DETOX: PREPARING THE BODY

CLEAR YOUR SOCIAL CALENDAR

• It’s very difficult to stick with a detox program in a social environment. Eating out is very challenging since you don’t know how the food is prepared.
• Temptations at social gatherings can be abundant in the form of alcoholic drinks, desserts, and food that is being avoided during your program.

REVAMP KITCHEN PANTRY

• Remove temptations by revamping your pantry to include healthy, nourishing foods such as whole grains, nuts, seeds, seaweed.
• If removing all processed, unhealthy dry foods from your pantry is impossible, try separating them into a different area or group them into containers out-of-sight.

INCREASE WATER INTAKE

• Water helps flush out the toxins released from body tissue during a detox program.
• Water facilitates the excretion of toxic products from the body through urine, feces and sweat.
• Your goal should be at least 9 cups of filtered water per day (or 72 fl oz total), more during the detox program.
• Carry a large reusable glass water bottle around all day such as BKR or LifeFactory bottles; having water at your fingertips will help you drink your daily quota.
• Try drinking most of your water consumption in the morning/early afternoon, so you’re not up all night going to the bathroom!

GO ORGANIC

• In a detox program, we are trying to eliminate toxins from the body.
• Eat organic whole foods in order to prevent introducing new toxins through pesticides, preservatives and other chemicals to the body!

• Through this program, we are looking to achieve a balance within our body. It starts with our gut, which is heavily populated with bacteria – both beneficial bacteria and harmful bacteria.
• When harmful bacteria thrive over beneficial bacteria, the condition is called dysbiosis and results in nutrient depletion and system malfunction.
• Introducing probiotics through a supplement or fermented vegetables is essential in achieving the ideal balance between the two types. A healthy gut contains about 2 lbs of beneficial bacteria!

No caffeine or other stimulants during Days 6 – 15 in this detox program. Caffeine taxes the adrenal glands, negatively impacts liver detoxification and creates free radicals, especially when consumed daily and in quantity. Giving up caffeine can be difficult, but here are some tips to help you along the way!

• Yerba matte. Tea option that will help with the nasty withdrawal symptoms that come with giving up coffee or other caffeinated drinks; contains caffeine equivalent to ¼ cup of regular coffee
• Dandy Blend. This gluten-free and caffeine-free coffee alternative is my favorite option on the market. It’s made from the extracts of grains and roots (including dandelion).
• CaFix: Coffee-like hot drink made of grains such as barley. If you need that hot coffee experience first thing in the morning, try this option – contains no caffeine, but does contain gluten.
• teechino: Caffeine-free hot beverage made from toasted chicory, barley, figs & dates.
• Turmeric lemon ginger drink. This combination will aid in your detoxification process.
• Reduce coffee consumption gradually. If your coffee consumption is high (multiple cups per day), gradually reduce coffee consumption over the period of one week or more. Going cold-turkey can result in severe withdrawal symptoms like severe foggy brain, body sweats, head aches, flu-like symptoms.

REDUCE SUGAR CONSUMPTION

• Stick to unrefined sugars. Unrefined natural sugars like dates, honey, maple syrup, coconut sugar are more gentle on the body. Think moderation!
• Try eating some fruit to satisfy that sweet craving.
• Drink water before reaching for that sweet. Sweet cravings can be a result of dehydration.

• Alcohol is inflammatory and results in dehydration. It’s considered a toxin that is metabolized by the liver.
• It’s very acidic and creates an environment in the body for harmful bacteria to grow. Alcohol is made by fermenting grain or fruit sugars into ethanol. Its yeasty mix contributes to dysbiosis (bacteria imbalance in gut).
• It contains its own mix of preservatives (sulfites in wine) and is a depressant.
• Avoid temptation and opt out of social gatherings where alcohol is predominant.

REDUCE MEAT CONSUMPTION

• Reduce meat consumption to only 2-3x per week max.
• The body must expend a significant amount of energy to digest meat protein. Try giving your body a break by omitting meat from your diet during the week.
• Try plant-based proteins (legumes, fermented soy, whole grains, green veggies).

REDUCE DAIRY CONSUMPTION

• Dairy consumption leads to mucus production in the body. Dairy is hard to digest and promotes the formation of mucus that buffers irritation. This dense mucus partially blocks food absorption while slowing bowels. We want our bowels moving during a detox to eliminate the toxins from the body!!