Every few months, I make sure I do a detox program. Mind you, I don’t mean a starvation program. For me, a detox involves avoiding inflammatory foods like sugar, dairy and gluten (especially the processed variety) and toxins (like alcohol) for a few days to a week, and loading up on the purest supplements I can get my hands on.
Why do I do this? First, I always drop a couple of unwanted bounds, notice my belly getting tighter and see a major spike in my energy, focus and productivity. Even though I’m mindful about what I eat most of the time, everyone gets in a rut. I’m no exception.
So if you’re thinking about doing a detox to lose a little weight, boost your energy and feel amazing, here are the top 3 reasons to pull the trigger:
We don’t know how good we can actually feel. If you’re experiencing low energy, mood swings, or chronic pain, these symptoms are not normal. This is your body telling you it needs something different. Don’t talk yourself into thinking, “This is just a sign I’m getting older,” or, “I’m just stressed out … when [fill in the blank] is over, I’ll feel better.” It’s amazing how our body responds — and how good we can feel — when we give it a break from the toxins and give it what it was designed for: real, unprocessed food, proper sleep, lots of water, your supplements of choice and movement.
Toxins take a toll. The toxic load on the body comes from our diet, stress and our environment. Your liver is the “clearing house” for ridding the body of toxins. But if it’s overloaded with toxins, it can’t do its job properly — making weight loss and all of your bodily functions more difficult. Sometimes, your body needs a “reset” so the liver can repair itself and do its job properly.
Chronic inflammation is the root of all disease. Not trying to scare you, but inflammation comes from overconsumption of sugar, unhealthy fats and oils, hidden food sensitivities (most often gluten, dairy, soy and corn), stress, and external factors such as products that enter our body through the skin. Sometimes, we don’t know how our body is supposed to feel until we cut out some of these foods for a while and allow detoxification to take place.
If you’re thinking about doing a detox and need some advice, shoot me a reply and let me know.
Your friend and coach,
Paul F. Sweatt CPT PN1
Train Smart. Train Hard. Train Safe. Train to Sweatt
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