I’m very proud to be recognized as a national media-expert in detoxification and metabolism, which means all information presented is research-backed and published.
What is Detoxification? Working in LA, I hear the “Oh, I’m fasting” statement quite often. It could be at a coffee/tea shop, out to lunch, or at the gym. Whenever I hear this statement, I’m always curious about what kind of fast in which they’re engaged, but never indulge in asking.
As a nutritionist, I’m aware of two types of fasts: The one that makes sense and the other that is just plain stupid. The Master Cleanse is a colossal example of the just plain stupid fast. Those who partake are sipping lemonade sweetened with maple syrup for a minimum of 10 days — and even as long as 45 days.
Personally, I rarely “slam” individuals beliefs, especially those pertaining to health. But how could anyone believe that this fast — which includes lemon, water, maple syrup and cayenne pepper — could actually bring the body back to health. First and foremost, you’re causing more stress to the system by rapidly moving from the average diet (which includes coffee, alcohol and processed foods), to an overnight famine-mode.
Most people today have compromised immune systems due to many factors, one of which is following their beliefs in diets such as The Master Cleanse. The compromised immune system could actually make you sicker and set you up for a big dietary crash. And here’s the worst part: Once Master Cleansers are finished with their fast, they inevitably return to their previous habits. As they return to their real-life consumption within a few days (the immune system is lowered because of the famine mode), you actually could be more prone to problems associated with being sick, including joint/muscle pain, lethargy, constipation and a host of other negative consequences.
Trust me, if you really want to fast properly, first figure out if you have any underlying ‘food intolerance’. In office, I clinically test for food intolerance’s and gastrointestinal problems. You can try doing a rotation-diet at home, by omitting a list of foods for three to four weeks, or, to make it really easy, consume a specific list of low allergenic foods for 3-4 weeks and gradually introduce foods back into your dietary regimen (please see list of foods at the end of this column).
When you introduce foods back into your diet, keep a list of symptoms that could occur once ingested (also included at the end of this column).
To find out more about ‘Stella Metsovas ’s Detoxification Protocol’ use the Contact Us link and schedule a mini-consultation offered at no charge!
