Cleansing Response to Detox
Here’s an article about the cleanse response when going through a detox program, or increasing raw foods in your diet or supplementation. Some people get alarmed by the cleanse response and stop their program – which means they never get through to the other side to the health benefits and increased energy you experience when you have been through a cleanse.
The Cleansing Process -
How your body makes use of improved nutrition
By Jerry Freeman, Certified Nutritional Consultant
When you begin to use nutritional supplements that support the endocrine and immune systems and cell-to-cell communication, and when you adjust your diet according to your individual metabolic type, your body will begin to make positive changes.
For most people, these changes will be comfortable and benefits will be noticeable from the start. Common effects include more energy, greater well-being, reduced discomfort, relief from acute and chronic problems, more mental clarity, improved performance etc. Because everyone’s body is unique in the way it uses nutrients, the timing and nature of the changes that occur will be different for different people.
Detoxification
Over time our bodies accumulate toxins-from pesticides and other chemicals in processed foods, from impure air and water, from medications, from poor digestion and elimination, etc. Whenever the metabolism isn’t able to remove a toxic molecule, it must store it in the body, typically in the liver or fatty tissues. Later, when the metabolism is stronger because of better nutrition, exercise, improved hormone balance, reduced stress, etc. it will start to flush out the stored toxins.
This cleansing response is part of the body’s natural health building process. For most people, this process presents no problem. They notice only positive benefits or slight temporary discomfort and then positive benefits predominate. The initial cleansing response explains how this can happen.
Cleansing Reactions
For some people, however, the process of eliminating the stored toxins is uncomfortable enough to warrant attention. These are often the people who can gain the most from taking steps to rebuild their health. It often happens that someone who feels worse after starting a nutritional program eventually feels much better after the initial cleansing reaction is completed.
Fatigue, headache,flu-like symptoms, skin reactions, mood changes, changing sleep patterns, digestive reactions, aches and pains, allergic symptoms, etc. may occur or increase during the cleansing process.
What type of reaction occurs depends on the unique body chemistry and state of health of each individual. While most people notice no reaction at all, some do experience one or more of those listed-or some other reaction, according to their body’s own functioning.
What to do
These suggestions are good for everyone, regardless of whether or not you’re experiencing any discomfort.
Drink plenty of water (purified, if possible) every day. 1 litre per 50 kg of body weight is a good rule of thumb. This helps flush the toxins from the cells, and it helps the kidneys with their natural cleansing function.
Include fibre-containing foods in your diet, especially fresh vegetables and whole fresh fruits. You may choose to use a dietary fibre product containing psyllium or other bulk-forming fibre source. The fibre helps to absorb toxins and “sweep out” the digestive tract.
Try to eat mainly fresh, whole foods. Avoid processed foods, refined foods and foods containing toxins and “anti-nutrients” (sugars, caffeine, alcohol, artificial flavours and colours, chemicals, etc.) This will reduce the work of processing unhealthy foods, and it will increase the available nutrition for your body to rebuild itself.
Reduce your exposure to environmental toxins and pollutants. Allow plenty of fresh air in your living and work places, avoid fumes from strong-smelling products, reduce your exposure to cigarette smoke, etc. Reducing your daily load makes it easier for your body to get rid of old toxins.
Pick an amount and type of exercise that’s appropriate for your state of health (check with your doctor if you have any doubts). For most people, walking at least 15 minutes a day is a good way to start. Exercise increases circulation, respiration and cellular metabolism. It helps the body burn off toxins and wastes and/or pumps them out of the system.
Listen to your body and do whatever you need to do to stay within a manageable comfort zone. You may find that a smaller helping of a particular nutritional product is better for you, either temporarily while there’s a strong cleansing response, or long-term due to your individual body chemistry. You may even decide that a particular supplement simply isn’t right for you.
If a cleansing reaction is too strong, you can reduce or even stop taking the supplements for a few days until you feel better, and then gradually build back up to a regular daily amount. (Some people need to go very slowly, using very small amounts for a while. These are often the people who eventually have the most dramatic transformation in well-being if they follow through.) You may need to repeat this cycle more than once.
If a symptom causes concern check with a health professional. Some symptoms may be unrelated to the body’s healing response, or the healing response itself may draw attention to an underlying problem.
