There are some key elements to my detox:
- Naturopathic advice - I undertake my detox with the guidance of a naturopath - the reason for this is I am lucky enough to have a great naturopath who knows me and my body. She is able to tailor the detox to me for optimal results.
- Eliminating certain foods and stimulants - I think often there is confusion as to why we eliminate certain foods and stimulants from our diet during a detox. It isn't to say these foods are 'bad' but that it takes more effort for your body to process them. The idea of a detox is to give your body the best possible chance to cleanse and achieve optimal function. That means removing all the possible obstacles and digestive challenges.
- Certified organic where possible - This falls into the category of trying to eliminate those things that put stress on the body, and that includes pesticides. Let's face it, organic can be expensive but I can say from observation and as a consumer that organic foods have lowered in price considerably over the past ten years. So especially during a detox I try to go as organic as I can.
- Include the support of supplements and herbs - Part of the reason I have the guidance of my naturopath is that a detox can be very stressful on the body. An example of is that someone who drinks three cups of coffee a day and has a sluggish detox system might experience detox side-effects like headaches and irritability. Also, often detox programs bought over the counter are geared up to get your liver to work hard to help you flush out your system but without the right support for your liver (not just the kickstart) you could end up feeling pretty horrible. Then after all that discomfort the chances of the detox providing lasting health benefits are pretty minimal. So I have a bag of naturopathic goodness to give my body the support it needs during the detox program.
- The holistic approach - When I do a detox I look at the whole picture, not just my bodily organs and their functions. A detox program is the perfect time to also be mindful of what toxic or at the least unhelpful thoughts and beliefs I have been 'chewing' over. Just as I'm trying to give my body a rest from dealing with stress of digesting or processing certain foods and stimulants, I try and give my mind and soul a rest from stress of negative thinking. Now this is a whole other post so I won't enter into it here but as it is an important part of my detox process I have included it here. Another important factor is sleep - getting enough sleep to give the body the best possible chance to do its job and do it well.
- Environmental factors - inclusive in the holistic approach is looking at the external factors that might slow down the detox process. This includes considering reducing or eliminating things like aluminium deodorant, exposure to televisions, computers and other electronic devices, and the use of harsh cleaning products for both your house and your body. Equally looking at increasing the amount of time spent in nature and in places that give you a sense of calm.
What foods to avoid
My detox guidelines might be different to yours but on the whole the foods to avoid will be similar.- Gluten (includes wheat (all forms), barley and rye products)
- Dairy (this includes cow, goat, sheep - milk, yoghurt, cheese, butter, etc.)
- Soy products
- Stimulants (coffee, tea, chocolate)
- Alcohol
- Refined foods (junk food, canned food, packaged food)
- Preservatives (again, mostly found in packaged foods)
- Red meat
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