Detox plan after an unhealthy 2019
Dear Donovan, I want to start 2020 right, and I’m thinking of doing a detox to get rid of all the bad food habits I had in 2019. There are, however, so many detox advertisements out there, and I don’t know where to start. What would be the best detox method for:
1. I’m 25, a chubby 5ft3”, weighing 145 pounds.
2. My diet is a lot of carbs, fried/stewed protein, and the occasional vegetables.
3. I have a sweet tooth, and I crave something sweet after every meal.
4. I singlehandedly ate two PriceSmart Christmas cakes in the two weeks leading up to Christmas, so you can understand my dilemma.
5. I am tired and snappy most of the time, which I attribute to my poor diet, but I’ve started taking vitamins. My hair is also thinning and I’ve developed very oily skin.
6. I don’t do any physical activity of note, but like all the lies we tell ourselves every new year, I hope to do better for 2020.
I think the way to push forward is to start by cleansing my body. Can you assist?
Simply put, detoxification or detox is the process by which toxins are removed from the body. Toxins are typically seen as substances that can be poisonous, or in general, have a negative effect on the health. These toxins may include some metals, chemicals, pollutants, artificial food ingredients, pesticides, etc. However, it should be noted that “toxin” is a broad term that may even cover some substances produced by the body during its metabolism.
In general, we can get toxins from the water we drink, the food we eat, and even the air we breathe. It is thought that many of the health challenges we face are due to the build-up of toxins in the body. Usually, the body has the ability to detox itself. The excretory system plays a major role mainly in defecation, urination and sweating. This has led some sceptics to suggest that there is no need for any detox programmes or diets. However, with the constant increase in pollution of our water, air and foods that we eat, there may be a need to have periodic detoxing of our bodies.
In your situation, you have been going hard with your eating. You ate two cakes by yourself before Christmas and it seems as if you will really chow down some real food for the rest of the season. However, you are already showing some classical signs that you need to detox. For example, your energy level is down, you’re snappy, and you have a sweet tooth as well as oily skin. Other signs that you need to detox would include foul breath, flatulence, poor immunity, struggling to lose weight, not being mentally sharp, and just a general feeling of unhealthiness.
It is quite possible that your intake of food is far greater than the faeces your body produces. In other words, you go into a constipated state where putrefied faeces line the wall of the intestine. This can attract the attention of parasites and pathogens which starts the breakdown of faeces on the wall of the intestine. This breakdown of faeces can be a great source of toxins which can be a source of general ill health. So my suggestion to you is that you start a detox programme targeting the cleaning of the bowel. I would also suggest that you do this under the supervision of a professional.
There are several ways to get the gut clean — one such method includes applying some form of colon hydrotherapy (colonics). This involves the introduction of water into the large intestine that will help to flush it. Also, other oral detox methods include the use of dietary fibre, herbs, laxatives, detox teas and dietary supplements. Most people my age who grew up in the rural areas would get a “wash out” or “flush” before going back to school; usually after the long summer break. Herbs usually used included senna pods, rice bitters, mojoe bitters and bitter wood. It is quite possible nowadays to do a detox where you can get supplies that are more readily available in supermarkets, shops or health food stores.
Again, you will need to be careful with these teas because they can give you extra bowel motion. For starters, it might be better to drink these teas when you are off from work. In addition, you could also have one or two days where you just mainly consume liquids. This is usually referred to as a juice fast and will allow the body to carry out most of the detox process. It is always best to work with a professional when doing a cleanse. I am almost sure you will need to do a detox programme after Christmas.
Good luck!
Merry Christmas and a healthy New Year to all my readers.
We will answer your weight-related questions
Are you struggling to lose weight or just need some advice on living a healthier life? Tell us about your health issues and we’ll have nutritionist and wellness coach Donovan Grant answer them for you. Grant has over 12 years’ experience in the fitness industry and is the owner of DG’s Nutrition and Wellness Centre, 39 Lady Musgrave Road. Call him at 876-286-1363. E-mail questions to clarkep@jamaicaobserver.com.
