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Let’s talk about detoxing; detoxing is crucial to maintaining a healthy body, by ridding the body of toxins you allow it to heal and thrive. I think it is very important to live a “detoxed life;” where you supply your body with lifestyle tools to support its natural detox ability daily.
I’m also a big fan of targeted detoxes and “resetting” the gut once or twice a year (keeping in mind that this is only part of the journey to better health). An annual cleanse can be a great way to support your gut, which hugely impacts your overall well-being. Today I am going to share with you a nutrition focused “detox” that is both practical and will support you moving into that detoxed life.
This year, let’s turn that popular annual cleanse into a long-term health solution.
*Before doing any kind of detox it’s critical to make sure your drainage pathways are open (elimination routes and organs), including sweat, urination/defecation, lymphatic system, liver, kidneys, and bile ducts. We don’t want to be circulating toxins in the body.*
My favorite detoxes for gut health
1. The Microbiome Diet
One of my favorite ways to cleanse my gastrointestinal system, and improve my overall health is by following the three phases of the Microbiome Diet. The Microbiome Diet is a book written by Raphael Kellman, MD full of enlightenment on the gut and a protocol to restore and heal it, therefore reversing many health problems. As an annual cleanse, I like to follow the first phase for a week, the second for two weeks, and the third stage is where I live (as best I can). I also don’t do all of the recommended supplements. However, unless you are someone who has a fine-tuned diet and no GI problems, I would recommend following the book’s guidance on phase duration and support. Though this diet can be challenging, it is a great way to jump start healthy eating habits and a new mindset on food. If you want to lose weight, this can be a lasting solution, while also giving you back more energy, better sleep, an improved GI environment, and boosting your mood!
Here is a summary of the Microbiome Diet phases when it comes to the food:
Phase 1 – “The Four Rs”
This is the most intense stage, where you remove processed/packaged foods, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated fats, dried or canned fruits, juices, gluten, grains (all – including rice, quinoa and oats), corn and cornstarch, all sugars and sweeteners (natural or artificial, except monk fruit), all dairy (except butter and clarified ghee), eggs, soy, processed meats and deli meat, pork, peanuts/peanut butter, canola or cottonseed oil, potatoes (including sweet and yams), legumes (except chickpeas and lentils), and iceberg lettuce. What this looks like is an organic diet consisting of vegetables, some meats, some fresh fruits, some legumes, nuts and seeds, and healthy oils.
Phase 2 – “The Metabolic Boost”
At this point you maintain your Phase 1 diet, with some additions, including some dairy (goat or sheep milk products, kefir), eggs, new fruits, some gluten free grains (such as buckwheat, amaranth, oats, quinoa, and brown rice), beans, and sweet potatoes/yams.
Phase 3 – “The Lifetime Tune-Up”
This is the stage we live in – for Phase 3 you maintain Phase 2’s diet but with less restriction on consistency, eating in compliance with the diet 70% of the time. There are, however, some foods to very rarely or never eat, these are: processed/packaged foods, high fructose corn syrup, trans fats, hydrogenated fats, canned fruits (unless home-made), juices, soy, and canola or cottonseed oil. Dr. Kellman also highly recommends avoiding all gluten (max 2 times a week) since it is so destructive to the gut.
The Microbiome Diet book is full of wonderful insights on the gut from mindset and emotion to science, diet, and toxins. It includes an easy to follow meal plan with recipes for each phase. I love how the protocol is practical and realistic, with some leeway to deviate from the diet.
2. A Parasite Cleanse
Another detox for the gut that I have found very helpful is a parasite cleanse; for more information on parasites and what a cleanse looks like, I encourage you to read my post here.
Helpful detox tools
There are so many wonderful ways in which we can support the body’s natural detox processes; below are some of my favorites, including herbs and superfoods.
1. Turmeric – great for the gut, liver, kidneys, and bile support.
2. Milk thistle – a well-known superpower for the liver.
3. Marshmallow – an anti-inflammatory demulcent, fabulous for healing the gut wall.
4. Burdock root – helpful for the liver, kidneys, lymph, and cleansing the blood.
5. Nettle – fabulous for detoxing the skin, lymph, and whole body.
6. Green juice – full of superfoods and adaptogens (like ashwagandha, chlorella, spirulina and moringa) to help your body rid itself of toxins and deal with stress. This green juice is tasty and very easy to fit into a busy schedule.
7. TUDCA; a powerful drainage and digestive support that aids in bile production and helps the liver and kidneys detox. TUDCA Complete contains anti-oxidant herbs and supports mitochondrial function.
Fine-tuning your diet is a great jumping off point into a healthier life – however, if you are overly restrictive and stressed, you can create an unhealthy mental state which will counter the healing you are trying to achieve. When it comes to food, it is important to choose healthy options, but to also be realistic and allow yourself grace. These little daily choices we make are what create a lifestyle – I encourage you to embrace a detoxed one!
Honey Today:
Your body is awe-inspiring; it was created with incredible healing abilities, support its drainage pathways and detox ability and watch it heal!