Detoxification can be done as simply as making small changes to your diet to more dramatic, 28-day programs.  The key is to make sure the program you follow is safe and relies on dietary changes rather than supplements.

The Best Time to Detoxify:

Most naturopathic physicians suggest incorporating more of nature’s cycles in with your own cycles. For example, if you notice there are regular times when you experience symptoms of a “sluggish liver”, it might be worthwhile to follow detox procedures during those times.

Everyone has a natural cleansing time when the body wants a lighter diet, more liquids and greater elimination than intake.  This usually occurs each daily in the night until midmorning.  The liver is more active at night (1 to 3 a.m.), so nighttime is a good time to detoxify and take supplements such as milk thistle.  The body’s natural cleansing time may occur each week but more often occurs a few days per month, much like the natural cleansing associated with the female menstrual cycle.  In fact, women tend to do better during pre-menstrual periods and during their cycle if they follow a cleansing program that includes more juices, greens, lighter foods, herbs, etc. the week before menstruation begins.

The most natural time for detoxification follows the change in seasons; spring is a key time for detoxification with autumn following in a close second.  It is suggested that at least a 1 to 2 week program is followed during these times.  Eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables are appropriate in the spring, whereas eating more brown rice, vegetables and soups may be best to simplify your diet in the fall.

Getting Started:

• Start with the environment you can control – your home.  Make sure your furnace has the proper filters, keep carpets clean, address any mold problems, and invest in an air purifier and water filtration system.
• Drink pure drinking water from glass containers.  Make sure your kitchen faucet has a filter.
• Aim for clean, organic food whenever possible.  Try to have 1 to 2 servings of cruciferous vegetables each day to promote liver health.  These include broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, sauerkraut, horseradish, kale, collard greens, radishes, kohlrabi, etc.
• Never microwave in plastic containers.  Put food in microwave-save dishes and put drinks in glass containers.
• Increase circulation by regular exercise.
• Increase fiber intake.  Fiber is what binds to the toxins and fats.  Most adults should get between 30 and 50 grams of fiber per day.
• Avoid trans fatty acids.  Trans fats are poison – period!
• Incorporate a “Detox and Cleanse Program”. Several commercial products are on the market.  It is important, however, to distinguish between a “cleanse” and a “detox”.  A cleanse generally consists of fiber and pushes waste through your body, whereas a detox can be much more specific where certain compounds are used to bind to specific toxins.
• Eat a diet low in fat and high in fiber.  Include plenty of raw or lightly cooked vegetables, especially green leafy vegetables.
• Avoid sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy products, white flour, and refined starches.  Use hot lemon water or herbal teas instead of coffee and caffeinated teas.
• Drink lemons.  Cleanse the liver by drinking the juice of a fresh lemon in a cup of very warm water first thing in the morning when the stomach is empty.  It also helps to clear ht sinus.

Simple Ways to Detoxify Your Diet:

• Cut back on foods made with chemical additives and artificial flavors; these additives have been linked to allergies, cancer, and more.
• Avoid foods made with trans fats.  They create free radicals in the body which are linked to heart disease, cancer, and other health conditions.
• Minimize use of artificial sweeteners. Your body doesn’t know how to metabolize artificial chemical compounds that are used for these sweeteners; many have not been proven safe for extended use or in combination with other chemical compounds.
• Drink filtered water. Several studies have shown that filtered tap water is as good or better than many bottled waters.  Click here to check the quality of the tap water in your area.
• Refrigerate oils in order to keep them from turning rancid.
• Avoid Plastic Containers.  Store and heat foods in glass containers to prevent chemicals from leeching into foods.
• Avoid overcooked meats.  They contain heterocyclic amines (HCAs), which have been linked to cancer.

Sources: “Eat Clean”, Experience Life (May 2007), Linda Knittel; 10 Weeks to Wellness™, Paul Ratte, ND; Elson Haas, MD (Health World)