In order to see the desired effect during detox, it is necessary to know how a proper detox programme should be.

The detox programme you apply should not cause significant problems by moving the toxins in your fat stores towards your blood circulatory system, on the contrary, it should clean your metabolism from toxins.

A few months ago I came across an old friend of mine who had started one of the trendy detox programmes, which in the western world is perceived as a purification process only for the physical body, but after a while she realised that things had started to go wrong. Filiz is a cheerful woman approaching her forties and has been above her ideal weight almost all her life. She had tried various diet programmes for years, lost a lot of weight and gained back the same weight or even more each time. Filiz, who thinks that the problem is with herself rather than the programmes she has been following, is a young woman who constantly blames herself inwardly and has become fed up with helplessness. Inspired by the 4.5 kilos she lost thanks to the ‘Fat Burning (!) Liquid Drink Detox’ sent to addresses in the form of packages on a daily basis by a friend at work, she immediately bought a Liquid Detox Package, which is currently trending in weight loss programmes around the world with great enthusiasm.

So, did Filiz lose weight by giving up the routine foods her body was used to and drastically reducing her daily calorie consumption? Of course she did.

But from the 2nd week she started the programme, she started to experience other problems that made her seriously unhappy and uncomfortable, such as severe headaches, pain in different parts of the body, itching with redness all over the skin.

IN AN IDEAL DETOX PROGRAMME ELEMENTS THAT MUST BE PRESENT

Here below, I am listing only the nutritional part of the detox that will turn your detox process into a wonderful process of renewal and revitalisation;
♦    Prefer High Quality Protein Sources:
Why?
Amino acids derived from protein are essential components for enzymes and liver detox to take place.
SUGGESTIONS:
Choose vegetable protein sources such as kidney beans, dried beans, chickpeas, lentils, hazelnuts, walnuts, almonds, broad beans, kidney beans.
Or poultry and eggs that you are sure are organic and small oily fish such as anchovies, sardines, rich in Omega 3, which are unlikely to contain mercury.

♦     Eat enough nutrients:
Why?
Detoxification is a complex process.
During this process, the body utilises a range of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients.
SUGGESTIONS:
Eat fresh, hormone-free, vibrant and brightly coloured fresh vegetables and fruits that are rich in phytochemicals as well as nutrients.

♦     Remember Foods Rich in Antioxidants:
Why?
During the multi-stage detox process, our body can create damaging toxic metabolites if not barrier-built by protective nutrients.
SUGGESTIONS:
Include vitamin C-rich food groups, magnesium and selenium supplements, as well as garlic, onions, fruits and dark and brightly coloured vegetables, which contain powerful phytochemicals that are responsible for protecting the body from disease rather than being nutritious.
Artichokes, turmeric and coriander also contain silymarin. Silymarin is an antioxidant that supports liver detox and is most commonly obtained from milk thistle. You can find this extract mixture sold under the name Milk Thistle in reputable brands in the market. But I recommend you to consume it freshly for 5-6 months in our artichoke paradise country instead of taking it from outside with supplements.

Important Note: If you have noticed, liver cleansing is prioritised during detox. The main reason for this is that the liver is the detox organ of the body. The liver filters and cleans more than 5 thousand harmful substances that enter our body. If the liver does not work, the rate of toxins, which are harmful substances in the blood, increases. This makes all other important organs such as the heart, brain and kidneys inoperable.
The liver also keeps our hormones at the right levels. For example, the liver regulates the level of sugar in our body. So if our liver is not working well, we get diabetes. Or when the liver does not break down the excess of estrogen hormone in the body, the growth of limbs such as breasts provided by female hormones in men begins.

♦     Drink plenty of hot water and Ayurvedic teas:
Why?
One of the most important parts of the detox process is the process of evacuation of toxins from the body through urine and sweat. Do not forget that your body will be overloaded with more toxins due to excessive fluid loss and let at least 1.5-2 litres of pure water (tea, coffee, fruit juice, etc. do not count) flow through your body to reach your goal.

SUGGESTIONS:
In addition, the following teas, which are Ayurvedic Tea blends from the Daily Wellbeing brand, are very supportive especially during the weight loss period;
►     Ayurvedic DTX Tea
►     Ayurvedic Kapha Tea
►     Ayurvedic Vata Tea and
►     Ayurvedic Ginger Tea
These teas contain special spice mixtures and have effects that relax the digestive system and accelerate metabolism.

♦     Practise Pranayama - Nasal Breathing Techniques:
Why?
Breath is the primary detox mechanism of our physical and mental body!
When we think about our whole life and list the factors that affect us, the first item that affects our daily detox process is the quality of the air we breathe;
The second item is the quality of the water we consume; and the third item is the quality of the food we consume.
With rhythmic and controlled breathing techniques based on the science of yoga, you can give serious support and accelerate your detox process and make this process much more comfortable.

RECOMMENDATION:
Apply especially the detox breaths I describe in my bookThe Life Hidden in Breath - A Guide to Nasal Breathing for Everyday Life every morning.
Kapala Bhati - Fire Breath is one of them. Click here to watch.

Things to Avoid During Detox;
•     Alcohol, tobacco, over-the-counter medicines and pills that fall into the drug category
•    Caffeine; Although caffeine is metabolised by the liver, reducing your caffeine intake can significantly support the detox process. If you are used to consuming large amounts of caffeine daily, reduce it gradually to avoid symptoms such as headache. If you will continue to drink coffee, take care to consume less, preferring the organic one (not decaf). And sprinkle some cardamom in it to protect your adrenal glands.
•     Do not consume anything unnatural. Before you eat something, think ‘did this foodstuff exist in nature 100 years ago’ and do not eat it.
•     Avoid processed, refined, genetically modified foods. Refuse any food in a packet that is not in its original form and do not buy it during shopping.
•     Avoid processed sugar and all artificial sweeteners. Remember that natural sweeteners such as molasses, dates, honey, palm sugar, maple syrup, etc. can also cause stress on the liver due to the high fructose content if you use them too much.

Ebru Şinik | Ayurveda Instructor & Wellbeing Coach