Each year, more evidence shows that Environmental toxicity is an increasing health problem. Some of the many clinical conditions that have been linked to toxicity are: certain cancers, Chronic fatigue syndrome, Chronic immune system depression, Fertility problems, Inability to Lose Weight, Headaches, Joint pain and Learning disorders. Nutritional Cleansing and Detoxification programs can be one of the best ways to support your body as it interacts with the hundreds of toxins present in our air, food, water, and common household products, but, it is essential that it be done correctly in order to be safe. Many cleanse protocols out there can actually hurt the body more than they can help it, leaving you feeling yucky during the process. Cleansing the right way should leave you feeling energized, clear headed, and wonderful, without lots of side-effects. Here are some of the most common mistakes people make when detoxing, and how you can avoid them:
1) Fasting— While fasting, or drastically reducing food intake does help to lessen the toxic load on the body by reducing incoming exposure, it also creates nutrient deficient burden and does nothing to help assist the liver to metabolically alter the toxins. Detoxification is an energy intensive process, actually requiring more protein than under normal situations, and protein is usually the first thing to go in these types of fasting diets. Fasting does nothing to restore optimum function to every organ cell and tissue in the body—impaired function goes untreated. Cleansing also requires time, and for most people, it is unrealistic to go on a low calorie diet while carrying out normal everyday activities that require focus, energy, and attention, such as working, driving, or studying. Juice fasting and other radically altered diets also destabilize blood sugar, which in turn makes your body hold on to fat rather than metabolizing it for energy. Since most of our toxins are stored in our fat cells, this actually promotes toxin storage, rather than liberating toxins out of the cells to be cleared from the body. Fasting also reduces the amount of available antioxidants coming into the system, while up-regulating the amount used on a daily basis, since successful detoxification depends heavily on plentiful antioxidant capacity. Many professional-grade nutritional detox products are available that provide precise, clean nutrient support for this purpose.
2) Low Fiber—Low fiber diets (such as fasts and juice diets) slow down bowel transit time and promote constipation. Without fiber, toxins that have been released into the bile in order to be excreted from the body actually get re-circulated into the bloodstream further down the gastrointestinal tract. Eating lots of fresh veggies and taking fiber supplements, hydrating, and having proper mineral support are essential to avoiding this problem.
3) Incomplete Phase 2 vs. Phase 1: While many systems are involved in detoxing, the liver is the body’s primary detoxification organ. Liver detoxification involves 2 distinct steps, each requiring different enzymes, amino acids, and nutrients in order to be completed. Many cleanse programs promote phase 1 detoxification, without properly supporting phase 2—this can cause big problems like extra free radical damage and increased toxicity. Some factors that limit Phase 2 activity are deficiencies of selenium, B vitamin deficiency, glutathione, zinc, and vitamin C, low protein diet, NSAIDS/aspirin, smoking, and yellow food dye.
4) Not supporting the Adrenals: most detox programs provide no support for the adrenals with botanicals, or nutritionally, leaving us stressed, tired, achy, and cranky during this energy intensive process.
5) Before-and after: Some people use lots of meds, coffee, and a high sugar diet, and try to start a cleansing program without giving themselves time to wean off these things, and instead, shift radically onto a different diet. The body doesn’t respond well to these abrupt types of swings and usually these people feel ill. Another common mistake is going right back on caffeine and alcohol the day after they finish their program. Not only is this a waste of time and money spent on the detox program, but is actually hurts the body more than if you hadn’t given it the rest.
6) Not exercising: One of the ways that we clear toxins is through the skin—during a cleanse, you must sweat!
7) Water! — It is crucial to stay hydrated, as water is the biggest component in bile, urine and sweat, the main ways that toxins get carried out from the body. Without enough water, the enzymes needed for cell detoxification have reduced activity. Make sure to filter your water, and, never drink it out of a plastic bottle, as the plastic byproducts such as BPA will just load the toxins back into your cleaner body.
Understanding what the components of a good cleanse are, what ingredients are in the supplements, why you are taking them, and what you are actually trying to achieve biochemically in the body, are important things to understand and clarify when undertaking a program of detox for health, increased energy, or weight-loss. Guidance and supervision by a medical professional educated in nutritional detoxification can give you the support you need to get the best results and feel great while doing it!
Thanks so much for this posting. I did a cleanse in 2007 at a time when I was actually deficient rather than over-indulged and, in the end, I know it caused a lot more damage to my body than help. It took awhile to recover from it and made me realize that cleansing is serious business and should not be undertaken lightly!
Wow, I knew one had to be careful with cleansing and fasting, but I’ve never had this explained in so much detail before! Thanks. I like that you mention the fact that the body can be cleansing without fasting. I feel good about including more raw veggies, seaweeds and Beet Kvass in my diet for cleansing and nourishing at the same time!