What's the deal with detoxing (and why should I do it)?

I remember scrolling through Instagram one day. It was very early in my PT career. There it was - the detox tea that would solve all of your problems... and probably mine too!

Cue: eye roll. Ugh. Yes, let's all drink this tea and lose weight and feel ah-maaaazing! If you can't already tell, I was very against the idea of someone marketing a herbal tea as a weight loss miracle. What ever happened to eating right and working out??

(What happened to eating right and working out? Humans got lazy and wanted a quick fix. That's what happened!)

Anyway! What I was truly feeling was frustration, masked in sarcasm and negativity. Because here was a business person using people's (mainly women's) insecurities, past failures and naïvety to make money. Or at least it seemed that way. I don't like miracle creams or wonder pills. It just seems like a trap to me and we shouldn't be taking advantage of each other like that, just to make a few bucks.

Over the next few years I wasn't the hugest fan of the word "detox" simply because of what I said in the last paragraph. However, thankfully I am an open-minded person who loves to learn new things!

So, what is the go with detoxing?

Over time I have come to learn the definition and true purpose of a detox. We all have toxins within our bodies. Even if we live in the remotest part of the world and lived the healthiest lives, we would still have toxins inside us, thanks to the normal metabolic processes within our bodies. It's just what happens! The true purpose of a detox is not to force the toxins out, but to give our own bodies what it needs (nutrients) to mobilise and eliminate those toxins through your body's natural pathways. Sure! A herbal tea will help support our bodies to detox. But often-times our bodies need something a bit more comprehensive than that, they need something specific to us as an individual.
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It is my belief that if someone wants to detox, they need to do it under the guidance of someone qualified, preferably a Naturopath or Functional Medicine Practitioner (FMP). The Naturopath or FMP can order tests to see how your body needs balancing, and they have the knowledge and the qualifications to prescribe supplements to truly help your body to detox in the safest way possible.

As a Personal Trainer, I have seen situations time and time again, when women are doing everything they can "right". They eat well, they exercise appropriately, and they get adequate rest. But despite having "the trio" under control, the changes they want to see happen aren't happening. This is where the Naturopath / FMP, additional testing, and the detox come in. Because sometimes, your body needs extra help! Your body serves you your whole life, so why not show it some love, right? When we give our body what it needs, awesome things start to happen!

why should i detox? I'm pretty healthy...

If you already feel pretty healthy, that's cool! Detoxing is not compulsory at all! You are in control of your life and you make your own decisions.

​If it was up to me, I would do a detox at the turn of each season, throughout the year. For one week, every three months, I would flood my body with nutrients and give it what it needs to do it's normal cleansing thing (only more efficiently, thanks to the extra nutrients). Think of it as a self-care protocol on top of a healthy, balanced lifestyle, to ensure my body stays balanced. Some people might want to do a slightly longer detox at Spring time so they feel great for Summer. It really is quite flexible! For me, it's also about disease control and making sure I am able to live a long and healthy life. I want to be able to do handstands and cartwheels well into my 80's (no joke!), and if I'm going to do that, I need to look after myself!

how will my body tell me that i need to detox?

Here's a few things to look out for!

• How does your skin look? Does your skin look congested, or do you have "bad skin"?
• Are you super tired all the time, even when you have plenty of rest?
• Do you get nauseous or bloated after meals?
• Do you struggle to lose weight despite doing "everything right" (a.k.a: eating healthy and drinking enough pure water, sleeping well, and exercising appropriately)
• Do you have upset digestion?

I'm not here to tell you that if you experience these things, then you 100% need to detox. Nope. That's not what I do.

​This list is for you to look at, and judge for yourself on whether or not you should even consider a detox for your future.

Because the last thing I want you to do, is to get hooked into something because you saw it on Instagram and you have nobody in your life that can guide you properly.

If you have ever considered doing a detox, or have thought it could be a positive thing for you to try, then I want you to feel empowered to do the research and figure out what's best for you. I want you to find trustworthy people and quality practitioners to help you towards optimal health!

In conclusion

"To detox, or not to detox, that is the question" (I'm pretty sure Prince Hamlet would ask that if he was a health conscious fellow!)

In my opinion, yes. People should do a quality detox under the guidance of a qualified Naturopath or Functional Medicine Practitioner. Because I'm pretty sure everyone wants to live a healthy and happy life, full of energy! How often you do your detoxing is between you and your Practitioner :)

*** Remember - a detox or any supplement protocol is never a substitute for a healthy lifestyle! ***