Introduction
Erica, AlkaWay’s resident Naturopath has some great tips for detoxing. She has reviewed our products and has identified the best ones for detoxing and explains how to use them. Giving you tips on what to eat and what not to eat… and the benefits of each AlkaWay product.
I think that you can all get something out of it… Read on…
Detox with AlkaWay by Erica
It’s spring and time for more salads and fewer stews and soups. If like me you find yourself feeling a bit sluggish as the seasons change, then it is a great time for a detox. Sure, the body can detox all on its own, but why not give it a bit of a break from toxins and a little love and support to remove the winters accumulated sluggishness. After all, fatty liver and cirrhosis don’t just suddenly happen.
What you need from AlkaWay
- An UltraStream or water filter bottle or similar
- AlkaWay Greens
- Alkaline Booster
- I love H2 or Ultra H2
- VitaKlenz
- I love O2 (Rocket Fuel)
- Stainless steel bottle so you can carry filtered water everywhere you go
- Purified water
An UltraStream is ideal. You don’t have to wait for it to filter, you just turn on the tap. It takes out pretty much everything that isn’t supposed to be there and leaves all the good stuff. If an UltraStream isn’t an option for you at the moment then a water bottle with built-in filter is a possibility (call us if you want other options).
There is no set rule for how much water you need to drink a day but aim for about 2 litres, or 8 glasses a day. I keep a tally of glasses I have drunk in the day to help me keep on track. The more you are sweating throughout the day, the more you need. If you are thirsty, you are already dehydrated. If you aren’t accustomed to drinking that much water then you will be going to the toilet a lot more often than normal, but this will usually only last about 3 days. The body is flushing out all the fluid it has been storing while it thought it was in the middle of a drought and had to conserve fluid. Your waistline will love you for it as well.
AlkaWay Greens
This is the main thing you need after lots of water. The herbs in it provide a gentle detox at normal dose. It provides herbs that stimulate the body to release toxins it has been storing and just waiting for an opportunity to get rid of. It also increases the body’s production of antioxidant detox and liver support molecules like glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase.
For a really effective detox effect, you need to increase the dose to 2 or 3 scoops per day for the duration of your detox. You may need to start slowly so you don’t get the classic detox symptoms such as headache, nausea and fatigue.
VitaKlenz
It’s good for killing intestinal parasites and an effective bowel cleanse. If the bowels aren’t functioning efficiently then all the toxins you are releasing can’t be eliminated as easily and have more time to sit in the bowel and be reabsorbed. Take 1-3 Vitaklenz, usually just before you go to bed, for the week before you start to detox.
In addition to Vitaklenz, adding psyllium husks to the diet for the week before starting to detox is strongly recommended.
Alkaline Booster
Provides all the minerals and trace elements the body uses to maintain normal pH. The minerals have many other uses in the body and during detox the body’s mineral requirement is increased as there is a lot of healing and repairing going on. Providing the minerals takes the strain off the body and lets it get on with doing everything a detox is supposed to do. Many people will get a few aches and pains while detoxing, as the body releases stored toxins. The minerals in Alkaline Booster help to reduce aches and pains.
I recommend one serve at night as your base dose. The minerals may also help you sleep better. If you are aching or planning on exercising then double it. Taking more than double probably won’t be any more effective as you can only absorb so much of any nutrient in one day.
Ultra I love H2 or I Love H2
molecular hydrogen not only helps everything in the bodywork better, but it also helps herbs and supplements work better. To get the most benefit from your AlkaWay Greens and Alkaline Booster, take H2 as well. It helps make sure that the organs and systems of the body that need a little love and support get the nutrients they need to function optimally.
It is also great for energy, and that is one of the main side effects of detoxing, especially for the extra toxic amongst us.
Take one or two tablets a day of the Ultra H2 and double that for the I love H2. I put mine in with my Alkaline Booster if I am having the minerals during the day. Helps dissolve those gritty bits (lemon juice also does this if you add a little water to the Alkaline Booster then a squeeze of lemon and stir, then fill the glass with water).
I Love O2 (Rocket Fuel)
Great for energy and may just penetrate fat cells and help them burn. Many people lose fat whilst detoxing, so why not give this process a bit of a boost. The extra energy you just may have will help you go for that walk or swim you have been promising yourself all winter.
Take one dose early in the day.
What to eat:
- As much fruit and non-starchy veggies as you want. Most of your meals are probably going to be salads or stir-fries. Make your own salad dressing.
- As much seafood as you want, but stay away from fish that is further up the food chain such as shark and swordfish as these fish have the accumulation of all the toxins from all the littler fish etc that they have eaten. Contrary to popular belief, protein is absolutely essential for detoxing.
- Eggs are great. Personally I can’t eat eggs as I have a sensitivity reaction to them, but for everyone else, enjoy.
- Snack on nuts and seeds.
- If you are craving beef, chicken, lamb or pork, then there is a good chance that you need the nutrients in that food. Have a small amount (the size of the palm of your hand should be sufficient) and if you can, make it organic, in the case of beef, it has to be grass-fed.
- It is OK to have ONE coffee a day (as long as it isn’t instant coffee) as it stimulates liver function. But no sugar and no milk. Nut milk would be ok if it is sugar and preservative-free, you probably have to make it yourself to be sure.
- Herbal teas are fine. Ones that will support a detox include dandelion root, chamomile, ginger and peppermint.
- If you are craving something a lot like bread, then my go-to foods are Healthy seed crackers or Paleo pastry. Google for recipes.
What not to eat
- Anything in a packet or a tin.
- Fried food, or any food cooked in an oil that doesn’t have a high smoking point.
- Starchy carbs and all grains (corn is a grain)
- Dairy
- Alcohol
- Trans fats (actually, avoid these at all times)
- Fast-food, of any description
- Sugar
Feeling like a bit of a detox at this time of year is really common. Having extreme detox symptoms isn’t, it isn’t a healing crisis it is just a crisis. If you are then it means you aren’t doing it right. Try backing off a bit and approaching a lot more gently. Also, just how toxic were you at the start?
Ideally, detox for at least a week and try for two. But even three or four days is a start. For some people, one alcohol-free day a week is a start, but if you are at that stage then I strongly recommend you see a naturopath and get some professional support.