DO I NEED TO DETOX? I Thought My Body Did This on its Own!
First of all, you should always check with your doctor and make sure you are in good health and not taking anything that may interfere with a detoxification protocol. If done improperly, detoxing CAN make things worse. If done correctly and gently, the simple answer to whether or not you need to detox is, “YES”, you should detox! Your body is amazing and was designed with detoxification in mind, but today’s world can overwhelm even the healthiest of people. First, let me ask if you ever experience any of the following.
- Headaches
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Depression
- Brain fog/mental confusion
- Digestive disturbances
- Cardiovascular Irregularities
- Flu-like symptoms
- Allergic reactions such as hives
- Runny nose, sneezing, coughing
- Systemic inflammation
- Anxiety/depression
- Hormonal imbalances/PMS
- Under-eye puffiness
- Acne or other skin disturbances
- Weight that won’t budge
- Cravings
- Caffeine dependency
- Experience “Hanger”
The above are simply symptoms that are usually disguising what is really going on underneath. We typically mask these symptoms by taking an NSAID or putting some cream on it but that is not FIXING anything. We’ve “masked” long enough, time to get at the root of what’s causing the issue.
Nearly all disease is either a result of toxicity or nutrient deficiency. With my simple 5-day whole-food detox, I see many of the above simply disappear! You can read testimonials here. Yes, you can see these results in only 5 DAYS! I am not a doctor, but I do have many doctors who recommend my detox to their patients and have also reviewed the program and done it themselves. It is proven effective and only uses REAL FOOD. No supplements, binders, or powders are required. I do recommend some useful add-ons such as the aforementioned, but they are not an essential part of the program. While a lifetime of bad habits will not be undone in just 5 days, it can be a great jump start to a healthier lifestyle.
Detoxing can be delicious!
Some quick stats for why I know our detox systems are overburdened:
-
Only 8-12% of people are metabolically healthy (UNC study)
-
50-60% of people have at least one chronic condition (42% more than one)
-
41.9% of the population is obese (CDC)
-
Average intake of added sugars is approximately 17 teaspoons for adults aged 20 and older
-
Adults eat an average of 60% processed food and kids 70%
-
40% of people who died from Covid had diabetes (The Lancet)
-
For the typical person, more than half of their day is spent sitting. (Forbes)
-
Nearly 10% suffer from depression (US News)
-
1 in 3 people experience loneliness on a regular basis (statista.org)
-
70 million Americans suffer from a sleep disorder
The above population is at increased risk for things like diabetes, certain cancers, heart disease, and more. As I learned in nutrition school, “It’s the terrain, not the disease.” This just means that illness/infection/viruses/bacteria flourish in a hospitable environment. Our goal is to make our bodies inhospitable to invaders! We can control the “host” (our bodies) by eating well, managing stress, and getting enough sleep. We can’t always completely control our environment (i.e. the microbes).
Becoming metabolically healthy is one of the top ways we can strengthen our immune systems. Blood sugar imbalance can increase the viral load in some illnesses. The plain speak is that high or out-of-control blood sugar (due to poor diet, high stress, and lack of sleep) can increase the amount of the virus in the individual. Long story short, don’t let your diet be your kryptonite in the fight against the disease. You are in control here!
A QUICK DETOX 101 TUTORIAL
Your main detox organs include your liver, skin, lungs, kidneys, colon, and lymph systems. The issue is that today’s modern world’s toxicity is overwhelming our systems on a daily basis. The liver is our main detox organ (this bad boy has over 500 jobs) and when you look at the list below you should develop a newfound respect for all it does for us on a daily basis.
Here is a list of just some (unfortunately there are A LOT more) of the things it needs to defend us against:
Pesticides
I personally put this as #1 on my list as I’ve recently listened to several podcasts including this one from GOOP on Glyphosate. HOLY CRAP this stuff scares the hell out of me! I suspect my issue with gluten may not be the gluten itself, but what we’ve done to our crops with the sprays and hybridization. There are also a myriad of other chemicals out there. For example, conventional strawberries are typically sprayed with an average of 7.8 different pesticides according to the EWG website. How’s that for ruining a near-perfect food!
SAD diet
You’ve heard me say this one again and again. Our Standard American Diet of processed foods, quick carbs, sugar, bad oils, etc. creates chronic inflammation in the body and eventually builds to a tipping point where our cells and liver can take no more!
Excess caffeine
While a cup of high-quality coffee is not bad (and can even be good) for many, it also requires several nutrients to flush it from your system. Giving your body a break from this addictive substance gives your liver a much-needed respite and your body the chance to focus on repair.
Alcohol
Ever had a hangover? That should give you the clue that long-term alcohol consumption overburdens your liver. Alcohol is a toxin and your liver works HARD to rid your system of this poison.
Sedentary lifestyle
Your lymphatic system requires movement to work properly. A stagnant body creates sludge in your lymph system and makes you feel like a slug. Moving is essential to detoxification.
Pollution
Indoor pollution from off-gassing (the giving off of chemicals, especially harmful ones) of products and other toxins can make indoor air quality at least 10 times more toxic than outdoor air. Granted if you live in a city you may also be dealing with car exhaust, building pollution, etc. Additionally, our personal care products are full of compounds we call “endocrine disrupters.” They can disrupt our normal hormone production creating an increased toxic load.
Food sensitivities and allergies
Many of us aren’t aware we are actually allergic/sensitive to certain foods and chronic exposure to them creates systemic inflammation.
Stress
Almost all of us live a lifestyle with chronic stressors, where work, money, kids, and endless to-do lists are omnipresent. This doesn’t even touch on life’s major stressors. All this stress activates our sympathetic nervous system (fight or flight) and we aren’t ever in rest and digest mode which allows our body time to repair.
Antibiotics and prescription drugs
Many of us now know the problems that can result from even just one dose of antibiotics. Yes, sometimes they are absolutely necessary, but we need to repair and restore our bodies. Beyond antibiotics, many of us are on numerous medications with substantial side effects.
As you can see from the list above there is truly only so much our body can take. We need to help it along!
*WHAT CAN YOU EXPECT FROM JUST 5 DAYS OF A DETOX?
- More energy
- Clearer skin
- Blood sugar control
- Disappearing joint pains and aches
- Clear head (no brain fog)
- Decreased depression, anxiety
- Increased sex drive and better hormonal balance
- Weight loss (change your weight set point forever)
- Loss of cravings and food addictions
- Improved sleep quality
And, for those perimenopausal/menopausal women, I’ve had many that mention to me a decreased number of symptoms such as hot flashes, disturbed sleep, and headaches.
While 5 days can work wonders, it can not cure a life of bad habits. That is why I also provide you with a 21-day post-detox meal plan (choose either plant-based or paleo) to help you continue your health journey and convert it into a true lifestyle.
Read on for additional program details and make sure to download my free “Detox Recipes to Love” and make sure you are on my email list as the first 75 to register will receive a special discount.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
This Feed Mind Body Soul Fall into Better Habits 5-Day Detox program is a 5-day whole foods detox scheduled to run officially, May 13th-May17th 2024, however, you can really do it at any time! You have the recipes and information in this workbook to walk yourself through a successful program at any time! The benefits of following the official dates are the daily emails, detox tip daily posts, and community support you will receive during the scheduled week. If you are local to the Chicagoland or Tricities, area you are also able to purchase some of the food!
Once you download the detox program you will be automatically added to the group email list and will receive a welcome email. You will then be given access to the closed group.
The week prior to the detox I will start posting in the closed group. You can expect to receive your first email the Friday before the start of the program. I suggest you do all your shopping and some prep work on Saturday/Sunday so you are good to go Monday! You can expect daily emails Monday-Saturday of the program. There will also be daily group posts. These emails and group posts will include motivation, detox tips, and tools for long-term health and vitality. So much of this information you will find beneficial long past your 5-Day official detox program.
WHAT’S INCLUDED WITH YOUR PURCHASE:
- Complete guide to the detox program
- Week-long plan (5 days of detox plus two bonus days of vegan meals)!
- Your week will be filled with nutrient-dense smoothies, soups, elixirs, juices, and teas.
- Shopping lists
- Individual recipes
- Private group for support
- Video tutorials
- Daily emails with motivation and inspiration
- Option to purchase some of the food-Soups and in some cases, soups/smoothies are available for pick up from Evanston and Geneva
- Free post-detox 21-day clean eating meal plan choices available: plant-based (includes minimal fish/eggs) or paleo
- 21 days of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, snacks, and desserts laid out for you
- includes all meal plans, recipes, and shopping lists
WHAT TO EXPECT EACH DAY OF THE DETOX
DAY 1
You are excited and enthusiastic but also a bit scared; especially if you’ve never done something like this before. You may feel a little hungry but really should feel overall ok through day 1.
DAY 2
The real detox begins as toxins release from your body. Some issues you may face include headaches, skin rashes, or blemishes (toxins leaving through your skin), lethargy, mood swings, and/or digestive distress. This will be amplified if you were a heavy caffeine user. Just get through this day!! Take a nap!
DAY 3
You may still be experiencing some detox symptoms however you should start to feel better and clearer.
DAY 4
You feel fairly good, you are over the hump and start to feel that “you’ve got this”. You may want to “eat” something. The exception to feeling better is those that are very addicted to running on carbohydrates, in that case, you may still feel somewhat sluggish and grumpy. This is called the “carb flu” and means you are starting to break the addiction which is a great thing so keep at it!! You are becoming metabolically flexible which means you are able to burn both carbs and STORED fat for fuel.
DAY 5
Last day! You’ve got this. You’re probably ready to be done and begin eating again.
DAY 6 & 7
Don’t allow yourself to fall back into old patterns. Be gentle on yourself and treat yourself like the health warrior you are! Follow up with a gentle easing out of the detox by focusing on nutrient-rich whole foods. Stay away from gluten, dairy added sugar and anything you feel is inflammatory. I’ve added two Vegan days (Day 6 and 7) to help you focus on re-introducing your body to eating.
DAY 7 AND FORWARD
Try to incorporate some of your learnings into every week. All liquid/detox Mondays? Detox green drink every day? Green smoothie most mornings? Any small change is a big one when incorporated into your daily routine.
This is just a taste of the program. For only $75 you receive a “go-to” program to continually reset your health whenever you feel the need by using real food and solid health and wellness insights.
Also, for those of you who are local, you can purchase almost all of the food from The Caterist.
For those of you who plan to make the food I find I can get my entire list between Trader Joe’s and Fresh Thyme locally. If you are lucky enough to have a Whole Foods near you, you should be able to get it all there with one stop.
Registration begins on April 18th 2024.
Cheers to your health! XDeeDee
Here are my program FAQs if you still have questions!
FAQS
How much are the groceries?
a. Groceries for the detox will cost anywhere from $60-$250 depending on what you have on hand and where you are shopping (a lot of higher-priced items are optional, but recommended). If you decide to go all-in and purchase collagen, protein powder, greens powder, MCT oil, etc., rest assured these things will last you a good month or two, and you may just want to include them in your health food arsenal at all times, but that could mean your bill might be closer to the $250. Many people think nothing of spending $200 on designer sneakers, invest in something that gives you something in return!
Is this detox considered paleo, low-carb or keto?
a. You can almost make it work for all 3. It contains zero processed carbs, almost every ingredient is paleo-approved and if you cut down on the higher glycemic fruits and use monk fruit/stevia for sweeteners you can probably stay in ketosis.
Why is almost everything pureed?
a. You use approximately 60% of your energy on digestion. We are freeing up some of the needed digestive energy to allow your systems to work on healing and detoxification.
How much do the recipes make?
a. The smoothies are typically one serving and fill a16 oz mason jar (and some with a little bit more). The soups are all 2 servings because you are having them twice during the 5 days. The soup serving sizes vary because they are based on calorie and macronutrient information.
Can I double batch the soups?
a. Absolutely, just make sure to freeze if you aren’t consuming with 2-4 days.
Can I make smoothies the night before?
a. Yes, store in large mason jars, shake and go in the morning!
Can I batch make the green juice?
a. Yes, you lose a small number of nutrients when the juice isn’t fresh, but it is negligible and may be worth the savings in terms of clean up time! You can easily use the same juice recipe, I just provided 2 choices for individual preference.
Why aren’t I pooping?
a. This detox may be a shock to your system if it is an extreme diet change, and you also have less bulk due to the absence of animal protein. Psyllium husk or Acacia fiber are great smoothie add-ins (or you can take in supplement form). Apple Cider Vinegar helps too. Digestion should normalize after a few days.
What if I really don’t like a recipe?
a. Just replace it with another similar soup or smoothie. I will provide you with a couple of alternate recipes to replace them as an option.
What if I need to chew?
a. Minimize chewing as much as possible but if you need to crunch, eat veggies or half of an avocado. You SHOULD actually be pretending to “chew” your soups and smoothies as this is optimal for good digestion.
I have a crushing headache-Advil or coffee?
a. Go for the ½ cup of coffee.
Why am I bloated?
a. This is a sign of digestive weakness or some potential food sensitivity. Anyone can be sensitive to anything. Use ACV (apple cider vinegar) and psyllium/Acacia. May need to do some gut healing post-cleanse. Digestive enzymes are worth considering as well.
Why am I starving?
a. Adding hemp/chia seeds/healthy fat (such as oil or avocado) to soup and smoothies will keep you full. If you are particularly active you may need to have an additional protein shake during the day.
Why is my breath awful, tongue furry or my mouth feel like disgusting?
a. Toxins come out in a big way through your tongue. Pay attention to your tongue this week! Buy a tongue scraper and scrape several times per day.
How should I prep the week prior?
a. No processed foods, cut back on coffee/alcohol, eat alkaline foods. I will be posting a list of alkaline foods on the Facebook site. Disease tends to form in an acidic body. Focusing on alkaline foods helps bring the body into an alkaline state.
Do I have to do the 2 final days (days 6 and 7) of vegan meals?
a. To gain optimal results you should do the final two days as it is a good way to transition to eating again without causing gastric distress.
Why am I so tired?
a. Your boy is ridding itself of toxins which can sometimes be an unpleasant experience. You also are taking away the processed carbohydrates your body usually runs on. These types of carbs are “dirty” energy, meaning they give you quick energy but often result in just as quick of a crash.
I prefer the soups to smoothies or vice versa. Can I swap?
a. If you’d prefer to do two smoothies instead of two soups per day I’m fine with that, you will most likely be going a little higher carb overall, but that will be ok.
Can I drink LaCroix or Kombucha during the cleanse?
a. I don’t recommend it as carbonated beverages can interfere with digestion and many Kombucha type drinks are loaded with sugar.
Tempeh is an ingredient, but isn’t soy bad for you?
a. Soy is often demonized and depending on the type and usage, and I can see why! Soy is a very big GMO (genetically modified organization) crop, meaning it is often altered and heavily sprayed. Also, soy is in everything in various forms, often highly processed and added to create “franken-foods” which are not at all healthy (think the “Beyond Meat” burger or “Tofurkey”. However, organic tempeh is a very healthy version of soy as it is nutrient-dense with a high amount of protein, as well as various vitamins and minerals. It is reported to decrease cholesterol levels, oxidative stress, and appetite while improving bone health. Tempeh also contains prebiotics, which may improve digestive health and reduce inflammation
**
PROGRAM DISCLAIMER
This program is not designed to treat, cure, or heal. Instead, it is focused on helping you introduce more foods into your diet which have been shown to activate and assist your body’s own healing mechanisms and bring your body back into a healthy balance. Feed Mind Body Soul does not prescribe any of the materials, techniques or concepts presented in this program as a form of treatment for any illness or medical condition and it is not the intent of the author to diagnose or prescribe the detox as treatment. Before beginning any practice related to health, diet or exercise, it is highly recommended you talk to your healthcare practitioner.
*program has been reviewed and approved by Dr. David Ginsberg
