7 Things Every Mom Should Know Before Doing A Detox

By Jaison Greene

OK, so by now it’s safe to assume that you’ve read something about detoxing (internal cleansing) in the news or on the internet. Perhaps you heard about it from a friend, neighbor or one of the “edgier” moms at your child‟s school or playgroup. If you’d like to know more, this post will give you a brief overview of the detox process as well as seven key concepts you should definitely know before committing to doing one.

If you don’t eat right, sleep enough, or have time to get everything done, the stress causes an imbalance in your body. Once the level of imbalance exceeds your body’s ability to overcome it, dysfunction occurs as in: uncontrollable cravings, mood swings, digestion problems, skin disorders, allergies, headaches, and mysterious “medical” conditions such as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, etc…

Has this happened to you? Does detox sound like something you might want to try? If so, detox is a short-term, all natural remedy that alleviates (possibly eliminates) many of the chronic symptoms and conditions that affect your daily life.

Here’s what you need to know:

1 – Pick a date to begin – Ideally choose a date at least 7-10 days (or more) prior to when you want to begin. During a week off from work is ideal or when your level of responsibility is low.

2 - Decide on a length of time – I work with my clients on either seven or 14-day schedules. Depending on how far out of balance they are and other lifestyle details I’ve found you need a minimum of seven days up to 14 days to get great results and see noticeable improvement in your physical health.

3 – Pick a program -The following are some of the questions I ask my clients before picking a program:

• Do you want to eat three meals a day, plus snacks or fast?

• Are the ingredients organic?

• Will any of the herbs have strong side effects or contraindications if you’re on prescription medication?

• How much are you willing to spend?

• As with anything health-related, there is often little-to-no correlation between price and effectiveness. There are great programs at every price point. My clients are often surprised when a lower priced product delivers high value results.

4 – Pre-cleanse prep. You‟ll need to prepare your body, mind, home for your detox program.

Body – Start slowly cutting back on white sugar, wheat products, dairy, red meat, caffeine, nicotine and alcohol. Add more leafy greens, fresh fruit, nuts, seeds, beans, brown rice, quinoa, lean proteins (skinless turkey, chicken, cold water fish). Remember, gradual changes are lasting changes, so baby steps work best here.

• Mind – Become more mindful and slow down. If you don’t regularly meditate or meditate at all, consider starting!

• Home – Do your best to hide or toss out tempting junk food from your kitchen and pantry. Communicate to the rest of the household about the detox in a loving way and ask for their support. Letting them know it‟s a short-term change that will make everyone happier and healthier in the long-run may not be met with applause, but you are doing this for you which will benefit them

5 – Plan your detox menu. If you’re not fasting, you’ll need to eat. If you‟re the head chef, you may already cook different meals for different family members, so when you create your detox menu it won‟t be much of a stretch. If you don‟t cook, I provide my clients with great online resources that will provide stores and various restaurants in their vicinity that serve and carry “detox-approved” menus.

6 – Detox. If you’ve prepped well, this part will be easy. Your goal is to relax and allow the cleansing process to take effect. You may experience mild lightheadedness, nausea, stuffy nose and/or emotional ups and downs. Don‟t worry, you‟re not sick. This is the result of your cells releasing years of toxins into your bloodstream. These symptoms are actually part of the healing process and will improve as the detox continues. Some wonderful changes are on the way, I promise you!

7 – Rebuild & Replenish. As the detox phase winds down, you should be feeling yummy—mental clarity, giddy energy, and a sense of joyful well-being. Start rebuilding your system with supplements which will enhance the benefits of the detox, and maintain that all-important balance long after the detox is over.

Hopefully you feel more confident about doing your first detox. Doing a detox once is a great start, giving you a glimpse of what‟s possible, but it‟s usually not enough to make long-term, lasting changes. My clients quickly realize that their old habits are powerful.

It only takes a string of stress-filled days to lure them back into the old habits that fostered their past imbalances in the first place. My most successful clients make a commitment to schedule a “maintenance” detox every six months to a year, because it will not only expose you and your family to healthier eating options, it also continues training their bodies to crave better nutrition while craving less junk as time goes on.

About the Author: Jaison Greene, HHC, has 10 years of training and direct personal experience helping people safely and successfully complete their first internal cleanse.

He’s been a featured contributor on Livestrong.com and the author of several definitive articles and white papers on basic cleansing and nutrition, as well as more advanced forms of detoxification.

As a Holistic Health Coach trained by the Institute of Integrative Nutrition, he works one-on-one with clients to customize a detox program based on the goals what they want to achieve ongoing after their cleanse is completed. Clients make step-by-step changes to their food and lifestyle that allow them to permanently reach their goals in a way that’s enjoyable and fully integrated with their lives.

As a Group Detox Coach he continues to lead committed souls successfully through the Master Cleanse via his Facebook Group:  http://www.facebook.com/JaisonGreene.