While school is back in session and the calendar claims that fall is on it’s way, our heat index certainly claims to differ. Whatever it may feel outside, however, after September comes holiday, holiday, holiday and then it’s the new year. It’s for this reason that cleansing in Sept-Oct is such a great idea. Seasonal transitions beg transitions in all regards, and diet is just one of them. Below we’ve outlined a few of our favorite reasons to cleanse NOW.
1.) It’s your last hope between last years holiday gain and this years. A friend of mine claims he started a downward diet spiral with that first bite of Thanksgiving, which he then blamed for his carrying extra weight for the next six months. While I am definitely not encouraging you to partake in that type of delusion, the reality is many people work super hard to get “bikini ready,” and then pack it on in the summer with vacation food (so deserved!), boat drinks (delicious!) and less rigorous workout routines (who wants to sweat more than they already are?!). This is a great time to shed that extra weight.
2.) A healthy detoxification program IS NOT: a starvation diet..or an abundance of diarrhea. Both “detox” and “cleanse” have gotten bad wraps in the last decade or so (some with good reason) but a healthy cleanse doesn’t do that. It involves recommended foods and beverages that help the body eliminate unwanted chemicals. The Metagenics Metabolic Detox Program, which is the detox program we carry and recommend, provides nutrients that helps the liver remove toxins and rev up the body’s natural chelating agents that binds to toxins and allow for elimination.
3.) Our body’s natural detox systems weren’t designed for modern toxic burdens. While our bodies have amazing detox and regenerative abilities, we are exposed to thousands of toxins on a daily basis.
Did you know-
- There are 85,000 synthetic chemicals registered in the US, yet toxicological screening data is available for only 7% of these chemicals.
- In a recent study by the EWG, 287 industrial chemicals were found in umbilical blood of the tested babies. Of these, 180 are known to cause cancer in humans or animals.
- US EPA studies of chemicals store in human fat showed 100% of people had dioxins, PCBs and dichlorobenzene.
- Pesticide usage has doubled every 10 years for the last 30, but pest damage to crops is more prevalent now than ever. On average, .1% of pesticides reach their target, the remaining 99.9% contaminate the environment.
- The question is no longer IF we are toxic, but HOW toxic are we?
But I just want to lose some weight, why should I care?
4.) Because..pesticides and other toxins are OBESOGENIC, meaning they spur both the formation and growth of fat cells. Have you ever had trouble losing weight even when you diet? The more toxins you have stored in your fat, the more your body holds onto that fat until you have strengthened the detoxification pathways so that these toxins can be readily disposed of – that’s what a proper detox protocol will encourage.
5.) Because it makes you feel so, so good! Many patients are surprised at the ease with which they cleanse, and love the benefits – less joint stiffness, better sleep, better digestion, clearer skin, less pain, sharper thinking & improved outlook, just to name a few. If you still need convincing that you need to detox, here are some common symptoms you may experience from excessive toxins-
- Fatigue
- Depression
- Headaches
- Brain fog, memory problems
- Balance problems, tremors
Conditions and diseases associated with excessive toxic burden
- Allergies and asthma
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Chemical sensitivity
- Fibromyalgia
- Fertility problems
- Chronic infections
- Autoimmune diseases
Sooo…what to do? As far as guided cleanses go, we can’t say enough good things about the Metagenics Metabolic Detoxification, which is a 10 day elimination diet with added medical nutrition. We have a ton of simple, nutrition packed recipes to accompany the plan. To be most successful with your cleanse, we recommend choosing a time span with limited social engagements and preparing foods and snacks ahead of time. In addition to cleansing, it’s important to reduce your toxic exposure, which we’ll explore in a future blog post.
If any of this resounds with you, or if you have questions about any of these topics, we encourage you to reach out. We are never too busy to help you and your loved ones. Please call us at 843-416-8218 or email us at [email protected]