Detox Dos and Don’ts – How to Clean Out Safely and Effectively

There are so many myths out there about detoxes!!! Don’t believe the hype!! Check out this quick list of dos and don’ts for an effective and not-too-painful cleanse.

DON’T:

1. FAST

Back in the day humans used to fast periodically, simply because we’d run out of food. Later, we had fast days designated as part of religious traditions. Our systems could probably handle fasting better then – what we were eating was way cleaner and more nutrient-dense, so our bodies were hardier. Today, abstaining from food is not a good idea. It’s not an effective way to detox, and it’s really not an effective way to lose weight, if that’s what you’re after. Instead, it will slow your metabolism, cause your blood sugar to plummet, and your cortisol (stress hormone) to skyrocket. You’ll feel jittery and irritable. Also, with no food to digest, your body will start eating itself by leaching amino acids from your muscles. Just don’t do it!

2. JUICE

Store-bought juice is pretty devoid of nutrients. Freshly-made juice is full of vitamins and minerals, yes, but it’s also very sugary. Eating a diet of only sugary juice – even for a day – will wreak havoc with your blood sugar. You’ll get shaky, grouchy, and HUNGRY. And no, a detox should not make you hungry! Also, without protein and fat, your body is missing crucial nutrients that are needed to complete the detox process. Same goes for fiber.

3. CUT OUT FAT AND ANIMAL PROTEIN

I repeat: fat and animal protein are not the devil! They are a necessary part of the human diet, and they should be part of a food-based detox, too!

DO:

1. FOCUS ON QUALITY

Eat high-quality, nutrient-dense, healing foods. Your body will thank you for consuming bone broths, organic or pastured meats and dairy, and fresh, local/organic fruits, veggies, legumes and grains. Probiotic-rich foods like sauerkraut (not the kind made with vinegar!) have a healing effect on the digestion.

2. CUT OUT THE BAD STUFF

Any detox should involve avoiding, at the minimum, the following:

  • caffeine
  • soda
  • sugar
  • soy
  • corn
  • wheat
  • artificial sweeteners
  • high fructose corn syrup
  • alcohol
  • refined grains, such as white flour and white rice
  • tomatoes and potatoes, which can cause inflammation
  • most packaged foods, unless you can understand EVERY ingredient listed (and approve of them)

3. MAKE IT MANAGEABLE

If you’ve never done a detox before, it’s great to either start with a short, simple one, or join a detox program led by a qualified practitioner. You might decide to do five days of eating super clean – planning ahead with meals and grocery shopping is key in succeeding with this! If you’re looking for an inexpensive and fantastic (i.e. co-designed by me) detox that’s starting soon and can be done from anywhere, check out my husband’s detox. He’s a naturopathic doctor so he knows his stuff.