A Natural Detox Protocol

Ever since I finished The Cleanse, I've had people come up to me and ask for advice.  They say that they want to do a cleanse but don't want to purchase all the expensive supplements.  I tell them, "No problem! You can encourage healthy elimination and  increase detoxification with food!"

Reduce toxic load
The first step of cleansing is to reduce your exposure to toxins in your diet. These include processed foods, artificial sweeteners, preservatives, additives, dyes, caffeine, and alcohol.  Conventionally grown produce contains higher levels or pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, and larvicides, so it is best to choose organic fruits and vegetables while cleansing.  If this isn't possible for your financially, I strongly suggest you at least purchase organic those foods listed on the Environmental Working Group's dirty dozen list.

If you think your symptoms might be linked to food allergies, it can also be helpful to eliminate the common allergenic foods wheat (gluten), dairy, eggs, and peanuts.  If you have joint pain, I also recommend avoiding nightshade plants (tomatoes, potatoes, peppers).

Increase detoxification
The body has several organs of detoxification, including the liver, kidneys, digestive tract, lungs, and skin.  The following foods and activities help these detoxification organs do their job better.

• Water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily.  In addition to helping your kidneys to produce more urine, which helps eliminate water-soluble toxins from the body, sufficient water also prevents constipation.

• Brassica vegetables.  Vegetables in the mustard family (Brassica oleracae) are very high in glucosinolates.  Glucosinolates are broken down, or metabolized, into isothiocyanates and indoles.  Indoles and isothiocyanates increase phase I and phase II liver enzymes, respectively, which help convert oil-based chemicals (which is most chemicals) into water-soluble compounds so they can be eliminated.

• Colorful, flavorful plants. The body creates some free radicals as a side effect of essential oxidation processes (like digestion).  While the body naturally produces some antioxidants to stop, or quench, the free radicals, you can help your body fight against additional, external free radicals (i.e. environmental toxins) by eating a diet rich in antioxidants.  Choose foods that are high on the ORAC scale (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity), such as acai, wild blueberries, raw cranberries, English walnuts, plums, blackberries, raw garlic, raspberries, and herbs such as basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, ginger, cinnamon, and tumeric.

• Fiber. Dietary fiber from whole grains, fruits and raw vegetables encourages a soft stool and aids in elimination.  Once toxins are mobilized from fat stores, it is very important to get them out of the body!  Don't allow them to sit in your colon for 3 days.  Certain pre-biotic fibers, like inulin and FOS, feed healthy gut bacteria, which improves intestinal flora and elimination in general.

• Lean protein. The organs of detoxification need amino acids to make new enzymes and other protein-based tissues.  Choose cold-water fish, free-range chicken, beans or tofu.

• Sweat it all out!  Whether you are exercising vigorously or siting in a 180 degree sauna for 10-15 minutes, sweating is a great way to open up the pores in your skin and rid the body of toxins.

• Relax. The organs of detoxification work best when the body is well rested and relaxed.  Too much stress weakens all the body systems.  During your time of detoxification, treat yourself to a full body massage.  Maybe take a relaxing bath, adding a few drops of relaxing essential oils like lavender, chamomile, or sandalwood to the bathwater.  It is normal to feel a little tired while detoxing.  So be sure to allow yourself least 8 hours of sleep each night.