Should you do a detox or cleanse diet?
Spring has arrived!
It is a great time to hit the reset button and discard anything that is not supporting our goals and wellbeing.
I am all for decluttering. Research suggests that creating a clean environment can do wonders for your health, reducing stress and even increasing productivity.
Another common practice with the change of seasons is for people to enroll in detoxes or cleanses, commonly done over a weekend, with the objective of getting rid of toxins that may have accumulated in the body through environmental exposure, diet, stress, drugs, medications, cosmetics, etc.
Our body though, has organs that are in charge of this very process.
The major organs of detoxification are the liver, digestive tract, kidneys, skin, lungs, lymphatic system, and respiratory system. And when these organs are healthy the body does a pretty good job at eliminating those toxins through feces, urine, sweat, breathing, etc.
So, should we be trying to help this process?
There are different schools of thoughts and they all have valid points.
One thing we can all agree on is that by doing a 3, 4, 7-day cleanse that puts the body in starvation mode and then to go back to our old ways is not the most effective path to getting healthier. I also cringe at the thought that many people fall for the false promise that by doing these programs they will lose weight.
There are a few things that we can do to reduce our toxic load and support our body’s natural detoxification process. Here are my top 5:
Avoid processed foods and focus on whole foods instead. Get your high fibre, colourful vegetables & fruits, whole grains as well as lean proteins and healthy fats. (avocados, salmon, nuts and seeds, olive oil) These will keep you regular. 1-2 BMs a day should be the goal.
Avoid or reduce your alcohol intake: Excessive drinking (which according to the revised standards set in early 2023 by the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) is more than 2 drinks per week), takes a toll on your liver and increases the risk for many health issues, such as liver disease, heart failure, stomach ulcers, brain damage, stroke, even cancer.
Avoid or reduce chemical exposure. We use way too many personal care, house cleaners and beauty products which may be increasing our toxic load. Check ewg.org to see what is in your favorite products.
Aim for 7-9 hrs of good sleep. Getting enough sleep allows your brain to reorganize, recharge, and eliminate toxins.
Get moving! Our skin is a major elimination organ. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate intensity activity per day and sweat it out!
There is no quick fix for improving one’s health. The most effective way is by improving our food choices, moving intentionally every day, getting enough quality sleep and finding ways to manage stress, not for a week but incorporating these into your lifestyle.