The Need To Detox

Every once and while we treat our bodies like human garbage cans.  We drink too much, we eat too much, we smoke too much. Or we,*ahem*, all-of-the-above too much. 

That was me this weekend.  Let's just say there was poutine involved. Gourmet poutine. 

So, after this super fun, indulgent, friend-filled weekend, and being that fall is right around the corner,  this is the perfect opportunity to prepare for a detox.

The best rhythm I have found for detoxing is January, Spring, and Fall. It is trial and error to decide what works best for you, but this is a nice frequency because it occurs at a regular interval (about every 4 months). Ideally, you want to try and detoxify when you feel, well, to put it simply, toxic. 

I know what you're thinking.  Ugh the food preparation!  The horrible raw green food!  The lack of energy!

Personally, I won't put up with bland, green food, or hours in the kitch preparing a raw meal.  I know you are busy and important and you don't have time for this, either.  You do, however, want foods that are soothing and restorative and make you feel cleaner, lighter, and almost...virtuous.

The theory behind this detox is to give your digestive system a break, and allow the detoxification pathways to clear out toxins that may have built up in your liver and body. This way we allow the liver to properly clean house.

I should pre-empt this by saying that you should always check with your doctor before starting any kind of diet. This detox is not meant to cure or treat any disease.  I know you already know this, but it the responsible thing to do.

That being said, here is the general overview of the detox that I do myself and give to my patients:

• 1 week in length (can be extended to 2 or 3 weeks if you are a keener, or have had a particularly toxic past couple of months)
• liquid food for 2 meals/day, solid food for 1 meal/day (preferably lunch)
• unlimited water, decaf herbal tea
• supplements that co-incide with meals and promote liver function
• Obvi no caffeine, no soda, no soy products, no dairy, no meat, no sugar
  

Look in your social calendar and pick a time to start the detox when you have at least 2 days where you have no commitments.  There is an adjustment period you need to allow yourself, and want to give yourself time and space to do so.

Download Dr Stephanie's Detox Grocery List for a grocery list of the items you'll need.

You can get most things from your local grocer, or I prefer to try and get things from local farmers markets.  This time around, I have purchased just about everything from Kensington Market here in Toronto.

Here are some specific points on the detox:

• Start every day with glass of room temperature lemon water (before breakfast)
• A Liver Detox Pack Supplement: once in the morning with breakfast, and once in the evening with dinner. 
• Drink at least 3 liters of water every day.  And yes, prepare to pee.
• Drink Coconut Water (no sugar added is best)
• If it is available to you, try to take a sauna 1x/week while on the detox (most gyms have one, or a local spa).  This helps the skin detox as well.
• Every evening, take 1 teaspoon of a Flax Oil, Hemp Oil or any EFA Oil you like. This helps to assist regular bowel movement. My absolute favorite is Vega's Antioxidant EFA Blend.  You can read about the benefits here and will soon (*fingers crossed* - in about a week) be able to purchase them here (under "Products) or in my office (shameless self-promotion, I know).

Download Dr. Stephanie's Sample 7 Day Detox Plan to see how I incorporate the following Liquid and Whole Food Meals.

The Liquid Bit : Breakfast & Snacks

If you are nervous about this, don't be.  I have designed liquid meals based on the ease of preparation (seriously guys- we are talking less than 5 minutes of prep time), the integrity of the product, and the ones that will deliver the purest nourishment in liquid form.  You will feel full, too.  The products I use here have 100% of your RDI in Vitamins & Minerals, taste great, and are easy to digest.

For breakfast, I use either Vega Whole Food Health Optimizer , Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion, or my Metabolic Cleanse (available in house).  These are excellent to be taken while detoxing because they deliver the vitamins and minerals your body (including your liver) need.  

You can substitute any of your favorite fruit instead of raspberries (mangos with cashew or blueberries with almonds are particularly yummy), and substitute Unsweetened Coconut Milk or Rice Milk instead of Almond Milk.

Raspberry Smoothie

1 scoop of Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion or Metabolic Cleanse 

1/2 cup fresh or frozen strawbs or rasps

1 1/2 cups Unsweetened Almond Milk;  Stevia (optional for sweetness) 

Instructions:  Blend. Drink. Serves 1

Ginger Pear Smoothie

2 Scoops Vega Whole Food Smoothie Infusion

1 banana, 1 pear

1/2 tbsp fresh ginger, grated

2 cups Almond, Rice or Hemp Milk

Instructions : Blend. Drink.  Makes 2 servings.

Cucumber Lime and Basil

1/2 Cucumber

1 lime + lime zest

big bunch of Basil Leaves

Instructions: Blend. Drink. Serves 1

Beet-nik

Follow this original recipe (but leave out the alcohol!) and add in some carrot and apple if desired

The Liquid Bit: Lunch & Dinner Options

So usually, lunch is where your food option comes in, but it can be done at dinner as well.  Here are a sampling of recipes I use while detoxing:

Warm Broccoli & Spinach Soup

This is still considered raw even though it is warm - you still maintain the live, enzymatic properties of the broccoli because it is only lightly steamed.  Otherwise, it is very difficult to digest raw. (Yes, I am talking about tooting.)  

1/2 Avocado

6-8 Broccoli Heads (lightly steamed for 5 minutes)

2 Celery stalks

Red Onion or Scallions (to taste)

Handful of Almonds  (for the topping)

1/2 lemon

Instructions: Blitz in Blender. Eat. Serves 2.

Avocado and Cucumber Soup

Cuc's are a detox staple. They are light, and packed with water and have a cleansing effect. Avocados give a wonderful, buttery texture that is incredibly satisfying.  (Also wonderful for your skin, hair and nails).

1 Avocado

2 Scallions

1 Cucumber

2 Handfuls of Spinach and 1 Bunch of Parsley

Zest and Juice of Lime

If you prefer less creamy soups, you can put a 1/2 cup of sodium free vegetable broth or water to thin it out.

Instructions: Blitz in Blender. Eat.  Makes 2 servings.

Green Soup

1/2 Avocado

2-3 big handfuls Arugula, 1 bunch Kale or Spinach, and a bunch of Basil

2 tbsp Pumpkin Seeds (for topping)

1 tbsp Vega EFA Antioxidant Oil

1/2 lemon

Instructions: Blitz in Blender. Eat. Serves 1

The Food Bit

So here, you have lots of options, cold and warm salads, beets, fish, and an unlimited assortment of veg. Just stay away from soy, meats, and nightshade foods (tomatoes, eggplants, peppers).  Don't look at me like that...its just for a week!!

Here are some ideas:

Halibut with Steamed Kale dressed with some chopped hazelnuts and 1 tbsp of Sesame or Hemp Oil

Quinoa Salad with Dried Cranberries, Apples, Cashews

Steamed Beets, Kale, Alfalfa Sprouts and Sesame Seeds dressed with Vega EFA Antioxidant Blend (yes I know I am talking about Vega to death today, but it is really that kind of a product)

I actually just keep rotating these salads because I love them that much...I am open to ideas though - so send me your comments!!

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If you have any questions about the products I have talked about here, or have any questions about this detox, please email me!  I am always excited when I get questions from readers and I am always happy to help.

If you would like to purchase Vega directly - please click on the image below:

Be Healthy.

Dr. S

xo