I suffered from allergies as a child. I would regularly have hives, itchy rashes or swelling over my eyelids and the bottom of my feet. I could never determine the trigger. I also had severe acne. The doctors said that I was probably allergic to so many things that trying to determine and remove them from my environment would be close to impossible. So they gave me antihistamines for my allergies and antibiotics for my acne. They alleviated the symptoms for a short time but neither fixed the problem.
It wasn’t until my early 20’s that I was so sick of my skin issues that I went to see a Naturopath who put me on a detox by cleaning out my diet.
My menu was
- Breakfast: Porridge with fruit to sweeten
- Lunch: Salad and Grilled Fish (no oil)
- Dinner: Steamed Vegetables and Brown Rice
- Inclusions: Any Fruit and Vegetables
- Drinks: Water, Herbal tea
- Exclusions: Everything Else
I stuck to this diet for 6 weeks and my allergies went away.
I continued with this diet for one month every year and my allergies never came back.
When I detox now, my energy levels always improve, my mind is clearer, I generally feel better and I lose a few kilos so it’s a win win.
Which Method
There are many commercial detox’products’ involving everything from lemons to supplements, periodic fasting and so on. While they have the advantage of doing the planning for you, I have tried a few and didn’t find them any more effective than simply cleaning up my diet. So I just go au naturale. My detox today is only a little changed from the menu the Naturopath gave me all those years ago – I now add a green smoothie and powdered magnesium supplement.
The base of my smoothie is:
- Kale
- Spinach
- Celery
- Tumeric (fresh)
- Coriander
- Green apple
- 1 other fruit – whatever is in the house
Either way, the method you choose needs to be right for you. Always listen to your body, if you feel unwell seek medical advice.
What can happen on a detox?
If you are a coffee or tea drinker you may experience caffeine withdrawal headaches. These don’t usually last more than 48 hours
You may feel more emotional and irritable than usual. This can happen while your liver is removing toxins and doesn’t last for too long.
Planning
The most important part of a successful detox is planning. I usually work out my meal plan for the whole week and make sure I buy everything I need for the week. I work out my day so I take food with me (there aren’t many café’s or restaurants that cater to the detoxer :).
I stock up on fruit and veg because I often feel hungry and need to eat often throughout the day 3 meals, 2 snacks and a smoothie is a minimum.
Try to do it over a period when there are not too many social events. I usually aim for February – after the holiday season.
