To depurgate is to cleanse, purify, purge, un-dirty, clean, rinse. In the spring we depurgate our homes, but January is the best time to depurgate our bodies. Over the past 2-3 months we have overloaded our bodies with the sweetness of the holidays. Many have gained weight, were and maybe still are, stressed to the max, tired and sluggish. January brings new hope. New resolutions to do better, to get the weight and energy back under control.
The problem is, now with too many “luxury” foods, it’s hard to stop and get the diet back under control. Let’s face it, the foods of the past season are delicious! Many times, we only eat them this time of the year, making them special. Then we face the addiction. The cravings.
The solution is easy. Depurgate. By being on a controlled body cleanse, we rein in the foods that are not supporting our goals to be healthy (the number one New Year’s resolution). We use herbs, fiber, protein and other nourishing foods to cleanse the toxic byproducts of the holiday junk foods (and from years past) and take the burden off the body.
There are many cleanses (also known as detoxes and detoxification programs) to choose from, but choosing the right one is important. How do you know? There are several important factors.
First, for an annual or semi-annual cleanse, it should run about 21 days. This is important because it is long enough to not have drastic side effects, and long enough to do a thorough cleansing. There are good 10 Day Programs, but these are specialty ones, not full body cleanses.
A good cleanse addresses the liver, gallbladder, intestines, kidneys, blood and lymph. It makes sure your bowels are moving and doesn’t cause a lot of bloating or abdominal discomfort as the waste products are eliminated.
Even better, it does all this while you feel energized, light, and your body feels so much better. It nourishes the body the same time it cleanses it. This is extremely important. A fast, consuming only liquids, doesn’t do this well. Food, nourishment, is important. One really important nutrient, often eliminated in lesser cleanses, is protein. Not just any protein, but raw protein. Raw (low temperature, non-chemical processed) protein powders are used in the best of the cleanses. If it doesn’t say “raw” on the protein powder it’s not raw, and potentially an irritant.
A good cleanse eliminates anything that is an irritant. Most protein powders won’t suffice. We also eliminate inflammatory foods such as most carbs, and especially sugar, wheat and trans fats (such as margarine (anything in a tub!), partially hydrogenated fats, and oils such as canola, vegetable, soy & corn).
And finally, a good cleanse activates the liver’s Phase II Detoxification pathway. Without that, you just recycle your wastes.
This is the time to cleanse. Depurgate and feel Great!
©2017 Holly A. Carling, O.M.D., L.Ac., Ph.D.
