Posted in Health

This past week Nancy posted about Detoxing for the New Year on the Front Porch. 

Reading some of the comments there inspired me to write this post.

Using a detox program can be very beneficial or it can be a waste of money.  These pill packs are not inexpensive, so take care to do it properly, so as not to waste your money. 

Firstly, a detox works its best when you work with it.  Be certain to drink more water than normal to keep you hydrated.  Another point is that you will not feel the effects of the program if you aren't eating well.  Replacing what is being purged/cleansed is not going to have any lasting effects if you are continuing with poor or moderate eating.  Be mindful to eat as whole food as possible, and if the budget allows, organic.  The less chemicals and toxins that you put into your body the more the program can focus on cleansing what is already inside.

If you still have some leftovers from the holidays, finish those up.  Then cleanse your kitchen and pantry of items that would not be beneficial during a detox and replace with whole foods as needed. 

A word about fasting.  I have fasted in 2 different ways, with 2 different results.  I have done a complete fast for a day with nothing taken in but water.  The second type, my preference, is a juice fast.  During this fasting I eat no solid food.  I use my juicer to make a few drinks throughout the day as my body calls for them, both fruit and veggie.  I prefer the second method because I do not experience fatigue.  The benefit of juice fasting is that you get enough nutrition to keep your energy up and your mind running.  There is no digestible fiber or solid and thus the vitamins go directly into your blood stream.

Very important to remember, you should not exercise when fasting.  Even more important, you should only fast and detox under the care of a medical practitioner who is knowledgeable in this area. 

These are my thoughts.