Desperate for Detox

Share

Along with the January blahs, the first month of a new year has people feeling bloated, sluggish and likely regretting the indulgences of the holiday season. While that extra glass of egg nog or second helping of stuffing sure tasted good, the time has come to get back to treating your body right, which for some means kicking off the year with a detox.

Not to be confused with the type of detox that deals with addiction, a dietary detoxification has become a very trendy and popular way of jump-starting your body back into health while getting rid of any built up toxins that have accumulated in the system.

There are many options in the city for undergoing detoxification. Some are pricey, for example booking into a spa retreat for the weekend, while others are a more affordable do-it-yourself method. With a good amount of information available on the internet and a slew of books on the subject, it is possible to arm yourself with enough knowledge to safely undergo a gentle dietary cleanse at home using some tried and tested detox recipes. Alternatively, you could take advantage of one of the many Toronto area resources to learn more about detoxification, nutrition and the benefits of a raw, juiced-based diet.

The Big Carrot, on the popular Danforth Avenue strip, is an excellent place to begin your journey. A long-established and well-known store, The Big Carrot provides a whole range of services including a juice bar, wholistic dispensary, natural food market and nutrition consulting, plus a range of free or reasonably priced seminars and workshops. One particularly timely lecture coming up is 'Foods that undo life's damages' (January 28th) a free presentation by Yafa Sakkejha of the Verona Health Resort. You could also attend a special Liver Detox workshop on January 19th.  This is a 2 ½ hour workshop ($70.00) that includes cleansing food recommendations and recipe demonstrations. Call (416) 466 2129 for booking information.

If you are confident enough to try an 'at-home' cleanse, always check with your doctor first to make sure it is medically safe to do so, and then try these simple steps.

• Choose at least three days for the cleanse when you can clear your schedule and in the preceding week start reducing the amount of 'toxins' in your diet such as refined sugar, red meat, alcohol and caffeine.
• Stock up on any supplies you will need for the cleanse including fresh fruits and vegetables (leafy greens, parsley, pure apple juice, lemons etc.) plus a good supply of filtered water.
• Spend the first day of the cleanse ingesting only blended vegetables, water and homemade juices. On day two, take in nothing apart from the 'Master Cleanse' drink recipe (which follows) and water, then follow this up on day three by re-introducing veggie and fruit blends back into the diet.

Master Cleanse Formula

This cleansing drink gained somewhat of a bad reputation when it shot to popularity a few years ago after certain celebrities claimed it to be a 'miracle' weight loss remedy. While it is hardly likely to make you end up looking like Beyonce, there is some sound proof to show that it does have a cleansing effect on the body, while giving your system natural energy and hydration.

Mix 1 pint of distilled water with a tablespoon of pure maple syrup, ¼ cup of lemon juice and a pinch of cayenne pepper and drink. Make a few batches at a time, keep refrigerated and sip throughout the day.

Bear in mind that no fast should be used as a quick way to lose weight and a cleanse lasting more than three days should only be undertaken by someone with a good amount of knowledge on the subject. Rather than seeing it as a quick way to lose weight, it is better viewed as a way to give your stressed and over-burdened system a chance of rest and recuperate, something which it will surely thank you for.

- FIONA BRAMZELL -