Do you feel like this word “detox” is a total hoax?  Sick and tired of hearing about how you NEED to go through some rigorous, miserable, insufferable 30 day plan to be healthy, lose weight or rid yourself of some disease you might not even know you have? 

Well… I am too.

Ironically, this does not mean that I do not recommend doing a safe version of this a couple times yearly.  But there is a way to do it that benefits you and ways that can just plain hurt you and leave you very frustrated.  In this article… I am going to help you cut through all the crap.  You will learn what detoxification is for, the best way to proceed, what not to do and what elements should be in a program that will help you…NOT hurt you.

First, what is detoxification?

Simply put, detoxification is your body’s way of turning something that can hurt you into an inert substance or a substance that can be excreted or recycled by the body.  In a world without excess chemicals, stress, sugar and pesticides (to name a few), you should never need to go through a detox program.  Your body is intelligently equipped to handle material that might harm it.  But unless you live on an island far far away I am certain your body might be struggling with all the exposures. 200 years ago… before pesticides, EMF, GMOs, industrial pollution, plastics and refined sugar… this concept would have been snake oil.  But today our modern human bodies are hurting from toxicity.  The burden is just too great.

So ….How does the body do it?

The body has a really cool way of dealing with excess toxins.  The skin, kidneys, gallbladder, liver, respiratory, lymphatic and gastrointestinal systems all play a crucial role in removing dangerous substances from the body.  It is a multiple step process that starts with binding substances for removal by making them water soluble and then excretion through one of our many elimination channels.  The detoxification process is a protein dependent process.  This means that you need adequate levels of protein to not get sick, or create a back up, while you are detoxing.  Remember that cabbage soup diet or lemon juice cleanse?  These might be safe for a couple of days to give your body a break, but they are not actively detoxifying your body efficiently for extended benefits.  Once you eat and drink normally again, you can have a resurgence of symptoms.  In addition, the body needs certain key nutrients and enzymes to help it with both phase 1 and phase 2 of the detoxification process.  Many programs do not have enough nutrients to support this process and you need to make sure you get plenty of fiber to bind and excrete what the body is now eliminating.

How do I know if I need to detox?

Hint: Life might seem gray.

• Brain Fog

• Skin Rashes

• Bad Breath

• Constipation

• Bloating

• Headaches

• Moodiness

• Weight Gain

• PMS

• Thyroid dysfuntion

• Ringing in ears

• Overwhelm

• Cravings

• Runny or Stuffy nose

• Fatigue
  

How do I know if I am a good candidate?

• If you have been eating sandwiches for lunch, muffins for breakfast, live on coffee, make pasta several times per week.

• If you use perfume, body products that smell like the Chanel counter, shampoo that makes your hair really shiny and perfect and/or any hairspray.

• If you paint your nails regularly.

• If you cook or bake regularly with canola oil, corn oil, vegetable oils, or you do not know what foods contain hydrogenated oils or are GMO.

• If you think health food is whole grain cereal and low fat milk.

• If you do not give your self a wifi or EMF-free space, or are married to your personal device.

• If you sit more than you stand.

• If energy drinks are a real thing for you.

• If the package says "whole grain" and you think it's healthy.

• Your boss, family or friends are causing you major stress.

• You drink less than 8 cups of water daily from a plastic container.

• You have at least one bowel movement every day, even if it's not perfect.

Who does NOT need to detox???

• If you eat a whole foods diet (nothing from a package ever) or you eat an ancestral style diet.

  and

• You exercise regularly.

  and 

• You take mental health breaks like meditation and nature walks.

  and

• You eat at least 7 servings of veggies daily.

  and

• You drink plenty of filtered water.

  and

• You only use natural body products.

Even still, If you live in this world at this time… you probably need to be doing something extra occasionally to help your poor little body out.  Some things might include infrared sauna, a reset diet (full Paleo for 30 days), green juices or epsom salt detox baths.

Necessary elements of a successful detox:

1. Adequate protein

2. Elimination of all conventional meat sources, wheat, dairy, soy and corn

3. Fiber and lots of vegetables

4. B vitamins, anti-oxidants, lots of micronutrients

5. Gentle exercise

6. Sweating

7. Relaxation like yoga, meditation, prayer, nature

8. Reduction of chemical exposure, including alcohol and coffee.

9. Self Love!

When you should not detox:

Since detoxification relies on elimination to move the harmful substances out… if you are chronically constipated you could cause some major damage from the inability to remove toxins.  If you have less than one bowel movement daily, I suggest working with a trusted health care practitioner (preferably one versed in nutritional therapy - I would be happy to help you) prior to starting a detoxification process.  You will want to be eliminating regularly before starting any process that speeds up detoxification.

If you are on prescription medications, you should also get medical advice before participating in a detoxification program.  One of the goals of detoxification is to speed up and make more efficient the processes that help the body remove toxins and this may include the speed in which medications are metabolized.  This means detoxification could change your therapeutic dose.  This does not mean that you can not participate in a purification program, it just means that you will want to check in with your health care provider and do the program with professional supervision. 
See in color again!

Now do you see how you might benefit from yet another detox... this time designed right!??! Are you ready to clear out the junk in your trunk and see in color again? 
I bet you are, and I can help! 

Click HERE to see our current 21 Day Cleanse!