The Magic of Detoxing + a great resource!
Since our Cambiati Cleanse is our signature 28-day program, we are constantly talking to our clients about reducing the chemicals they take in, from a variety of ways: air pollution, chemicals (like fungicides, pesticides and herbicides) on our lawns and in our food, chlorine, fluoride and other compounds in our water, even BPA in our cans and lining our receipts. These toxins also lurk in cleaning products and personal care items like deodorant, lotion, shampoo and conditioner, etc. Not to mention flame retardants in our mattresses and on our couches and embedded in our clothes. Our skin is our largest organ, and it soaks up all these toxins, just like our lungs, digestive system and other organs. Then our liver has to work overtime to detoxify all of these chemicals. It’s dizzying, really, and enough to make us throw up our hands in despair, confusion and frustration.
The good news is that our bodies are capable of detoxing on their own–they really are self-sustaining systems. Your skin, digestive system, liver and lungs are continually cleansing your body of unwanted substances. However, we can support our body’s natural detox processes for optimal health and vitality.
As a great adjunct to our cleanse, we we love the Environmental Working Group and its resources. They take the guesswork out of all things toxic, like having to figure out which makeup is the least contaminated, and which produce to splurge on and which you can purchase conventional. Their annual Clean15/Dirty Dozen List, released this past week, highlights the fruits and veggies that are most and least dirtied up with DDT and other dangerous chemicals. The EWG Food Scores and the Skin Deep Cosmetic Database scores more than 80,000 foods and almost 65,000 cosmetic/personal care/cleaning products to rate the cleanest and greenest and the ones to avoid. They also have guides for Good Food on a Tight Budget, a Good Seafood Guide, A Shopper’s Guide to Avoiding GE Foods and more.
Visit ewg.org to explore and learn more.
Why Detox?
Because we’re living on this earth in the 21st century, we can’t avoid toxins and contaminants, unfortunately. These toxic substances accumulate in the body, where they can harm our health in many ways. That’s why it’s important to detoxify our burdened bodies, at least 1-2 times a year.
Consider these frightening facts:
- There are more than 80,000 chemicals in the US, and about 2,000 are added every year
- Indoor environments are approximately twice as polluted as the outdoors
- Even infants are born with more than 200 toxins in their immature systems
- More than 700 synthetic organic compounds have been identified in US drinking water
- There has been a 42% increase in asthma over the span of just one decade.
The body has three choices when it comes to dealing with these toxins. They can remove them, deposit them in fat cells or stores them in tissues. One piece of recovering from a disease is detoxifying the body. Common signs and symptoms of toxic overload in the body include:
- Fatigue
- Fatigue
- Bloating and gas
- Bloating and gas
- Poor digestion
- Weight loss plateau
- Headaches/migraines
- Mood swings and irritability
- Brain fog/memory problems
- Joint pain and stiffness
- Sensitivity to odors
- Frequent colds/flu
- Chronic infections
- Skin rashes, acne, hives
As if these issues aren’t bad enough, long-term effects of toxins on the body can run the gamut:
- Fertility problems and birth defects
- Delayed learning and motor skills in children
- Dementia, memory loss and cognitive decline
- Weight loss resistance
- Hormonal disruptions like metabolic syndrome and Type II Diabetes
- Autoimmune conditions and suppressed immune function
- Less than 2 percent of synthetic chemicals have been tested for toxicity, mutagenic or carcinogenic properties, or the connection to birth defects
The body is smart; it stores toxins in fat cells to prevent them from roaming around in the blood, which is why you should consider detoxing as a first step toward weight loss, and to accompany a weight loss program so that your body is not reabsorbing the chemicals and you’re losing weight safely. The liver has a two-step process for removing toxins, which allows fat-soluble toxins to be converted into water-soluble versions so they can be removed from the body in our stool and urine.
Here are some methods of detoxing:
1. The Cambiati Cleanse!
A cleanse eliminates some typically inflammatory foods like sugar and processed foods, while increasing antioxidant-rich foods like berries, leafy greens and healthy fats. We also focus on ideal water intake, sulfur-rich foods and adding in herbs and vitamins that support detoxification further.
2. Fasting
There are two main approaches to fasting. Some people choose an extended fast without food for a set time period (often between 24 to 72 hours, but sometimes longer) while consuming either water alone, or liquids like juices or broth. Intermittent fasting, which means alternating between periods of food intake (your eating window, like 11 am-7 pm) and times of fasting, has become popular in recent years.
Fasting is common in many ancient cultures and religious practices, and many studies support its benefits, which may include:
- Healthy blood glucose metabolism
- Normal inflammatory responses
- Healthy blood lipid metabolism
- Body weight and composition management
- Supporting the body’s normal cellular waste removal process
Fasting isn’t for everyone, however. People with low blood sugar or Type 1 diabetes should consult their physician before taking up fasting. It can also potentially increase the stress hormone cortisol, so if you’re already stressed, approach fasting with caution. Anyone with a history of disordered eating should also talk to a professional before trying fasting.
3. Sweat it out
Although we tend to overestimate the ability of a good sweat to “flush out” the effects of unhealthy choices, some studies have found that sweat does contain waste products. More research is needed on the effectiveness of activities like taking a sauna, but many people do enjoy the endorphin release.
Exercising has many benefits that can support your body during a detox as well, including its ability to help manage inflammation and support immune health.
4. Supplement for support
Help your body do its detoxing job well by choosing supplements wisely. Particularly while you’re detoxing, it’s important to work with a practitioner to choose the best supplements for your specific needs. Supplementation can also depend on what kind detox you are doing, since some supplements and vitamins work best when taken with foods, for example. Some commonly used supplements for detox support include:
- Detox Support Packets. This is a blend of three of our most potent detox products to support two phases of liver detoxification: breaking down the toxins and removing them safely.
- VegeCleanse. This multivitamin/amino acid blend is an important component of the Cambiati Cleanse.
- Colon Rx. Bulking up the stool and helping it pass smoothly is a way to relieve constipation, getting toxins out quicker and easier
- Activated charcoal. Some toxins may bind to activated charcoal in the lower intestine, so they can be eliminated with a bowel movement.
- Probiotics. By encouraging a healthy balance of bacteria in your gut, probiotics help ensure your digestive system performs its natural detoxification function.
- Turmeric. This spice contains a compound called curcumin that helps support your body’s antioxidant pathways.
- Green tea. One study found that chemicals in green tea called green tea catechins may help support detoxification.
- Chlorella. A species of algae, chlorella may help support your body’s detoxification of certain compounds.
If you’re pregnant or breastfeeding, avoid detoxing.
References
Frassetto, L., Schloetter, M., Mietus-Synder, M. et al. Metabolic and physiologic improvements
from consuming a paleolithic, hunter-gatherer type diet. Eur J Clin Nutr 63, 947–955 (2009).
Grant DM. Detoxification pathways in the liver. J Inherit Metab Dis. 1991;14(4):421-430.
doi:10.1007/BF01797915
Gupta, L., Khandelwal, D., Lal, P. R., Kalra, S., & Dutta, D. (2019). Paleolithic Diet in Diabesity and
Endocrinopathies – A Vegan’s Perspective. European endocrinology, 15(2), 77–82.
https://doi.org/10.17925/EE.2019.15.2.77
Henning SM, Yang J, Shao P, et al. Health benefit of vegetable/fruit juice-based diet: Role of
microbiome. Sci Rep. 2017;7(1):2167. Published 2017 May 19. doi:10.1038/s41598-017-02200-6
aishankar M, Tseten T, Anbalagan N, Matthew BB, Beeregowda KN. Toxicity, mechanism and
health effects of some heavy metals. Interdiscip Toxicol. 2014;7(2):60-72. doi:10.2478/intox-2014-0009
Lindeberg, S., Jönsson, T., Granfeldt, Y. et al. A Paleolithic diet improves glucose tolerance more
than a Mediterranean-like diet in individuals with ischaemic heart disease. Diabetologia 50, 1795–1807 (2007)
Sources: Designs for Health, US Dept. of Health & Human Services, Cornell University Pesticide Safety Education Program, US Consumer Product Safety Commission, Environmental Working Group, CDC, enviroalternatives.com
Find out if working with us is the right step for you.
We think you need to get to know us and we want to know all about you! Before you commit to anything a nutritionist will get to know you in a private session.
We will work to uncover the hidden reasons for your struggles and will create a plan to solve them.
Let’s get you feeling better ASAP! Book your breakthrough session now.
