on Dec 30th, 2009STOP! Beware the dangers of detox!
Guest Blog Post: Carole Batchelor from Healthy Results in Bedford explains why New Year isn’t the best time to detox…
You’ve wandered on to this page because it’s that time of year again, the time when you decide that you really will get fit/thin/both in time for Spring or maybe in search of the latest thinking about detoxing after the party season. On average people in this country put on 5lb over Christmas and it’s the one time when none of us want to be above average!
But here we are feeling tired despite not doing as much, heavier despite saying no to that last bit of chocolate and more than a bit keen just to get rid of it all again! The temptation is to reject all that sensible stuff about losing weight gradually and do some dramatic detox programme to just get rid of it NOW!
Here’s the good news. Much of that rapid weight gain isn’t fat, it’s likely to be water. When we pump our bodies full of substances that are toxic it can result in the elimination processes not being able to cope and the backlog is bound with water and stored in our fat cells (cellulite). This can be a result of eating foods that we are intolerant to on an ongoing basis or over indulging in a short space of time. The reason that it’s good news is that by simply stopping the toxic intake the body can begin to deal with the back log, the toxins and the water are released and the excess weight goes again relatively quickly. The most effective action to help this process along is to make sure you’re hydrated and that means drinking plenty of fresh water and naturally caffeine free drinks.
There are many schools of thought on whether or not tea and coffee really do dehydrate but in my clinic I’ve seen people achieve astonishing results merely by swapping their morning coffee for hot water. So how much should you drink? Well clearly everyone is different and the bigger you are the more water you need but here are my basic guidelines:
1.5 – 2 litres water per day assuming no extra sweating through exertion/exercise. That’s about 8 big glasses or mugs of water a day. Clearly if you do exercise then you need to drink to replace the lost fluids.
Remember warm water is a natural relaxant and cold water is a stimulant – think about jumping into a warm or chilled bath of water – what will your muscles do? This will happen to your stomach and intestines when you drink which is why especially at this time of year I tend to stick to warm or hot water.
1 average cup of instant coffee is equal to -4 cups of water due to the dehydrating effect of the caffeine. So if you want that cup of coffee have it but remember to pay for it with 4 extra cups of water. Still want it?
1 average cup of tea is equal to -1 cup of water. Herbal and fruit teas, Roibosh etc are all naturally caffeine free and count towards improving your hydration. If it helps remember that water is the fuel of your metabolism and you can’t “burn” food without enough of it.
If you’re a long way from 8 glasses at the moment then don’t attempt to get there all in one day, work upwards. If you only manage to make one small change make it water instead of tea or coffee as the first thing you drink in the morning – you’ll be astonished just how much better you’ll feel.
So why does the headline urge you to STOP!…
Physically we are at our weakest in midwinter. In evolutionary terms we’re designed to be in our caves, keeping warm, and not being very active to conserve our energy and our fat stores in order to keep warm. In naturopathic terms we’re governed by the cycles of nature and at our weakest in the run up and just after the solstice – this year on the 21st December. Many people have heard of the impact of the full moon on both animals and people but are unaware that the moon affects us in all it’s cycles. In Chinese medicine terms we are currently in the season of the Water element and we should nourish ourselves with warming foods (Fire) to counteract the cold and damp outside so therefore a juice or grape fast would be the completely wrong thing to do!
In fact it doesn’t matter which natural tradition you look at January is absolutely the worst time to create any major or dramatic physical changes, but you can start gently to bring the body back to balance. And even if you’re going to ignore all the natural therapy advice conventional weight loss advice will always tell you that slowly and gradually is the healthiest way to lose weight and get in shape!
Don’t get me wrong I’m a big believer in the power of detoxing, in fact I specialised in detox methodologies for my diploma but I don’t advocate it until Spring when the body is much stronger – Spring Cleaning isn’t just for the house! Even then I make sure that the person’s blood sugar levels are stable and that there are no other contra-indications before proceeding. So for now, enjoy a nice cup of ginger tea to warm and heal your digestive system, and plan your shopping list of whole foods to make sure that you don’t run out of quick tasty healthy meals in the coming week while you decide which form of exercise will the most fun way to get moving again without overdoing it.
Good Luck!
(please remember this advice is generic for specific advice please consult a qualified professional)
Carole Batchelor has diplomas in Holistic Nutritional Therapy and Allergy Intolerance Therapy and is qualified to Diagnostix level in Callahan Techniques Thought Field Therapy. She is also a Grief Recovery Specialist.
Ask Carole about: Food Intolerance, Thought Field Therapy, Bloating, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Fatigue, Gall Bladder Problems, Grief, Anxiety, Stress.
