two-day detox at a time when you can rest and relax, and when you don’t have to be at your productive best. During the detox, you want to make sure not to add to the livers burden by giving it even more toxins to deal with, hence the use of very clean foods such as broths, raw or steamed veggies, and nutrient-rich juices.
Renewed Energy and Vigor
There’s no doubt in my mind that giving your body rest is a good thing from and energy point of view. It takes a lot of energy to process bad food, not to mention the impact that food has on your hormones, neurotransmitters, blood sugar and all other energy controllers in your body. And low-level exposure to chemicals and toxins – whether they come from the outside environment, inside the home or from products you use on a daily basis – may sap energy in small, insidious ways that you don’t notice at first, but which cumulatively add up, preventing you from being energetic best.
My advice: Get rid of toxins as much as possible.
Along with your actual detox, it’s often suggested to incorporate some other procedures that might enhance the results you hope to achieve. For example, exercise is usually encouraged to assist in escorting out those nasty toxins by simulating circulation and sweat.
Sweating is important as are skin brushing, saunas, massages and even acupuncture. All
of these are purported to increase the quality of you results, and actually help to maximize any side affects you might feel during your detox, such as headaches, nausea, lightheadedness or insatiable cravings for “real food”. (Of course, if you experience any of these effects intensely or have any other serious symptoms, you should consult a physician.)
While nearly all conventional medical doctors will scoff at the idea of a detox, there are some physicians (and other integrative practioners) who swear by the concept.
If you’re seriously interested in the aforementioned “The New Detox Diet”, as well as the book “Clean”, written by Alejandro Junger, M.D. It’s one of the smartest books on detoxing around, endorsed by such luminaries as best-selling author Mark Hyman, M.D.
Clean LP: The Revolutionary Program to Restore the Body’s Natural Ability to Heal Itself
Junger’s core concepts are easy to understand:
No. 1, toxins, stress and created modern eating habits and lifestyles pollute our bodies;
No. 2, by removing the obstacles and providing what’s lacking, our bodies bounce back into health, and energy is restored. Can’t find fault with any of that.
Remember, the liver is the ground zero for the detoxification process, so it makes sense to give your liver all the help it can get. Supplements can be useful here. The best of them will contain nutrients to assist the liver in the two-step process called Phase One and Phase Two detoxification.
There are detox kits available that contain herbs to assist in this process, as well as a mild laxative (usually made from herb sienna) and perhaps some digestive aids. While not technically necessary, these kits can make detoxing a lot easier.
Although weight loss is not the goal of a detox, many people do one for this purpose. While the weight that’s shed during a detox is often gained back, a smart cleanse can certainly introduce a whole new approach to living and health. By lightening your body’s load, you’ll be giving your digestive system and your liver a much-needed break, and your energy will get a much-needed boost.
The Weekend Renewal Program
Upon Arising: Two glasses of filtered water, one glass with half a lemon squeezed into it.
Breakfast: One piece of fresh fruit (at room temperature), such as an apple, pear, banana, a citrus fruit, or some grapes. Chew well, mixing each bite with saliva.
15 to 30 Minutes Later: One bowl of cooked whole gains-mullet, brown rice, amaranth or quinoa are the best choices. (For our purposes, we want to avoid gluten completely during the detox, so I don’t recommend oatmeal) Feel free to add a little organic butter for flavor.
Lunch (Noon to 1p.m.): One to two medium bowls of steamed vegetables. You can put a little butter or extra virgin olive oil on the veggies.
Dinner (5 to 6 p.m.): Same as lunch. For any who are fatigued or just need some protein, add 3 to 4 oz of fish, poultry or grass-fed meat to this meal or, even better, at 3 to 4 p.m.
Broths: Unlimited during the day. I recommend boiling up a ton of vegetables of any kind, and using the water. Drink all day long.
Notes: Make sure to stop eating around 6 p.m. or so – it’s important to have a rest from food overnight.
Remember, you’re essentially giving your digestive system a time-out, allowing your body to catch up with the workload of getting rid of the trash. You will be able to live healthy and happy. After all, it wouldn’t make much sense to sweep your house clean while dropping cigarette ashes on the floor, would it?
