By: Kathleen Pisani
Spring is the perfect time to cleanse the body of the sluggishness of winter. As we prepare our bodies for new growth, we must first get down and dirty with the “crap” we have held onto both literally and figuratively. I know that we hold on to sh…stuff. And it takes regular maintenance to clean out the clutter. Detoxification, or cleansing, is one of my favorite topics because I get the opportunity to see some dramatic results in a short time. People have more energy, lose weight and start on their road to optimal health and vitality. That is truly exciting.
Detoxification is a tricky process, and many people make some mistakes that could lead to a decrease in health and muscle mass. There are some big differences between fasting, a bowel flush and true detoxification program. Our world is increasingly a toxic soup of chemicals.
There are more than 70,000 chemicals being used in our world today. Many of the toxins in our everyday environment have not been thoroughly studied, let alone in concert with each other! What we do know about toxicity is that it is a real and present danger that may be responsible for millions of deaths each year, but it is unrecognized as a medical cause of death, disease or dysfunction. However, the medical literature is mounting due to more accurate diagnostic testing that is confirming that toxins are real and they are wreaking havoc inside of our cellular tissue. Toxins can destroy cells, disrupt the endocrine system, increase inflammation and trigger a cascade of destruction to our nerves and brains. This is a problem that can no longer be ignored!
At least once a year, I recommend that people do a well-designed detoxification program. The most important aspect of any detoxification is liver support.
Understanding how the liver works
Any substance that is not a fat, protein, carbohydrate, water or fiber must go through the detoxification pathways in the liver. These substances include any chemical that is in food, like dyes and preservatives, as well as the chemicals in your shampoos, prescription drugs, deodorants, air and fluoride and chlorine in water. There are also chemicals like excess estrogen that are made inside our body that also need to be detoxified. The sheer amount of toxins in our environment means that we might do well to support this process!
There are two phases of detoxification. When a substance is delivered through the blood to our liver, the liver breaks it down into an intermediate chemical. This is phase one. This intermediate chemical is often far more toxic than the original chemical, and this is how many people wind up feeling yucky while they are cleansing. In this case, phase one is being up-regulated, or pushed, but phase two is slowed down, usually, due to the lack of nutrients available to complete the phase two process. In phase two a special group of nutrients are used to bind with the toxin. This binding renders the toxin inert and allows it to pass through the urine or feces. Goodbye!
What nutrients are essential to phase two? Many amino acids, taurine, MSM, B vitamins, magnesium, manganese and glutathione all support phase two. A good formula will have these bio-available nutrients. Other nutrients that support good detoxification are vitamin C, copper, zinc, milk thistle, dandelion root, coriander, turmeric, grapefruit and probiotics. Antioxidants, nutrients found in brightly colored fruits and vegetables, will help protect the cells from damage during the detoxification process.
Does detoxification mean I can’t eat?
The best cleanses do not starve you. They may include a protein and fiber shake as a meal replacement. Some include the nutrients I described above in forms that your body can utilize right away. They are called medical foods, and you can purchase them from our office or other health professionals. There is more than one way to eat on a cleanse, but all good cleanses take out, at least, these foods: wheat, corn, dairy, soy, peanut butter, sugar and alcohol. Some go so far as to remove all salt and fat for about a week. Removing salt, even sea salt, will trick the body into giving up the toxins that are inside the cells by disrupting the sodium transport chain. Otherwise, good mineral sea salts are a great daily detox for the rest of the year and should be used liberally to support healthy living!
On our cleanse, we allow only fresh fruits and vegetables either lightly steamed or raw for the middle of the cleanse. Our program is a 10-day plan that steps you into eating less over the first five days. By day five, you no longer crave foods, and your body does not usually feel hungry. I have seen people lose up to 15 pounds in 10 days, just by following the program. Of course, that weight doesn’t stay off if it is not followed up with a healthy diet and exercise plan. But it does turn your body’s fat-burning engine on and will allow your body to continue to function better and lose weight more easily. Our bodies will hold onto toxins in the fat by slowing down our metabolism, so losing the toxins is a great way to jump-start any weight-loss program.
Call to register for our a 12-week Take-Off! Weight Loss Challenge Classes, a Functional Health Consultation or more information on how to detoxify safely. (843) 900-6034.
Kathleen Pisani is a Massage Therapist, Reiki practitioner and Spiritual healer. She is the co-owner of AlignLife of Wescott near Charleston, SC with her chiropractor husband. A certified functional medicine consultant, she offers Functional Nutrition Coaching to clients who want to optimize their weight, health or hormones or are facing medical challenges. She is a teacher, speaker and writer sharing both ancient and modern traditions and is available for sessions in person or online at: www.alignlifewescott.com or 843-900-6034.