Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Detoxing. Ugh. Yes, please?



Ah the dreaded cleanse. Has a negative ring to it, right? If you're like me, you probably don't like detoxes. Who is a fan of lethargy, hunger, headaches, mood swings and did I mention hunger? Once, out of the suggestion of a Chiropractor, I went on a 3 day cleanse drinking only a specific vitamin/nutrient concoction of 'everything the body needs to function'. I made it the full 3 days, but as the hubby can tell you, not without pouting, crying and a lot of complaining. Felt amazing afterwards though.

After researching a little more, cleansing on a regular basis started to make sense. The idea of a detox is to hit the reset button. Our bodies naturally know how to detoxify itself. But after years of eating a normal American diet of unhealthy processed, greasy, lab-manufactured 'foods', our systems get overtaxed and need a break. Throw in constant exposure to environmental toxins, pesticides, heavy metals, unclean air, water etc. and the body can go from a little wear and tear to a larger breakdown.

Every so often, give your body a well-deserved break by providing the nutrients it needs and limiting the excess. A detox is also an excellent way to really see what the body is sensitive to. Over-consumption of any and all foods leaves us feeling crappy but we aren't sure which foods are the culprit. Eliminating most foods except the basics and reintroducing them one by one slowly over time will help you understand what foods your body says NO to.

Here are some detox basics:

             NO

  • Alcohol
  • Caffeine
  • Sugar
  • Dairy
  • Wheat and Gluten
  • Processed items


Because I suffer from an autoimmune disease and have multiple food sensitivities, I take a stricter approach. All of the above plus, no:

Corn
Soy 
Canola Oil and Eggs (causes inflammation and allergies)
Pork (high in fat, hard to digest)
Farmed Fish
MSG
Anything with Natural or Artificial Flavors or Sweeteners (lab manufactured chemicals)
Citric Acid (irritating to stomach and intestinal lining) 
Fish Oil Supplements (processing causes concentrated mercury)


After a good cry, you ask What Can I Eat? That depends on how strict a cleanse you want.

For a strict approach: Eat RAW, ORGANIC FRUITS & VEGETABLES only. The Raw state contains the highest level of nutrients for the body. Get creative. Pick a new vegetable from the market you've never tried and google raw recipes. Make colorful salads with both fruit and vegetables. Make multiple smoothies a day blending different fruit combinations. Try gazpacho or spinach soup. Checkout the recipes in Anthony Willam's Medical Medium book.  My favorite is cauliflower and apples blended into small pea sized chunks. It's a great summer/portable snack!

I completed this cleanse for 28 days. If that doesn't sound like fun, try it for 3 days. Or take a less strict approach for 1-2 weeks and add lean meats, good fats and protein such as chicken breast, turkey, avocados, raw coconut butter, nuts, seeds, quinoa, cooked vegetables or brown rice.

Not going to lie, the first three days are no bueno. Detoxing off sugar and grains (what I imagine) feels like drug withdrawal....because it is. Research shows sugar has the same effect on our brains as opiods. In fact, sugar has been found to be MORE addictive than cocaine! It produces a wonderfully sweet high that we need more and more of to feel the same effect.

But don't worry, after detoxing, cravings start to diminish and staying under 10-15 grams of total processed sugar per day will keep the cravings at bay. Not to mention, heal the body of inflammation and ward off diseases. Helpful tip: eat a piece of fruit when sugar cravings hit.

Some side effects that can occur are headaches, lethargy, intense sugar cravings and hunger, dull taste of fruits/vegetables, anxiety/depression, muscle aches, nausea, insomnia plus others based on how your body reacts to the change.

DON'T GIVE UP! It's unpleasant at first because your body, brain and taste-buds have to retrain itself to how it feels to really be nourished by whole foods again. Stick to it and you will feel amazing soon, trust me!

Some of the many benefits of detoxing include:

  • Weight loss
  • Mental clarity
  • Improved energy 
  • Healing inflammation (aches/pains/headaches gone)
  • Improved skin 
  • Better digestion, healing of stomach/intestinal issues, healthy bowel movements
  • Improved mood


Now that you are ready to detox, have a plan before starting. Decide how long (3 days to 28 days) and how strict a detox you want then prepare. Decide each meal, make a shopping list and hit the grocery store. If eating a lot of salads for lunch or dinner, prepare 5 days worth in one sitting to save time. Cut up all fruit and veggies and store in containers for easy snacking.

After the cleanse is over, introduce foods back into your diet, one by one and make a note of how you feel after eating. For example, if after eating a piece of bread, you feel lethargic and foggy headed, maybe you are sensitive to gluten. Or after eating some cheese your stomach hurts, have gas or mucus in the back of your throat, you might have a sensitivity to dairy.

Trust your body, give it the right nutrients, experiment with all types of whole foods and you will be well on your way to a healthier life. Happy eating!

*I have merely scratched the surface of this topic, so please ask any questions for deeper understanding of detoxing, food sensitivities, healthy meal ideas, etc.












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