The process of detoxing has become a popular health related topic. It is commonly perceived as a new health program that requires frequent trips to the bathroom while ingesting strange concoctions. In reality, detox is more of a mental exercise than it is about consuming large quantities of prune juice and apple cider vinegar. Detox is about creating focus, being intentional about your choices, and ending the behaviors that got you in the situation you are currently experiencing. Attaining a healthy body requires an understanding of Hebrews 12:11, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained in it.” When it comes to your health, having the peace that you can depend on your body will allow you to sleep well at night.
In the area of nutrition, what is toxic to our body can sometimes be “hidden” in plain sight. Myths abound as to what is healthy and unhealthy. The general public has bought into marketing ideas, catchy concepts, and bad science. In turn, our society has been left with an ever-growing obesity epidemic. In the chiropractic field, we have spent countless hours researching this topic. We would love to share our findings with you.
To decipher between the good and the bad, use a few of these simple concepts from our
- Look for products with a minimal amount of ingredients listed on the label.
- Look for ingredients that are natural; these are the ones you can pronounce and would find growing in your garden (i.e. made from a plant, not in a plant).
- Look for foods made by God, not by man. Foods made by God grow in the ground or off a tree. They also used to fly, swim, or run and were not altered before landing on your plate.
Labels that do not follow these rules are everywhere and are most likely in your home today. They creep into our pantry like a mouse and try to steal our health. So, where do they hide? Where can we find the worst offenders? Let’s take a look at “The Toxic Ten.”
Salad Dressings
These are often full of high fructose corn syrup, hydrogenated soybean oils, maltodextrin, and MSG. Avoid any dressing that you cannot see through. Avoid the “fat free” labeled liars, and choose the best option by making your own.
Try this Sicilian style one: 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, salt and pepper, to taste
Candy
Candy is full of sugar, high fructose corn syrup, and bad fats. These foods create an addictive pattern because they are empty calories. Empt calories never satisfy and only go on to spark more eating. Be careful with the sugar free or dark chocolate excuses. If it cannot be avoided, choose fewer than ten peanut M&M’s
Deli and Processed Meat
These foods are poor quality commercial meat sources filled with nitrates, MSG, and other additives. These are known cancer-causing foods and could be treated as the cigarettes of the food aisle. Alternatively, buy a large turkey breast and cook it at home. Then slice it deli style thin and freeze into one-pound quantities.
White Bread
The most cryptic area in the grocery store is the bread aisle. It hides many dangerous items wrapped in healthy marketing and tricky processing. Several healthy looking whole wheat, flax, whole grain, and other dark breads are merely white flour based dough sprinkled with a few wholesome ingredients. Likewise, added vitamins that are not absorptive and other toxic ingredients lace these products from beginning to end. Try sprouted bread like Ezekiel bread. A good recipe can be found HERE.
Sprayed Produce
Pesticides and fertilizers are sprayed on almost every piece of non-organic produce found in the grocery store. Be very careful with the following: peaches, apples, bell peppers, celery, kale, nectarines, strawberries, cherries, lettuce, grapes, carrots, and pears. These are referred to as “The Dirty Dozen.” Try to buy these twelve foods organically. “The Clean 15” can be bought in the grocery store without much problem: onion, avocado, sweet corn, pineapple, mango, asparagus, peas, kiwi, cabbage, eggplant, papaya, watermelon, broccoli, tomato, and sweet potato.
Margarine
Closely related to the chemical processing to make plastic, margarine is a man-made, highly toxic product. Somehow this product is still recommended for cardiovascular health. Unfortunately, margarine causes inflammation, which most likely leads to heart disease and certain cancers. Try regular butter or coconut oil instead.
Soda and Diet Drinks
Calories found in soda and other sugary drinks are unregistered by the brain when eating. This leads to over-consumption of calories and obesity. Diet drinks are no better since they are filled with neurotoxins that over stimulate the brain. This completely man made product causes you to become hungrier and eat more food. Diet drinks are the worst for those trying to diet. Simply drink water with lemon. Your body will thank you!
GMO Foods
GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) foods are DNA modified products. These laboratory-developed products are designed to withstand the high levels of pesticides and herbicides allowing for high growth production. Over 85% of soy, corn, cotton, and canola are GMO products and found in every processed food without warning labels. Long term studies are examining the effects of GMO foods as a cause of infertility, immune system compromise, accelerated aging, insulin deregulation, and other GI system problems.
Commercial Dairy
Non-organic dairy items are loaded with antibiotics, growth hormones, vaccines, and other dangerous items because many cows used in dairy production are sick and weak. These toxins lead to many health problems in humans such as hormonal disturbances in our children. Shop for organic dairy or raw organic dairy where available. Coconut and almond milk are also great alternatives to dairy.
Seasoned Packaged Foods
Packaged pasta and rice mixes, soups, snack chips, and frozen meals all have seasonings filled with chemicals and additives. MSG, alone, is an excitotoxin and allergen causing migraines, sterility, cancer, mood swings, depression, hyperactivity, asthma, heart arrhythmias, and endocrine/hormone deregulation. MSG hides on the label under several aliases: hydrolyzed vegetable protein, yeast extract, autolyzed yeast, and sodium caseinate. These should all be avoided.
So where do you start your detox? First, identify the areas where you and your family need to make the biggest changes. Focus on one or two of them for a specific period of time (i.e. 30 days). Commit to being intentional and improving in those areas. It might be nearly impossible to eliminate these toxins completely, so look to include some foods to counteract the Toxic Top Ten. In our [LivFit] seminar, we use some detoxifying natural foods such as: quinoa, kale, cucumber, pineapple, protein smoothies, and vegetable broth soups. We also use L-glutamine, a potent amino acid that aids the liver in alkalizing and detoxifying the body. L-glutamine also aids in weight loss, sleep, improved muscle recovery, and better body function when enduring long periods of stress.
To kick off your healthy changes, try this drink.
Add 5g of L-glutamine to 4 oz. of cranberry juice and 6 oz. of cold brewed green tea. Blend this with a cup of ice for a refreshing detoxifying smoothie.
Dr. Rich will be teaching a FREE 30-day Detoxification class on Thursday,
May 14th at 6:00pm.
Invite your friends and family for this “how-to” so they can jumpstart their detox with you.
Call our Roanoke, Virginia office to sign up! 1-540-344-1055
Dr. Daryl Rich, DC, CSCS
