Holistic Nutrition Bytes » detoxification

Detox: Do or Don’t?

admin — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 04:33:40 +0000

Detox is a trendy topic right now. There are endless products, methods, advice, kits, fasts, even foot pads! It’s hard to know where to turn. Even celebrities are promoting detox & products. How do you know what to choose? Do you even need a detox?

Critics of detox say that we are already equipped with our own detoxification system: the liver, skin, and kidneys, and that cleansing is unnecessary. It is true that the liver, our second largest organ (after the skin) filters & detoxifies everything we eat, breathe, drink, and apply to the skin. But we are exposed to an unprecedented number of toxins from our environment, food supply (think chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, antibiotics, and hormones), personal products, household cleaning products, clothing, and detergent, to name a few. The liver can become easily overwhelmed and toxins can get backed up in the system, especially if we have a poor diet and habits such as drinking sodas, alcohol, taking pain killers, allergy meds, or recreational drugs. These substances are very hard on the liver. Its pathways become blocked as it is not able to handle the load, and symptoms result: bloating, fatigue, constipation, hormonal issues (the liver is in charge of metabolizing hormones), high cholesterol (the liver plays a critical role in cholesterol production), irritability, depression, poor sleep. These are symptoms–our body’s signals that something is off balance. Taking a break from junk food, booze, poor habits, and stress, and cleaning up the diet and lifestyle is just the ticket to improving health. And at the basic level, that is what a detox does.

Cleansing or detoxing is a time honored tradition that has been practiced in varying forms for tens of thousands of years. There are varying degrees of detoxing, from water fasting to juice fasting and using particular foods and herbs. Just go to any health food store and take a look at all the books and kits offering promises of renewed vigor by following their plan. Often, you can find kits with herbs and a diet plan to follow. How do you know what’s right for you?

First off, you should never undertake a cleanse without consulting with a practitioner first. Nutritionists or naturopaths will do an intake and discuss your health history to determine what cleanse is right for your particular physiology. You can do serious damage on some of the more popular cleanses, like the Master Cleanse. It involves drinking lemon water with cayenne, maple syrup, and sea or epsom salt. The problem with liquid fasting using this drink or even just water is that you have not properly prepared your body for a cleanse, and toxins can be released too quickly, causing you to feel like crap, or actually upsetting your electrolyte balance, which can have serious consequences. Or if you are hypoglycemic, you will crash on this foodless cleanse. Many people have success doing juice or water fasts, but I just cannot recommend this. Just google “liver cleanse” and you get some nasty/graphic images of stones expelled from the liver or junk that comes from the depth of your intestines. I really can’t vouch for any truth in those photos OR safety in the methods they promote. It is far too risky, and interestingly enough, the liver needs protein to detox. From protein comes amino acids that your liver uses to synthesize powerful antioxidants that help it cleanse.

There are many kits available that you can buy at the store. Some involve smoothies, drinks, or herbs. Again, caution: some of these kits contain very powerful herbs like senna or cascara sagrada or even epsom salt, and that will send you running to the bathroom. Plus, you don’t know the quality of the herbs. If you are buying a kit from the store, you can be fairly certain that the quality of the herbal preparations is not great.

The basis of every good detox is diet. You want to clean up the diet, prepare the body, and address lifestyle. That is the key to a holistic cleanse: covering all the bases! I recommend removing gluten, dairy, soy, sugar, alcohol, coffee and focusing on organic, seasonal whole foods: vegetables, fruits, seeds, nut, and organic proteins. Aim for a minimum of two weeks, three to four is ideal. On top of your detox diet, consider adding some liver supportive herbs like milk thistle, oregon grape root, dandelion, red clover, and burdock. This will support the liver and clean the pathways.

This is the method I use with my clients, depending on their health goals. A week of pre-cleansing to prepare the body for a comfortable detox, detox diet, herbs (not available over the counter, only through healthcare practitioners so you can be sure of good quality!), and for those who want extra cleansing or have a goal of weight loss, I add a functional detox support preparation of herbs & nutrients that can be added to smoothies. The three week period involves slowing down, removing toxic products from your life, resting more, and following the diet and herb recs.

There are a number of plans that include eating certain foods like mostly greens and gluten-free grains, and some of these are fine, but here again, it depends on your health status and goals, which is why it’s important to consult with a professional. All in all, if it sounds faddish (i.e. if you see a celeb promoting it on an infomercial after midnight), involves harsh herbs or stimulants, involves fasting or drinking “tonics” or smoothies that have chemical preservatives or come in a plastic bottle, or if it comes in a kit you buy off a shelf, AVOID. Cleansing is a great way to improve your health and feel better, but always best to do a cleanse with quality products guided by a professional. Contact me for more information about our group or private cleanses.

Spring Has Sprung! So Has Allergy Season.

admin — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 03:44:07 +0000

Happy Spring, y’all! The days are longer, there’s more sunshine, things are blooming, and the farmers’ markets are beginning to bustle. Let’s discuss all things spring.

First off, the term spring cleaning has some merit to it. Springtime is liver cleansing season! According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the liver meridians correspond to the wood element which is associated with spring, the season of renewal and rebirth. Not only is it a time to start new projects, get organized, clean house, and get rid of things you no longer need, it is a time for some body cleansing too. Remove toxins that have accumulated and start off the season with a clean slate. If you’re feeling sluggish, fatigued, or you’ve put on a few pounds over the winter months, a liver cleanse is the perfect way to lose weight and feel lighter and more energized. When the liver gets congested, all our body systems suffer. The liver metabolizes hormones, processes and synthesizes cholesterol, and breaks down histamines that increase during allergy season. Your liver does all this in addition to detoxifying and processing every single thing you eat, drink, swallow, absorb, and breathe. A congested liver cannot efficiently handle all these tasks, so if you are experiencing PMS, weight gain, headaches, fatigue, allergy symptoms, or insomnia, consider a two or three week liver cleanse. Click my workshops link above for more info.

bless you.

Let’s talk allergies. Before you pump yourself full of anti-histamines and countless other meds that have undesirable side effects this spring, consider this. You might be allergic to mold, pollen, dust, dander, whatever, but the reason you’re miserable is due to the level of histamines your body releases when you come in contact with said allergen. When you come in contact with the allergen, there is an inflammatory response, and histamines are released causing increased mucus production to help coat and get rid of the allergen. That’s why you have a runny nose, are stuffy, watery eyes, etc etc.

The body has what’s called a total load threshold, and when it is exceeded, your symptoms get worse. Your liver and other detox organs can only handle so much. So if you have an overworked liver from a poor diet, too much alcohol, popping advil a few times a week, breathing in toxins from urban living, pollution, cleaning products, whatever, you are more likely to have allergies and other (unpleasant) symptoms. Taking allergy meds adds to your total load because your liver has to process the extra meds, and they are hard on the liver. Funny how that works. Here are some suggestions:
-do a cleanse to decongest the liver, for starters.
-cut the junk: sugar, coffee, booze. Replace with whole foods anti-inflammatory diet. Gluten & dairy free works best, really. Gluten (the protein in wheat) causes inflammation, and dairy promotes dampness in the body, making stuffiness, runny nose, etc worse. Focus on leafy greens and organic proteins.
-take extra vitamin C. It helps with the histamine load.
-drink lots of nettles tea. Very high in minerals and a known allergy reliever.
-quercetin can help. Take it in a supplement for a therapeutic dose; find in onions & apples especially.
-take extra B vitamins.
-uncover your food allergies & avoid those foods to reduce inflammation and lighten your total load.
-try a neti pot to cleanse the nasal passages.
-use a green superfood supplement with chlorella & spirulina and other mineral-rich supergreens.
-correct adrenal fatigue. We specialize in this in our practice!
-increase essential fatty acids, mainly omega 3s, from cold water fish, flax oil, walnuts, leafy greens.
-turmeric is a known blood cleanser. Add to curry dishes, drink a teaspoon in warmed almond milk, or take a supplement.

So get out there in the sunshine and go to the farmers’ market! Get some asparagus, beets (good for the liver!), and greens, and have a springtime anti-allergy party! The sun will boost vitamin D, which helps your immune system deal with your allergies.

Everyday Cleansing

admin — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 17:58:11 +0000

My biz partner and I are teaching holistic detoxification workshops all over the Bay Area (mostly in San Francisco) right now, and we are proud as punch of all the participants who are getting great results! Liver cleansing has become very trendy for folks wanting to look and feel younger, thinner, or just to improve health and vitality.

Your liver is your hardest working organ and when it is overworked, symptoms can result: everything from headaches to joint pain to constipation, weight gain, and fatigue. A clogged liver is not able to detoxify as it should, and toxins build up in your body, leading to imbalance and eventually, chronic illness. But if you’re not ready for a cleanse, or if you’ve just finished, here are some every day tips to maintain the benefits of your cleanse, or just to improve liver health.

1. Upon arising in the morning, drink a cup of warm to hot water with the juice of a freshly squeezed lemon and a pinch of cayenne. This is an incredibly alkalinizing drink that thins the bile to “gets things moving,” primes the digestive juices, and is very cleansing for the liver. Many folks reach for coffee in the mornings so they can have a morning poop. Put down your coffee and try the lemon drink– it really works! Then have a cup of green tea. MUCH better for your health. Coffee ages you. Really, it does. Green tea makes you look younger.

very cleansing.

2. Make sure you’re drinking water, at least 64 oz daily. Add cucumber slices or lemon to make tasty water. Water is the elixir of life and flushes toxins from your system. Subtle dehydration slows your metabolism and causes fatigue. Drink tea. Try green tea, kombucha, herbal teas with dandelion root, or a detox tea blend.

3. Get enough fiber, at least 25 grams (30 is ideal) daily. Average American only gets 7 grams! No wonder we’re a toxic, overweight nation. Fiber keeps blood sugar balanced, makes for regular poops, keeps your weight in check, and binds to toxins, whisking them out of the gut (nature’s colonic). Refined, skeletonized foods (think hamburgers, pizza, packaged foods) lack fiber. What does 30 grams of fiber look like? A vegetable or fruit smoothie with ground flax (10grams); a green salad with black beans, chicken, and chopped veggies (15); sauteed kale, baked yam with coconut butter, roasted salmon, cultured kraut for probiotics (10 grams). Dessert: date and coconut roll (4 grams). Snack on apples and almonds (5 grams).

4. Use a green superfood blend that includes chlorella, spirulina, and concentrated greens like grasses, kale, spinach, etc. I like Vitamineral Green, but there are so many on the market out there. Take a tablespoon a day. Add to smoothies. These blends offer trace minerals, cleanse the liver, and give you a boost!

5. Incorporate these liver-friendly foods into your diet: broccoli, cauliflower, artichoke, beets & beet greens, kale/collards/spinach/dandelion greens, onions & garlic, eggs, carrots, olive oil, ginger, apples, to name a few.

6. Detox your life: get rid of chemical-laden body care products, cosmetics, and cleaning products. Eat organic. Your liver must detoxify everything you eat, breathe, and apply to your skin. Treat it with care!

Want Nutrition Consultation?

admin — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:54:23 +0000

Have you been wanting to consult with a nutritionist, but you haven’t found the time, or you’re wondering what is involved?

Are any of these troubling you?

*fatigue
*overweight
*mood swings/depression
*PMS
*headaches
*joint pain
*foggy thinking
*insomnia
*acne or skin irritations

I can help you reduce or even remove these issues from your life–for good!

Or have you been trying to lose weight, embark on a cleanse, or get healthier but just don’t know how to take the first step? Or are you wondering what you should be eating? Would you like to fine tune your diet and receive personalized attention dedicated to improving your health & lifestyle?

Look no further. I have a very exciting free opportunity for you! I have joined forces with certified nutritionist and therapeutic chef Karen Diggs (www.benourishedsf.info). We focus on women’s health, weight loss, and detoxification in our practice. To celebrate our new partnership, I am offering you a 30 MINUTE FREE NUTRITION CONSULT by phone. That’s right, absolutely free.

This offer is valid for the next six weeks. Please contact me (click link) to sign up. All that is required of you is to fill out an introductory questionnaire about your health concerns. Tell your friends and colleagues about this fabulous opportunity. Sign up for your 30 minute free nutrition consult today!

Life-Changing Opportunity

admin — Sun, 26 Apr 2009 22:09:46 +0000

Do you want to feel better? Are you fatigued, stressed, overweight? Struggling with allergies, PMS, or digestive troubles? Read a lot about liver cleansing/full body detox on this blog and curious about how to get started on your own?

This opportunity is for you! My colleague Karen (www.benourishedsf.info) and I are now running group detox workshops! Below is the announcement. If you are not in the San Francisco Bay Area, you have the option to run the cleanse from wherever you are, because we will be offering a conference call or webinar option for those who cannot make the classes.

Cleanses can be life-changing and can open you up to good health in amazing ways. The cleanse lasts for 21 days. Cost $125. Call 415-786-7938 for info, or visit www.benourishedsf.info (click detox workshop) for easy online sign-up.

clarity can be yours

PROGRAM DETAILS
Dates: Wednesday evenings,
May 13, May 20 & June 3, 2009
Time: 7-9pm
Location:
Nandi Yoga, 309 8th Avenue
San Mateo, CA
94401
www.nandiyoga.com
Registration:
$125 by May 1
$145 after May 1
Space is limited, so register now!

THE PROGRAM INCLUDES

• Before & After Total Body composition assessment ($50 value)

• Three group meetings led by Certified Nutritionists Mary Vance and Karen Diggs

• Carefully planned menus with delicious recipes

• Invaluable handouts, tips, information, and support

• How to transition from your cleanse onto your new healthy eating plan

• E-mail check-ins with your nutritionists

• Healthy snack demonstrations

IN JUST 21 DAYS

• Jump-start yourself to successful weight loss!

• Dramatically improve your energy and vitality

• Reduce food cravings

• Raise your productivity

• Reduce allergy symptoms and skin conditions

Please note that optional but recommended herbal and nutritional supplements and meal replacement shakes that promote detoxification are not included in registration cost.

WHY DETOX?

We are all living in a toxic world. When toxins from our food and environment accumulate in our body, we may feel tired, sick, and overweight.

Internal toxicity increases the risk of degenerative diseases, accelerates the aging process, and increases depression, allergies, and skin reactions.

This detailed and highly effective 21-day detox program is designed to gently and thoroughly flush the excess toxins from your system.

BENEFITS OF DETOX:
• Increased energy & vitality
• Weight loss
• Improve digestion
• Clear skin
• Reduce joint pain
• Ease PMS & menopause symptoms
• Prepare for healthy pregnancy & baby

Liver Cleanse, Day 1 (recipe included)

admin — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 19:30:56 +0000

After 7 days of pre-cleansing, it’s time to embark on day 1 of the three week liver cleanse. See my previous post detailing the pre-cleanse.

Cleanses always hold the hope of possibility: it’s a time to clear your mind and body, quite literally. It’s a time to rid yourself of excess baggage, both physically and mentally. Physically, we shed pounds and abandon digestive problems and joint pain while welcoming clear skin and shiny hair. Emotionally, detoxification helps us uncover and express hidden frustrations, anger, resentments and fear and replace them with forgiveness, love, joy and hope. Because the liver is the seat of emotion (according to Chinese Medicine), repressed feelings can surface, and it is a time to recognize them and let them go.

This particular cleanse involves taking herbs that support liver and gall-bladder function and encourage removal of stored toxins. Antioxidants help counter-act any damage caused by excess toxins as they are released. I’ll make a cleansing smoothie twice daily and eat one regular meal. The smoothie is a functional food powder that contains rice protein (hypoallergenic, no dairy, soy, or whey), herbs, vitamins and minerals that assist in the cleansing process. I mix a green food powder (contains kale, beets, spirulina, and other superfood greens) in the smoothies along with flaxseed and psyllium to assist in colon cleansing. Psyllium binds with toxins and whisks them out of the body via regular bowel movements.

I start the days with hot water and the juice of a lemon with a dash of cayenne. Boy does that get things moving! This is an alkalinizing drink that is very liver-cleansing. I like the continue this ritual even after the cleanse is finished. After that, I do 10 minutes of meditation and deep breathing, then the morning smoothie. Off to work, or for an energizing walk.

I’m avoiding gluten and dairy (not much different from my normal diet), soy, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. So for lunch, I’ll have a big green salad with fish or chicken, and maybe some grated raw beets and carrots with flaxseed oil and lemon and garlic dressing. I drink herbal teas and plenty of water throughout the day to help flush toxins. I’ll add cucumber or meyer lemons to the water to make it more “spa-like” and tasty!

I want to make sure and do regular yoga, including twists to help “wring” out my kidneys and liver, and long walks with the dog. I do skin brushing before hot epsom salt baths. The skin brushing stimulates the lymph and aids in removal of toxins. It’s nice to sweat if you have access to a sauna, as this is one way we detox. I also want to get plenty of sleep and take it a bit easy.

I also have a big pot of mineral broth on the stove; I’ll sip on it during the days and in the evenings (recipe below). This is a wonderful, alkalinizing broth that is very rich in potassium and other minerals. It nourishes the adrenals and is a wonderful complement to a cleanse, or can be used as the base for soups at any time. 2 weeks and six days left! Check back for updates.

MINERAL BROTH
1 c winter squash (butternut or yams or whatever is in season)
2 medium potatoes, any variety
1 c zucchini
1 c cabbage
2 c celery
3 carrots
1 c collards or chard
1 c kale
1 c onion
¼ c parsley
½ c beets
3 cloves garlic
½ c flaxseeds
6 slices ginger, size of a thumbprint
Handful of sea veggies (hijiki, wakame, kelp)
Use any other optional veggies you have on hand, such as broccoli or green beans

Scrub veggies and cut into chunks. Place in dutch oven and fill with filtered water to level of veggies. Bring to boil, simmer 4 hours or more. Add curry for zest if desired. Strain and keep the broth. Drink at least 1 cup per day. You may puree the vegetables and broth together in a blender and take as a heartier soup if desired.