Hi Everyone!
Detox is a general buzzword at this time of the year for kickstarting weight loss.
I am often asked “Do I need to detox?”, “Which detox should I do?” and “Is detoxing safe?”
This article will answer these questions and help you decide whether a detox is right for you.
How Does Detoxification Work?
Is It Necessary to Detox?
What Are the Benefits of a Liver Detox?
Are Extreme Detoxes Good for Weight Loss?
What Are the Side Effects of a Liver Detox?
What is the Ultimate Liver Detox Program?
How Does Detoxification Work?
Your body detoxifies toxins and waste products 24/7 through your lungs, liver, and kidneys. These organs never rest and if something goes wrong with any of them, you can become seriously ill.
Liver detoxification processes turn fat-soluble toxins into water-soluble compounds to be eliminated by the kidneys in urine or through bile that goes to the bowel. There are 3 phases to liver detoxification: Phases I, II, and III.
Phase I, II, and III of detoxification
Phase I: Toxins arrive in the liver ready to be handled by enzymes belonging to the P450 cytochrome family. These enzymes carry out chemical processes like oxidation, reduction, and deamination to prepare the toxins for Phase II.
Phase II: Once the toxins are converted into water-soluble metabolites, the liver conjugates them (i.e. binds them to another substance) so they can be excreted via Phase III.
Phase III: Toxins travel to the kidney for excretion in urine, or the gallbladder for excretion in bile. Good hydration is essential for Phase III to work properly.
Your liver works hard all day every day but it has to work even harder to handle things like alcohol, Ultra Processed Foods, cigarette smoking, pollution, and environmental toxins.
Is It Necessary to Detox?
If the body is detoxifying 24/7, why do we need to do a “liver detox”?
From a naturopathic perspective, a detox is about cutting back on the things that can impair our detoxification pathways such as alcohol, smoking, and junk food, and giving ourselves more of the nutrients that support healthy, efficient detoxification. These include B vitamins and antioxidants like vitamins C and E, zinc, and glutathione.
You might want to detox after an indulgent celebration like Christmas, or a vacation. Or you could follow the seasons and detox in Spring and Autumn – the traditional times of year for change and renewal.
Signs that it could be time for a liver detox include:
- Digestive issues like poor fat metabolism
- Dark urine
- Body aches and pains
- Headaches
- Skin rashes and itches
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Intolerance to smells
- Mood swings
What Are the Benefits of a Liver Detox?
Following a safe, nourishing detox plan can give you:
- Better energy levels
- Better concentration and mental clarity
- Comfortable digestion
- Clearer skin
- Better sleep
- Sustainable weight loss
The Eat Burn Sleep 6-Week Reset is the perfect detox plan. Many members notice benefits within a couple of weeks, like Dina for example who says:
“After just one week of the 6-week reset I have lost 3.5kg. I am thrilled with the result and I look forward to losing some more!”
Are Extreme Detoxes Good for Weight Loss?
The answer to that is no!
Extreme detoxes cause harm and lead to more weight gain in the long run. Your body needs a wide range of nutrients every day to maintain your organs and create energy for living. Restrictive extreme detox diets don’t provide enough nutrition and cause incredible stress to your digestion, liver, and hormones, leaving you worse off than before.
What Are the Side Effects of a Liver Detox?
When you start eating better foods mindfully and cutting out inflammatory junk food your body can be shocked. Depending on your toxic overload, it happens around the third day of the Six Week Reset in the Eat Burn Sleep program.
This is known as the healing crisis and is a sign that your body is in withdrawal from refined sugar and opioid compounds found in wheat and dairy.
You might experience headaches, brain fog, and fatigue for a few days. Your gut microbiome, which will have grown the wrong kind of bacteria, will scream at you to have some sugar or other inflammatory food.
The wonderful thing is that this is just part of the healing process of a liver detoxification program and won’t last for too long.
What is the Ultimate Liver Detox Program?
The best liver detox program is filled with delicious foods and drinks, mindful movement, and gentle relaxation practices. You will feel amazing when you have nurtured yourself through it.
My Six Week Reset program eases you through this process and lists science-backed activities to support your liver detoxification for long-term results.
It’s a glorious feeling when you are through to the other side and are reminded that you are stronger with higher energy levels – just like EBS member Brooke:
“I love your “soothing workouts” and all your advice. I also wanted to let you know when I rejoined last year and had my physical my weight was 172 lbs. My physical last month was 142 lbs. Thank you so much.”
Ready to discover the ultimate liver detox? Find out more about our membership options now.
You might also enjoy:
Low-Calorie Foods for Weight Loss
Podcast on Spotify: Mindset Tips for Long-Term Health
Podcast on Apple: Mindset Tips for Long-Term Health
Have a fantastic day,
Yalda x
Yalda Alaoui is a qualified Naturopathic Nutritionist (with a foundation in Biomedicine) who studied with the College of Naturopathic Medicine in London. She has spent over a decade performing groundbreaking research in chronic inflammation and gut health.
