I’ve got some tea to spill today… fasting or doing a juice cleanse are not the best ways to support your detox system. 😱

It’s been a long and busy couple of weeks for me. I’ve been traveling a bit to see old friends and have been more social than usual. All of this has gotten me out of my routine. I’ve been subject to less-than-ideal foods and have had more alcohol than I usually do. For these reasons, I’m focusing on supporting my detox system to help eliminate processed food, alcohol, and over-the-counter pharmaceuticals (allergy meds and Advil). I thought I’d share how I’m going to do that, as well as shed some light on why fasting and juicing are not the way to go.

First things first, what are toxins? There are two types:

• Internal – cellular/metabolic waste like stress hormones, poorly digested food, and bacterial/parasitic/fungal overgrowth
• External – air and water pollution, chemicals, contaminated/processed food, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, alcohol, and caffeine

Why fasting & juicing is not ideal for detox

Fasting and juicing have been promoted as a way to detox for quite some time. So much so, that after a busy or indulgent season – people decide to starve themselves by only consuming expensive juices in pretty glass bottles and minimalist labeling. I’m here to tell you that not only is this unnecessary, it can be downright detrimental.

Here’s why…

Difficult-to-remove toxins are stored in our adipose tissue (body fat). When someone fasts for an extended amount of time and experiences extreme weight loss, toxins are freed up too quickly and in large amounts. This stresses the detox system and if you’re unprepared for this, you’re doing more harm than good.

Another reason I don’t recommend this approach is because fasting and juicing can spike your blood sugar. Imbalanced blood sugar elevates cortisol levels. A stressed body can not detox because the process of detoxing requires us to be in a parasympathetic state (rest & digest). This is difficult for people who are chronically stressed. Imbalanced blood sugar also depletes B vitamins, which are essential for liver function and detox.

Juice cleanses also come up short because most are missing protein, an essential macronutrient for Phase I detox. Some juice companies do include plant protein powders which is helpful but these are typically processed and not a whole-food source in its natural state.

Furthermore, a lot of people undergo extreme changes in their diet in an effort to heal without first addressing the most important component of detoxing – eliminating waste.

If you’re chronically constipated, dehydrated, or stressed – you are not eliminating toxins. Period. If you ain’t poopin’ – any toxins that might get released from some type of protocol are now just hanging out in your bloodstream. This is why it’s imperative to address your detox system with a foundational approach before attempting a detox protocol.

How to actually support your detox system

You can support your detox system by addressing these foundations:

Eat a whole foods nutrient nutrient-dense diet

• Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are vital for Phase I detox. Eating nuts and seeds, flaxseed oil, salmon, coconut oil, and quality butter are great sources of EFAs.
• High-quality protein from eggs, fish, and meat all support detox.
• Fresh fruits and veggies like cabbage, brussels sprouts, and broccoli all support Phase II detox.
• Check out a few of my fave recipes for detox

Hydrate!

Your kidneys are responsible for filtering your blood and eliminating waste through urine. Chronic dehydration is detrimental to your detox system. A good rule of thumb is to drink half your body weight in ounces (so if you weigh 200 pounds, try to drink 100 oz of water or hydrating foods each day).

Support digestion & elimination

If you experience constipation, diarrhea, reflux, heartburn, sleepiness after meals, belching, or gas – your digestion and elimination system are struggling which means you’re not properly detoxing.

Support digestion by chewing your food, eating bitters, drinking warm lemon water or liquids before meals, and taking deep breaths before you eat to help put your body in a parasympathetic (rest & digest) state.

Balance your blood sugar

• Eat a savory breakfast high in protein.
• Eat protein and fat at each meal.
• Find whatever works for you as far as stress management goes and stick to a routine.

Understand your nervous system

Tune in and see if you are typically in a fight-or-flight (sympathetic) state. If you typically feel stressed or on edge, your body is down-prioritizing digestion and detox.

Routinely take deep breaths throughout your day

Taking deep belly breaths is a form of detoxing in itself, and it can help put you in a parasympathetic state – win/win!

Move & sweat!

The lymphatic system acts as a pre-filter for your liver so it’s important to support it.

• Lymph flows out of the body through movement, support your lymphatic system by walking, yoga, running, stretching, kettlebells, dancing, jumping – any movement!
• Sweat excretes toxins, especially those found on the skin, such as chemicals and pollution. Get sweaty through exercise or in a sauna.

Support your heart and cardiovascular system

Your blood is extremely sensitive to toxins so it’s important to do everything you can to support your heart as it pumps blood throughout your body.

• Eat a balance of high-quality EFAs.
• Eliminate processed foods.
• All of the aforementioned foundational elements support a healthy heart! ❤️

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Now that you know how to support your detox system through a foundational approach, you can avoid the costly and sometimes detrimental gimmicks of a juice cleanse or fast.