The first time doing anything can be a little scary... bungee jumping, labour. A detox is no different.
The first time I did a detox was about 7 years ago. I had to eat strange foods that I had never heard of before, and I couldn't eat most things that I would normally eat. It was tough- but worth it.
The detox was pretty much an elimination diet that was geared towards my blood type. I got the details for the plan from an iridologist I met. I decided to take this on after I had my first son (and was done nursing- you SHOULD NOT do a detox, cleanse or elimination diet when you are nursing) and had some excess baby weight I wanted to lose.
On this plan, I had to eliminate foods that are typically hard on your body including processed foods, wheat, dairy, eggs, red meat, alcohol, juice (unless freshly squeezed), preservatives, additives or colourants, and sugar. I bought kamut bread, apple butter, almond butter, rice cheese, brown rice and other foods I had never tried before. I had to read the labels of everything to see if it contained any of the forbidden ingredients. I even ventured into an area of our grocery store that I had never explored before- the organic section.
Each morning I started the day with a glass of warm water and with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Every other day I had a couple of big bowls of cooked pears and apples for dinner to help eliminate the toxins (they acted like sponges to grab the “crap” and carry it out). At that time I worked at a convention centre and they provided lunch. While everyone else enjoyed a nice hot meal, I was eating kamut bread with rice cheese because I didn't know what else to bring for lunch. Some of them made fun of me, others were curious as to why I was depriving myself of these things that we eat everyday.
As part of the detox I got headaches (which I rarely get), and felt nauseous. You see, my body was finally getting a break from the processed foods and irritating foods that I was eating on a daily basis. It was getting a chance to eliminate some of the toxins that had built up over the years. I lost 10 lbs by the end of the two weeks, partially from detoxing and partially because I felt like there wasn't much I could eat (which really isn’t true).
That experience taught me a lot. I learned the habit of reading product labels and I started to think about what I was putting in my body. Now I do a detox twice a year, still a form of an elimination diet and with the consultation of my naturopath. It isn't difficult any more, because I eat much better now and there are fewer foods that I need to eliminate. My kids and husband have even tried an elimination diet.
Anyone who is considering a detox or cleanse should really get the support of a natural health care practitioner. It’s best to have someone there to let you know what to expect and to ensure that is the right time for you to try one (you shouldn’t do an elimination diet if you are pregnant, nursing or if you have a compromised immune system).
Here’s to your health! __________________________________________________________________________
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