Detox Q&A

 

What is detox?

Detox refers to the process of cleansing the body of toxins and waste accumulated from eating processed foods, breathing polluted air, or taking certain medications. Usually detox involves big changes to your diet to eliminate toxic ingredients in the food you eat.

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A whole-body detox can help reinvigorate your body’s metabolism through a natural toxin discharge process that expel toxins through bowel movements, sweat and urine.

 

When should I start detox?

If you’re feeling lethargic and congested, it might mean it’s a good time to detox. It can provide your whole body with a needed boost of renewed energy and strength. Typically, Dr. Halperin recommends patients begin a detox during times of seasonal change, as they tend to be the most effective times to detox your body, particularly during the spring and fall months.

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How do I prepare?

Starting detox too quickly can lead to headaches, bloating, or constipation. In order to minimize these symptoms, Dr. Halperin recommends taking 3-5 days before detox to remove certain foods from your diet, such as:

• Coffee

• Alcohol

• Sugar

• Wheat

• Artificial sweeteners

• Trans fats

• Packaged, boxed, canned, or fast food

Dr. Halperin encourages patients incorporate raw and lightly steamed vegetables into their diet. It can be helpful to remove items from your kitchen that will tempt you. Making good food choices, exercising and staying hydrated while preparing for detox will help get the crucial toxin releasing functions of your liver and digestive system operating at peak levels before detox. This will make for a safer detox devoid of drastic, unsafe weight loss or any of the aforementioned symptoms.

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What happens during detox?

Dr. Halperin is a proponent of a 21-day detox cycle, complete with recommended daily exercise and a healthy, predetermined diet made up mostly of whole food supplements, raw foods, and juicing. Detox patients should take note of prior conditions like skin problems, digestive issues, or decreased energy levels, to see how these conditions change with the elimination diet. Patients often find they have sensitivities to foods eliminated by the detox that they didn’t know about before.

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What happens after detox?

After detox, Dr. Halperin will evaluate the effect eliminating certain foods from the patient’s diet had on the body, and recommend a continued avoidance of foods with a negative effect. Dedication to a new lifestyle, governed by healthy food choices and exercise is key to avoiding toxin buildup. Dr. Halperin can also offer stress relief exercises and herbal supplements to help with your metabolism.

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