Why detoxification is important to maintain the figure, my experience
You may be wondering why an article about detoxifying the body ? Well, the truth be told: the body needs it to stay healthy. Do you want to live feeling good and even keep your figure and weight in check? I asked myself those same questions, I made determination and I did it!
Unfortunately I learned it the hard way.
The positive side is that I was lucky enough to do my research and apply new tools to learn what worked and what DIDN'T. And I can share my experience so that everyone can benefit from it.
Just trust me. If you read to the end, you will have learned many things that you can put into practice right away .
What is detox?
Many people, Instagram accounts, and websites talk about "detoxing," but what does it really mean to detox? It is about practicing a protocol that rids your body of harmful organisms that can cause further damage.
It has plenty of benefits:
- Increases energy
- Helps lose weight
- Relieves constipation
- Eliminates headaches, muscle pain and fatigue
So that you better understand what this is all about, I will teach you some basic concepts.
Detoxification begins in the liver and, while it is a complicated process, it essentially happens in two phases.
First, the liver converts toxic substances into highly reactive molecules called metabolites and then excretes them. The kidneys, lungs and intestine also play an important role in detoxification.
Toxins can affect organs both acutely and cumulatively. The most dangerous are the low-grade persistent ones , like the residue you regularly consume on conventionally grown fruits and vegetables.
You must be very attentive because the reactions are not immediate.
Every day we are exposed to an increasing number of chemicals in our diet, the air we breathe, and through items we use every day, including cosmetics and household cleaners.
And among their potentially adverse effects is that they can accumulate in our system and hinder your weight loss , which makes it difficult to maintain your figure. Although other factors contribute, researchers find that environmental toxins play a role in overweight and obesity.
What are “detoxes” or “cleanses” and what does the research say?
There are a variety of diets, regimens and therapies, sometimes called “detoxes” or “cleanses,” to eliminate toxins from the body , lose weight and promote health.
They are programs that may involve one or several processes that include:
- Fast
- Drink only juices or similar drinks
- Eat only certain foods
- Using dietary supplements, herbs, and enemas to cleanse the colon (lower intestinal tract)
- Using laxatives or having colon hydrotherapy (also called "colon irrigation" or "colonics")
- Reduce environmental exposures and use a sauna.
But what does the research say about these practices? There have only been a small number of studies on "detox" programs in people.
And while some have shown positive results on weight and fat loss , insulin resistance, and blood pressure, the studies themselves are of low quality, due to design problems, few participants, or lack of evaluation by other experts. .
However, some findings have been reflected:
- A 2015 review concluded that there was no compelling research to support the use of "detox" diets to control weight or remove toxins from the body.
- In 2017 it was said that these types of juices and diets can cause initial weight loss, due to low calorie intake . However, people tend to gain weight once they resume their daily diet.
Beyond that, there have been no studies on the long-term effects of "detox" programs.
How safe is detox?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have taken action against several companies that sell detox or cleanse products for the following reasons:
- They contained illegal and potentially harmful ingredients.
- They were marketed using false claims that they could treat serious illnesses.
- In the case of medical devices for colon cleansing, they were marketed for unapproved uses.
Some juices used in "detoxes" and "cleanses" are not pasteurized or treated to kill harmful bacteria and can cause serious illness in children, the elderly, and people with a weak immune system.
Drinks made with foods rich in oxalate, a natural substance found in many vegetables such as spinach and beets, are also sold. If drunk in large quantities they can increase the risk of kidney problems .
In fact, colon cleansing procedures can have side effects that make the situation worse, especially in people with a history of gastrointestinal disease, colon surgery, severe hemorrhoids, kidney or heart disease.
And those who suffer from diabetes should consult with a health professional before making major changes to their eating habits and patterns, including following a “detox” diet.
You should understand that diets that severely restrict calories or the type of foods you eat generally do not lead to lasting weight loss or provide all the nutrients you need.
Especially since some "detox" programs include laxatives and can cause diarrhea so severe that it leads to dehydration and electrolyte imbalances.
Even drinking large amounts of water, herbal tea, and not eating any food for days could cause dangerous imbalances .
My experience of how I learned about detox
I normally live a healthy lifestyle and exercise a lot, but there was a time when I started experiencing symptoms that alarmed me.
I had brain fog, chronic fatigue, sugar cravings, lack of sleep, general anxiety, depression, joint and abdominal pain.
Although I was exhausted I couldn't sleep, even taking medication . I had chronic insomnia!
I also started getting short of breath, which was new for me, especially since I'm an avid runner and couldn't do it without catching my breath. The lack of oxygen affected my ability to function normally.
I visited several specialists and none of them had an answer. ALL my lab tests were perfect. Colonoscopy, endoscopy, x-rays, ultrasounds and MRI. None reflected the root cause of my problems.
I did everything in my power and it just kept getting worse... I was going crazy!
A cause I never suspected
Finally, I discovered the cause of all my symptoms: mold toxicity. It turns out that where I worked there were two types of this fungus that cause side effects in people like me who have immune problems. And I was exposed for 3 years!
It never crossed my mind until I started a new course on functional medicine. There I learned about mold and toxins. Maybe I was exposed at my previous jobs or at home, due to the humidity in the state of Florida.
I didn't waste time. I studied the situation for weeks and even months. And I looked for a specific type of specialist who could help me detox.
It should be noted that most doctors do not talk about toxins in general, due to lack of knowledge on the subject. It is a micro specialization that few study.
I started following a functional doctor named Jessica Peatross . It was a gift from heaven. I enjoyed learning about your practice and how it helps people heal from environmental toxins like mold.
She created an amazing protocol called "kill, join and sweat" . It also sells its own supplements. But what I liked the most is that it teaches how to do it yourself.
How can I detoxify naturally?
To properly detoxify, you must have your hepatic bile ducts open. It is the only way you can eliminate toxins from your body.
You don't want them to get trapped inside you, right? So make sure:
- Evacuate stool at least once a day.
- Sweat and drink plenty of water to facilitate the passage and flushing out of these toxins.
Remember that the body is resistant. The digestive tract, liver, kidneys, and skin are responsible for breaking down toxins for elimination through urine, feces, or sweat. And it does it naturally.
However, the excess of toxic agents in the environment, food and high levels of stress forces us to use supplements to support the body's natural detoxification.
If we were in a better situation, we would not need special supplements or protocols to help the organs perform their functions.
But thanks to science, we know that there are natural actions and remedies to stimulate the liver pathways and expel toxins.
They are ways to open the liver pathways and start sweating. Precisely, the ones that I began to apply to heal myself. I maintain many of them today.
My personal protocol to help with detoxification
I changed my diet by slightly reducing refined sugar and processed foods. I made sure not everything in my house was made of plastic because it contains toxins like BPA. I even changed my body, facial and body creams for environmentally friendly versions.
Toxins can be anywhere! Whatever you do, make sure you take care of what you put in your body . That includes products for the skin, which is the largest organ and absorbs everything you apply to it.
As supplements I started taking daily:
- 1-2 Chlorella tablets (binder) before a walk/sauna/yoga/high-intensity interval training.
- 800 mg of activated carbon (binder).
- Detox from Evolution Advance , because it contains milk thistle and turmeric.
- Fiber supplement that helps with bowel movements and binders such as sodium EDTA, which absorb environmental toxins within the intestine to eliminate them.
I also continued to see my chiropractor to move my body and joints. I got an alignment that helped me with detox.
Yoga and acupuncture made the process easier. And I made sure to drink plenty of water during the treatment.
infrared sauna
I did the kill and sweat protocol for several months. I had some good days and some bad days, but I finally started to feel better .
This is an example of what my life was like for 12 weeks:
- Cryotherapy 3-5 times a week.
- Infrared sauna 2-3 times a week.
- Sun exposure was mandatory.
- Massages once a month.
My goal was to sweat daily . On days when I couldn't move, I exposed myself to the sun to facilitate the sweating that the protocol required, along with binders and a cleaner diet.
I also did high intensity workouts for 15-20 minutes, steam baths, Hot Bikram yoga, and did Pilates in heated classrooms. I ended up drenched in sweat. That's when I noticed that the protocol was working .
Because I believe in trial and error, I was doing this for months. But I didn't follow a specific protocol until I started reading books about mold and how to properly detox to get my life back.
What is the ideal diet for these cases?
My diet consisted of consuming fiber because it helps reduce chronic inflammation linked to heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.
I made sure to fill my plate with sulfur-rich foods, such as onion, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts, white and purple cabbage, and cauliflower.
" These foods are rich in antioxidants, which support the body's ability to fight toxins ," as revealed in a 2014 study where women who ate more cruciferous vegetables had substantially less inflammation than those who ate less.
My recommendation for you
Ideally, you should maintain an anti-inflammatory diet that includes wild-caught fish such as salmon, rich in fatty acids such as omega-3.
In addition to cruciferous vegetables, seeds such as flaxseed and chia, non-starchy tubers such as sweet potatoes, and spices including turmeric and parsley.
Numerous studies show that whole foods, such as cruciferous vegetables, berries, garlic, and spices like turmeric, can help the body detoxify through several pathways.
That, along with quality proteins and fats, will be an optimal eating plan to detoxify and lose weight.
Prevention will always be your first line of attack and defense . To do this, avoid household cleaners, building materials, plastics, processed foods and places where toxins remain.
It will also be very good for you to know more about the topic. A good place to start is the Environmental Working Group (EWG) , which provides a wealth of information , including identifying toxins in your life.
In addition, on our blog we have several posts with data backed by science and effective actions for you to detox in practice.
Finally, I confess that regaining my vitality gave me another reason to continue studying and obtain the credentials of the Institute of Functional Medicine (IFM). This way I will be able to help thousands of women who are in the same situation that I lived in and can't get help.
Evolution Advance has provided this material for your information. Consult your doctor before making any decisions about treatment or care related to poisoning.