This month's question: What is a detox, what is a cleanse and how are they different?
To do a detox or cleanse is the “it” thing to do in the health world. There is the juice cleanse, a 3-day cleanse, a 10-day detox, a 21-day cleanse and the list goes on and on. No matter what your time-frame, you will be able to find a cleanse or detox that seems to fit your needs.
But what are they and what is the difference?
Cleanses and detoxes have the same purpose – they kick-start health and help heal your body, but they go about it with different objectives. A cleanse involves cleaning the inside of your digestive tract by removing triggers that slow you down. These triggers can be anything from certain food groups (gluten, wheat, dairy, corn, soy, nuts, etc.) to stresses, habits and relationships that are toxic to your health.
A detox removes toxins from your muscles and tissues by using a cleanse-like diet along with herbal support. A detox helps to remove metals, pollution, toxins from smoking and drinking, pesticides and other toxins from the tissues in your body.
But, what do they do to your body, are they good for you and are the results sustainable?
Cleanses and detoxes are good for you if done correctly and under supervision. It is advised to do a detox two to four times per year since many environmental toxins cannot be avoided, like pollution. You can work to avoid pesticides and chemicals, don’t smoke and don't drink too much, but many of the toxins that build up in our body come from the environment. It’s good to clean those out every once in a while.
A cleanse is wonderful for your body and the results are sustainable if you continue with a clean-eating program. I prefer not to cleanse; instead, I eat clean. I know how gluten and dairy affect my body so I choose not to eat them. I also refrain from added sugar and processed products. I drink plenty of water and try to get a good amount of sleep and exercise. When you put these things together as your regular every-day lifestyle, you don’t need to worry about cleansing and you get amazing sustainable results!
Your body is at amazing machine. No matter what you put in it, the nutrients get digested and turned into fuel. No matter how much sleep you give it, you can power through the day. No matter how sick you get, your immune system works day and night to get you healthy again.
The trouble is, when our body is full of toxins and sludge, all of those biological mechanisms have trouble working at their full potential. Participating in a cleanse or detox helps to clear that sludge by doing a quick reboot. By spending 3, 10 or 21 days giving your body a specific and easy to digest diet, you have the chance to get rid of the toxins and start anew.
Beware that detoxes and cleanses can often be very dramatic on the body causing constipation, flu-like symptoms, headaches and other side effects as your body releases toxins into your blood stream.
My advice? Start slow with a clean diet by working yourself off of caffeine and sugars first. Seek guidance from a professional, whether a health coach, nutritionist or functional medicine doctor to make sure you are healing and not hurting your body. If you would like to do some reading on the topic, I highly recommend Dr. Mark Hyman's 10-Day Detox Diet as a starting point. Do not make any drastic dietary changes without first consulting your doctor.
As always, every person is different, so what works for one person, may not work for another. Treat your body right with what feels good for you!
Jenny Steadman is an Integrative Nutrition Health Coach at www.fuelyourhunger.com.
