Happy New Year! Now that we've spent the past six weeks gorging ourselves with all those tasty holiday treats, it's time for many to spend the next few months working to undo all the negative effects. Just as the house needs a good cleaning to get all the needles out of the carpet, all the decorations taken down and put away, and the kids' rooms cleaned to make room for the new toys, our bodies need the same process. We need to spend a little effort at this time of year cleaning our body's "house", so that things can work better. That means it's time for a good detoxification program. When I first started in practice, this concept was not even on the radar of the majority of Americans, but many seem to be realizing that what they have been doing isn't good for them, and they want to improve their health in the new year. What better way to start than by cleaning out the garbage in the system?
When discussing detox programs with patients, I see the whole gamut of understanding. Some have a good idea of what they want to do and how it might be done well, and others have no clue, they just saw something in the store. A good, well thought out detoxification program is an excellent way to start the new year, but let's talk about some of the different kinds and pitfalls they have.
The purpose of any true detoxification program is to take stress away from the liver and digestive system, and supply nutrients for them to heal and work properly. The liver is our main organ to take toxins, whether they be alcohol from New Year's Eve, artificial colorings added to the cookies, or trans fats from the fries we ended up eating on the road to Grandma's, make them less harmful to us, and get rid of them. The rest of the digestive tract is all about breaking down the foods we eat, making it available for use, and eliminating the waste. We realize that overindulging during the holidays can create a huge stress to this system, making it a good idea to work at detoxification. However, not all detox programs are good, and some of them are downright unsafe.
The simplest of the detox programs is a fast. While this can be done for a day or so, it is not recommended, and can create significant problems. When the body is deprived of food, it will start to tear into itself, most notably muscle tissue, to create energy. While all of our muscles are important, one specifically is needed for life: the heart. We do not want to do anything to weaken it, and in fact often spend hours per week working to build it up. In addition, fasts move our hormones into starvation mode, so when we do start eating again, we put pounds on easier, since the body is afraid we'll end up starving again. Fasts are not safe for more than a day, and I recommend avoiding them altogether.
The next complex program is a modified fast with just juice and water. While on the surface it may sound good, it can also create some significant problems. True, the subject is now consuming some calories, but those are mostly in carbohydrate form, and it will not stop the body from ripping into muscle tissue to get at its protein stores. In addition, most Americans already have issues with sugar metabolism, and this type of a detox program can exacerbate this. I do not recommend juice fasts either.
How about if we just clean up our diet then, and eat only vegetables and brown rice and drink juice and water? That is a simple way to clean the house, but is still somewhat devoid of protein, and vegan type diets can lead to significant dietary imbalances, especially if done by someone who hasn't done their research on how to balance the diet. This method, while good in the fact that it relies on whole foods, will still add stress to the digestive system and liver and may not prevent a protein deficit. It's a fine place to go after time is spent on a good detox program.
Can I do one of the "colon cleanses" at the store I see - they're just natural herbs to clean things out, right? That question often comes up when patients are contemplating this type of a program. One of the biggest problems I see with products marketed as "colon cleanses" is that they really don't do a whole lot except use herbal laxatives to push things on through. They often do nothing to take pressure off the digestive system, and in fact, can add stress through the stimulating herbs. They also usually have nothing to support the liver, and without helping enhance liver function, the whole process isn't worth much.
What type of detoxification program do I recommend? One that is based on protecting protein stores, uses a modified fast for only a few days, has sound nutritional support, and has a good instruction manual to help the patient learn how to mix foods in a way that enhances their detoxification processes. This type of program can range from as few as 5 days to as long as 21 days. For most of my patients, I recommend doing a 7 day program, since anyone should be able to find 7 days when they can fit it in.
A 7 day detox program usually starts with two days of modified fasting. That means they are drinking plenty of water, but also supplementing with a protein based powder that includes good fats and high quality fiber. This type of a program allows for the digestive system to have a few days to rest, but still protects the protein stores, i.e. muscles. On day three, food intake begins again, but the foods are limited. Only foods that enhance the detoxification process are allowed. These foods will be high in nutrients, but often not have a tremendous amount of calories. Most meats are kept out at this point, as is all dairy, and most grains. This leaves us with a fairly vegan diet, but if done according to directions, can be very safe. In addition, during these last four days, the protein based powder is continued to protect the body from ripping into its own. In addition, during the full 7 days, the patient will be taking high quality nutritional supplements to offset any imbalances that arise due to the strict diet, and additional support for the liver is added on the last four days to help with the detoxification process.
If the patient chooses, or it is needed, this type of program can be extended to a full 21 days or longer, slowly adding in foods that are more taxing to the intestinal system and liver. Some find they feel so good on this type of a program they continue with the concept of eating foods that are good for detoxification and never add in those foods that are more taxing. Others will commit to 7 days and be done.
Regardless of duration of a well put together detoxification program, patients are giving their systems the time needed to clean out and heal, in a safe and constructive manner. They are focusing on their health and learning better dietary habits that can be translated into an overall improvement in health. What better way to start out the new year than to clean the inside of your body, just like you'll clean the inside of your house? Why not spend time on a good detoxification program? Your body will thank you.
Look for future blogs that will give more information and insights into improving your health with natural health care. You can also visit my website, like me on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
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