By: Dr. Cynthia Mangla, DC
It’s that time of year again for us to purge unnecessary belongings and deep clean our homes. Why not do the same for your body? Some of us are trying to return from indulging in some less-than-healthy foods during the cold months. Others may just want a quick jump-start for their metabolism. Either way, here are a few steps you can take to spring clean your body and re-boot your health:
Elimination Diet
Elimination diets are one of the most important steps to take during a cleanse. The purpose of an elimination diet is to completely restrict certain foods that may cause sensitivities and are commonly found to be inflammatory. While food allergy tests can be a good place to start, they are not always reliable in determining sensitivities that are negatively impacting our health. A few common symptoms seen from regularly consuming foods that cause allergies or sensitivities include:
Digestive issues/bloating
Autoimmune Disorders
Skin Conditions (eczema, acne, etc.)
Asthma
Mood Disorders
ADD/ADHD
Regular sinus/respiratory illnesses (the GI system comprises 70% of our immune system!)
Chronic fatigue/Brain fog
An elimination diet allows us to remove most foods that can lead to these symptoms and identify which foods may be the culprit. For those who do not suffer from any specific symptoms, eliminating these foods is a great way to reduce as much inflammation in your body as possible, optimizing your body’s natural functions. Some of the most common foods to eliminate include: gluten, dairy, soy, nuts, refined sugars, processed foods, alcohol, and nightshades.
Liver Detoxification
Another significant step for a thorough cleanse of the body is to detoxify the liver. We are exposed to a vast multitude of environmental pollutants, chemicals and toxins each year. While the liver is responsible for a number of vital functions within our bodies, one of the most essential is detoxification. However, constant exposure to heavy metals and chemicals may cause our liver to perform less than optimally. Eating a clean diet is one of the most necessary steps in detoxifying our livers, along with consuming foods that are high in certain vitamins and minerals to further assist with the process.
Additional Steps
Consume Lots of Water: During any cleanse/detox program, remember to regularly drink water! At minimum, you should be drinking at least half of your body weight in ounces (e.g. 120lbs = 60oz. of water).
Take a Probiotic: It is essential to find a good quality probiotic to take during and after a cleanse, in order to build up healthy gut bacteria.
Limit Strenuous Activity: Sometimes we find ourselves wanting to further detox by engaging in strenuous exercise. As we are typically consuming fewer calories, remember not to over exert yourself. Instead, opt for some light exercise and stress-relieving activities.
Life gets busy, and properly planning for a good cleanse can be overwhelming. For those interested in having more guidance throughout their cleanse, our office offers a couple of different choices. Depending on current lifestyle habits and future health goals, we offer both a 10-day option and 28-day option. Contact Washington Park Chiropractic for your nutritional consultation and help in boosting your health this Spring!
(Prior to changing your diet and/or any medications, please discuss with a qualified healthcare practitioner).
Washington Park Chiropractic is the only practice in Denver, Colorado specializing in Sports Chiropractic, Prenatal Chiropractic and Pediatric Chiropractic. Our Wash Park Doctors are expert certified and trained in Sports, Pediatrics and Prenatal Care including massage, acupuncture, Webster Technique, Graston Technique, Laser, K-Laser, Kinesiology Tape, RockTape and Normatec.