How Could A Wholesome Detox Benefit You?

Detoxification is essentially cleansing the blood of toxins and impurities. Our bodies naturally eliminate toxins through the liver, kidneys, digestive system, lungs, lymphatic system and skin. When these organs are healthy and functioning optimally, they can effectively remove unwanted substances.

These systems can sometimes become compromised and sluggish (due to medications, poor nutrition, stress, gut dysfunction and intake of caffeine, alcohol and processed foods), which cause impurities to remain in the body rather than being properly filtered. In addition, the modern world exposes us to more chemicals/toxins in the environment than ever before (via perfumes, plastics, cleaning products, pesticides and preservatives), creating a toxic load larger than what our systems can handle. This can cause a range of adverse effects, such as: fatigue, irritated skin, acne, poor immunity, allergies, food sensitivities, bloating, sluggish bowel movements, mental confusion, headaches, low mood, weight gain, reproductive dysfunction and infertility.

What’s the Science?

Adverse reactions can occur as excess toxins cause damage to our bodies by: increasing inflammation, depleting glutathione (the body’s most abundant antioxidant), causing oxidative stress, damaging tissues and DNA (and increasing the rate of aging), disrupting hormones, causing gut disturbances (intestinal inflammation, permeability and dysbiosis) and mitochondrial dysfunction.

What Will You Notice During a Detox?

By eliminating toxins and fuelling our bodies with the right nutrients to stimulate the elimination organs, the body's natural cleansing processes can be enhanced to help reduce the risk of disease and renew our ability to maintain optimum health. You may find you notice; increased energy levels, heathy bowel movements, strengthened immunity, healthy and glowing skin, improved mood and libido, weight management and reduced inflammation/pain. Detoxing is also an ideal way to reset any unhealthy dietary habits that may have snuck up on us in recent times (note to self).

Daily Detox Support

The following tips can support our natural cleansing processes:

· Drink 2L of water (plus 1L for every hour of exercise).

· Move for 60 mins - allowing for sweating and deep breathing.

· Practice hydrotherapy - follow a warm shower with 3 x 30 second cold bouts.

· Eat plenty of fibre including vegetables, fruits and brown rice. Cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, seaweed, beetroots, radishes and artichokes are excellent detoxifying foods.

· Eat quality protein at every meal, including eggs, chicken, fish, raw nuts and seeds.

· Limit: processed meats, canned foods, dried fruits, dairy foods, commercial sauces/dips, alcohol, caffeine, vegetable oil, wheat and sugar.

· Get 7-8 hours of sleep per night to remove toxic waste by-products that have accumulated throughout the day.

· Add fresh herbs to meals, particularly parsley (to help excretion of heavy metals and chemicals).

· Drink tea that promotes liver detoxification - dandelion and green.

· Switch to natural cleaning products (home and personal).

· Add dry brushing, saunas, yoga and meditation to your weekly routine.

Detox with a Healthcare Practitioner

A detoxication program under the supervision of a healthcare practitioner can additionally include supplements to help support the normal processes of the body with enzymatic reactions, cellular transport mechanisms, nutrient absorption, synthesis and function of hormones or neurotransmitters and the neutralisation and elimination of toxins,including: glutamine, aloe vera, zinc, vitamin C, dietary fibre, greens, herbs, potassium, turmeric, antioxidants and essential amino acids.

An intelligent detox should not mean deprivation, starvation and suffering! Eating an abundance of nutrient-dense, whole-foods is probably the single most important step you can take to improve your health.

Final Thoughts…

While detoxes don’t do anything that your body can’t do on its own, you can optimise your body’s natural cleansing processes by boosting each system associated and reducing a toxic overload. A guided detox under supervision of a healthcare practitioner with quality supplements is a sensible approach to nourish the body from the inside out.

Notes:

· Consult your healthcare practitioner before starting any detox and communicate any serious medical condition or medications.

· You should not undergo detoxification if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or have a chronic disease.

· Side effects: Adjusting to the elimination of toxic substances (such as coffee and sugar) may occasionally cause adverse symptoms such as headaches, nausea, muscle aches, flu-like symptoms and irritability. These a generally short lived, though should be discussed with your practitioner.

The information presented here is for educational purposes only and is in no way intended as substitute for medical care.

References

Jaishankar, M., Tseten, T., Anbalagan, N., Mathew, B., & Beeregowda, K. (2014). Toxicity, Mechanism and Health Effects of Some Heavy Metals. Interdisciplinary Toxicology, 7(2), 60–72.

Kieffer, D., Martin, R., & Adams, S. (2016). Impact of Dietary Fibers on Nutrient Management and Detoxification Organs: Gut, Liver, and Kidneys. Advances in Nutrition, 7(6), 1111–1121. Retrieved from https://academic.oup.com/advances/article/7/6/1111/4568672

Metagenics Clinical Detoxification Programs. (2019). Australia. Retrieved from https://www.metagenics.com.au/api/sitecore/Widgets/ViewFile?Id=%7B94D4E92B-ECB7-4E96-BF05-07BB10086EDA%7D

Guan, Y., & He, Q. (2015). Plant Consumption and Liver Health. Evidence Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015(824185). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4499388/

Lauren DayeApril 11, 2020