Detoxing has had a bit of a bad rap in the Press in recent times and I agree with some of the points they make. But, as per usual, things get taken out of context and sensationalised to get noticed and provoke a reaction. If you do a Google search on the subject, it immediately returns the headline, ‘there’s no such thing as detoxing. In medical terms, it’s a nonsense.’
Part of the problem is that the word detox seems to have accrued various meanings over the years. In the conventional medical community, ‘detox’ refers to the medical treatment of people with life-threatening conditions. Yet in the world of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), it may be used to refer to something as simple as giving your liver a bit of a break, something as extreme as a lengthy juice fast and everything in between. Various celebrity endorsed ‘detox diets’ actually just target weight loss (which is only one of a host of benefits from a properly structured detox) but also (unfortunately) encourages the quick-fix, unhealthy, crash-diet culture we are surrounded by. Which is why I created the Fresh Start programme, a balanced easy-to-follow 14-day elimination diet, and detox programme.
The simple take on detox:
In the same way that multivitamins and minerals are heavily criticised as expensive urine, detox (in the CAM sense) is considered by some to be completely unnecessary.
Whilst a healthy balanced diet should, in theory, be able to provide all the nutrients you need, one of the main arguments for taking a multi is that most people eat a very poorly balanced Western diet. A daily multi may, therefore, help to fill the gap.
Detox is also considered by some to be surplus to requirements, in part because our bodies are already well equipped to deal with toxins. Unfortunately, we are now exposed to an unprecedented level of toxins every single day, and it is likely that these processes are overloaded.
Even just in the last 50 years or so, modern industry has unleashed an array of new chemicals into our environment; dry cleaning fluids, fire retardant chemicals (mattresses, sofas), pesticides, perfume, toiletries, synthetic building materials, makeup, paints, Teflon (non-stick coating), food additives, persistent organic pollutants (POPs), xenoestrogens (plastic packaging), the herbicide glyphosphate, bisphenol A (the synthetic plasticiser found in the lining of tins), mercury in fish, household cleaning products and much more.
Dr Joseph Pizzorno, a leading naturopathic doctor and expert on the subject of detoxification, has spoken widely about the need to support this crucial process in our increasingly toxic environment. He believes that toxicity has become the new normal and that toxicity is now playing a part in most chronic diseases.
It’s interesting to note, when considering the potential impact of toxins on your health, that many classic symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) mirror the hallmark symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome, a condition believed to be the result of massive exposure to organophosphate pesticides, coupled with the effects of nerve gas protection tablets. There is no single known cause of CFS, however, it is suggested that toxic overload may play a part. According to the latest figures from the World Health Organisation (WHO), the deaths or sickness of at least one in four Europeans can now be traced back to air pollution.
What detox is…
Detox is a simple two-step process that involves first giving your liver a break from anything that may be taxing to process (e.g. alcohol, non-organic fruit and veg, caffeine) whilst also supplying it with all the nutrients it needs to work at its best.
• Detox step 1. Give your liver a break
• Detox step 2. Nourish it with the nutrients it needs to work at it’s best.
In simple terms ‘doing a detox’ is a bit like taking your car in for a service. You don’t get a new engine or a re-spray but you might just get something that runs a bit better afterwards. Commonly reported benefits include clearer head, more energy, glowing skin, fewer aches and pains, more alert, better sleep, less bloated and more.
What detox isn’t…
• Detox isn’t a magic cure-all that will solve all your health problems in one fell swoop.
• Detox isn’t a weight loss programme although you may lose weight in the process.
There’s no question that we are now exposed to an unprecedented level of toxins on a daily basis. And whilst detox isn’t a magic bullet, it certainly may help your body to cope better with this daily onslaught. If you can limit your exposure to toxins, and at the same time support your liver’s capacity to deal with those that you can’t avoid, it’s likely that your health will benefit in some way.
These are the kind of things my clients learn when working with me, how to transform their bodies and their lives – to be healthier, happier. Contact me today “here” to learn more about how I can help you look fabulous, feel fantastic and love the body you are in!
Reference:
Nutri Advanced “Why Detox isn’t The Devil“
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