I once went to a fancy juicing retreat in Martha’s Vineyard for a three-day detox...on my birthday...with my mom. Why I thought starving, detoxing, only drinking juice for my birthday and dragging my mom into it was a good idea, I’ll never know.
I somehow got through the 3 days of drinking minuscule amounts of juice and some pureed soup. I had no energy, a constant headache, and was nauseous. The only relief was when I slept. I lost 8 pounds. However, on the fourth day, I had a bowl of soup for lunch and some raw vegetables, and all the weight came back. So much for that.
Detoxing: What is It?
We’ve heard of juice fasts, master cleanses, detoxing supplements and juicing retreats. Why detox Detoxing helps the body remove excess toxins. Toxins can come from the environment, from chemicals in foods and beverages, smoking, alcohol and other unhealthy habits. Some people will go to extreme lengths to detox the body in a short period of time. Toxins are stored in the fat cells, so when a person detoxes, the fat cells can shrink. There could be many unpleasant side effects to detoxing such as headaches, nausea, muscle cramps, feeling irritable, fatigue, dizziness, and rashes.
My Experiences with Detoxes
I’ve tried several, and I must tell you that fad gimmicks don’t work in the long run. If a person goes into a "deto" with the intention of just cleansing their body (not to lose weight), they could be successful. If a person only intends to drop weight fast, they will be sorely disappointed that most, if not all, of the weight lost will come back the second they eat normal food.
How to Naturally Detox
Rather than going on a crazy detox, consider helping your body detox naturally by making smart food and beverage choices. Every single day, the body detoxes naturally through the liver, kidneys, intestines, lungs and skin. Eating organic and natural fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins and unprocessed foods helps the body be more efficient. Sweating through exercise helps the detox process as well.
Other ways to naturally detox are:
- Drink enough water – aim for at least 64 ounces a day (8 cups)
- Eliminate or reduce beverages like sodas (both regular and diet) and alcohol
- Reduce caffeine consumption – caffeine can cause dehydration, which can lead to water retention
- Add a wedge of lemon or lime to your water
- Have a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar a day (improves digestion and promotes alkalinity – get the apple cider vinegar with the "mother" in it)
- Eat enough fiber (28g/day for women and 35g/day for men)
- Add more dark, leafy greens to your diet such as kale, Swiss chard, and spinach
- Drink herbal teas, such as decaf green tea
- Watch the sodium – too much sodium can cause water retention and bloating
One of my favorite ways to naturally detox is to make a fresh juice drink each morning. This starts off the day right and you get a super boost of vitamins and minerals. Check out my favorite recipe below:
- 1 apple
- 1-2 carrots
- ½ cucumber
- Dark, leafy greens like kale, spinach or Swiss chard
- Parsley
- Wedge of lemon
Place the ingredients in a juicer and enjoy! Yum! Then, eat breakfast.
How do you know you've been successful at naturally detoxing? You'll have more energy, you'll sleep better, your stomach won’t be as bloated, and you'll crave healthier foods rather than junk food. As an added bonus, your skin will be clearer and brighter, your hair will be silkier, and you’ll just feel really good. When you start to follow a healthier lifestyle, you’ll find that when you do fall off the bandwagon and have some sweets, junk food or too much alcohol, you'll feel it. Listen to your body. It will tell you what it needs (and doesn't need!).
Justine SanFilippo graduated from the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Following college, she found her passion in health, wellness, and nutrition, enrolling in the Institute for Integrative Nutrition in 2005 and becoming a certified health coach. SanFilippo is a certified personal trainer through the American Council of Exercise and also holds a master's degree in human nutrition. See more from Justine at www.happyhealthypeople.com.
