Why Detox?
Summer is on it's way and spring has brought some gentler temperatures which makes the idea of cleansing our systems more appealing, easing ourselves away from those starchy, heavy, cooked foods. There is some controversy around the subject of detoxification where the medical profession in particular claims it’s both unnecessary and ineffectual. However, how do we know whether our main systems of detoxification (liver, kidneys, bowel, skin and lungs) are all working at optimum capacity? With exposure to toxins daily and a modern ready-made diet, even those who claim to eat healthily are vulnerable. Our digestive system undergoes quite a process to break down, assimilate and remove foods once they have entered the body. There are many benefits from detoxing including: resting the digestive system so that the body will be able to use its energy for healing, cleansing and hormone production, encourage weight loss if necessary, is highly alkalising, floods the body with enzymes and minerals that nourishes the cells, enhances elimination of toxins, pesticides and metals and re-educates corrupted taste buds which have become used to synthetic and heavily addictive flavoured/preserved foods - courtesy of the food industry!
What kind of detox?
There are many books and video clips available to guide you safely through detoxing (including juice or water fasting). Here I have outlined a moderate detoxification process that may speed up the re-balancing of hormones, improve insulin resistance, alkalise the blood stream, boost minerals and enzymes in the body and improve energy and general well-being. This detox is based on many years of detoxing personally. It is aimed at first-time de-toxers or for those who lead busy lifestyles but need to either boost their health, re-balance hormones or lose weight. Please note that if you have any medical condition, it's advised that you detox under the supervision of a naturopathic /nutritional practitioner or your doctor.
The Detox
What to buy over the first five days.
Organic vegetables (main source), fruits and herbs, roots – Cos Lettuce, cucumber, celery, beetroot, carrot, fennel, radishes, peppers, kale, watercress, spinach, apples, pineapple, grapefruit, lemons, ginger, coriander, parsley. Purchase a juicing book or find recipes online but remember that the juice fasting part is mainly vegetable with occasional fruit. Avoid high sugar fruits such as mangoes and oranges. If you suffer with recurrent cystitis, thrush or have Candida then only vegetables can be juiced with the exclusion of beetroot and carrot
Foods and drinks to avoid during the entire detox
Salt, alcohol, sugar, fats, flavourings, fizzy drinks – including sparkling water, unfiltered water, caffeine, bought juices, dairy, bananas, grains, protein, sweetcorn and soy.
Equipment
A juicer – there are several on the market, ranging in price. A more expensive unit will last longer and tend to be designed to produce less pulp and more juice – particularly from herbs. Shop around and purchase to your budget. Current juicers are a lot more sophisticated and less expensive now. A slow masticating juicer is better for the purpose of juicing herbs and grasses. If working during the juice fasting part of the detox (though it is preferable to rest as much as you can), buy two flasks so that you can prepare your juice in the morning before taking it to work with you or try and find a juice bar nearby. Please note that up to a max of 5 pints of juice consumed daily will help you avoid hunger and is important to get as many minerals into the body as possible. Again, listen to your body and if you find it’s too much and aren’t too hungry, then you can reduce the quantity to suit. Do not drink juice after 8 pm to avoid getting up in the night. If you can arrange some time off, then make sure you rest and do some gentle yoga stretching, walking and swimming. It is also important to note that freshly made juices are higher in minerals and best drank immediately, rather than later where they begin to oxidise. However, if you do have to work, then flasks of fresh juice or the local juice bar is the only alternative. It’s certainly better than not eating or becoming hungry when you have to work and risk breaking your detox.
Key Points
Ø Do not take any supplements at all during the fasting part of the detox, but do maintain your medications. No physical exertion such as going to the gym, running etc. is advised. Meditation and yoga are a fantastic combination whilst detoxing.
Ø Do not tell friends and colleagues that you are detoxing unless you really have to! Keep quietly focused on your goal to avoid discussions, persuasions and exhausting conversations about why you are detoxing! To the contrary, use online sites such as YouTube and search for nutritionists and professionals who advocate juice fasting, water fasting and detoxing. Here you will not only be motivated to continue, but will also begin a new and exciting journey of exploring a healthier lifestyle that you can maintain after your detox is complete. What can be better?!
Ø Do not use chemical deodorants, body lotions, face creams or shampoos, and fluoride toothpastes during the detox. The skin is the largest pore in your body so all of the commercial chemicals in these products are absorbed through the skin whilst you are trying to remove them! Instead, use coconut oil to moisturise and buy natural skin products and toothpastes.
Ø Filter your tap water – always. Drink water in between the juices without flooding yourself and eat foods that help flush out the toxins. Never drink water with a meal generally as this dilutes digestive enzymes.
Ø Get plenty of sleep at night. If your stomach rumbles and you feel hungry, just remember it’s a good sign! Tummy rumbling means fat is being burned. The body is using its own fat reserves for energy. Being hungry will only last a day or so before things settle and is nothing to be worried about. We are so used to eating three meals a day we forget that the body can survive for a long time without food safely.
Ø Drink the herbal teas suggested in between meals.
First 3-5 days (3 is the minimum benefit but please try for 5!)
Ensure the bowels have been regular - particularly for the week leading up to the detox (using coffee or water enemas and/or natural fibre) and eat lightly two days before starting. Psyllium Husks can be considered as directed before starting your detox to ensure the bowels have been regularly emptied. If you suffer with any inflammatory bowel conditions then seek medical advice.
First thing – empty stomach, squeezed lemon and warm water every day throughout.
Consume combinations of up to no more than 5 pints of mainly vegetable juices, adding a small amount of fruit for variation in only one of the juices consumed. Lemon is the exception and can be used in each juice. Key vegetables are celery, cucumber, watercress, beetroot and carrot (small amount due to high sugar content), ginger, kale, spinach, lettuce, fennel. Vegetable juices can be made tastier by using herbs such as mint – good with cucumber, ginger, coriander - excellent for removing toxins and particularly metals. Wheat grass can be added as a powder as it’s difficult to find fresh and you require a more expensive juicer to juice it yourself. It is an excellent liver cleanser and is highly alkalising. All products should be organic wherever possible. For non-organic – keep to an absolute minimum and wash in a dilution of water and apple cider vinegar.
Make a flask of dandelion root coffee (not the granules with added sweetener or lactose - Cotswold Brand is good. Please note this is not actually coffee but roots that have been roasted). One heaped teaspoon in a large flask will last two days – drinking two mugs daily. Rosehip tea is also excellent as a source of Vitamin C and is highly diuretic. Fennel tea is also diuretic.
**To regulate insulin resistance or to curb fatigue and hunger, you can sip lemon and warm water with a tiny amount of organic maple syrup (not too sweet) every 15 minutes until you are ready for your next juice.
Days 5-7
Just as important as fasting, breaking the fasting part of the detox correctly is essential. It’s tempting to rush back to breads, pastas and heavily flavoured foods. Do not do this. This transitional period is essential for the body as a way of reintroducing and eating foods that are light, nutritious and easy to digest.
First thing – empty stomach, squeezed lemon and warm water.
After 30 minutes – either a fresh vegetable juice or a whole pink grapefruit. Drink 1 mug of dandelion root coffee.
Mid-morning – fresh fruit such as organic apples, blueberries, watermelon or low sugar fruits in moderate amounts.
Lunch – a large salad of your choice which includes a generous amount of celery, green leaves and is colourful – i.e. beetroot, peppers, tomatoes, red onions, radishes, rocket, watercress, sprouts, cos, courgette, cucumber and avocado. Avocado is a great source of protein, healthy fat and is filling. It works well with chopped apple so feel free to add a little to the salad if you don’t suffer with candida. Season all salads with lemon juice - no oil.
Mid-afternoon – 2nd mug of Dandelion root coffee and some raw carrots, cucumber and celery if hungry. A handful of raw almonds is fine if you’re very hungry and at work.
Dinner – Same as lunch. Try and eat by 6 pm or at latest – not after 6.30 pm. A mug of chamomile tea is helpful for sleep, drank by 8 pm.
Days 7-14
Resuming eating a wider variety of foods should be introduced slowly. Begin every meal with a raw salad and live sprouts before your main course. The foods you can now include are: fish, chicken, red meat, whole grains - gluten free, quinoa, brown rice, nuts, seeds and moderate amounts of olive oil or coconut oil to cook with. Include lots of stir fry, steamed vegetables, home-made soups and casseroles. If you can maintain a vegetable juice each morning, a gluten-free carbohydrate with small amount of protein for lunch and a light supper that includes vegetables and protein, this will be a good way to continue. However – do consider intermittent fasting and reducing your meals to one and a half meals should you need to reduce weight, reverse insulin resistance and/or oestrogen dominance. If you have hyperglycemia, you may need to eat more regularly and have smaller meals. It’s important to experiment. You may find yourself surprised that you don’t actually require three large meals a day. *Resume taking your supplements again.
Useful condiments and additional information.
Bragg’s Liquid Amino Acids (to replace soy sauce or Tamari if you suffer with candida) for stir fry and casseroles
Buckwheat pancakes to replace bread or gluten free crackers
Coconut or Almond milk to replace dairy
Engevita nutritional yeast sprinkled on soups for added nutrition (no problem to use with candida)
Add seaweeds like Nori to your stir fry or soups for added iodine, high nutrient content and helpful for eliminating metals
Find a selection of recipes for healthy home-made dressings to keep your salads interesting – do not use commercial ready made ones
Use Himalayan salt for its added mineral content.
And finally…….
Try to do at least one detox a year. It’s so easy to slip into a comfortable, quick solution lifestyle that will soon deplete the body of valuable nutrition. The key to resolving any health condition and particularly boosting fertility, lies in minerals and enzymes which are predominantly found in abundance in a plant based diet, full of colour. When your restore the body’s minerals, the ability to heal and re-balance happens gently and can be an exciting process.
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