3 Weeks To A Brand New You

By Dr. Angelina Stevens

 

Listen up, all you super moms and dads, elite athletes, stress addicts and gassed-out holiday party-goers! As we step into a new year and revel in the passing of the holidays, it is time to set our sights on our goals for the year and a return to health. Even if you did not totally blow yourself out from Thanksgiving through the New Year, this can be a perfect opportunity to allow the body to reset and release toxins, drop excess weight and water gain, and re-pattern the brain toward healthy eating and exercise.  Some detox programs can be grueling and very restrictive. I can remember crawling through a three-day juice fast feeling like I was ready to gnaw off my right arm and then use it to beat up everyone around me. Other popular cleanses require drinking mixtures of apple cider vinegar or maple syrup with cayenne pepper, which can be tough on blood sugar and leave you feeling wiped out and empty. Over the past eight years, we have adopted and recommended a super-simple three-week cleanse that involves eating real whole foods and nutrients to cleanse the liver, kidneys, digestive tract and lymphatics. I know how busy and hectic life can be, so this plan is energizing and easy for anyone to maintain work, workouts and an on-the-go schedule.  

Symptoms of a toxic body can include: stuffy head, allergies, headaches, fatigue, sleep difficulties, weight gain/difficulty losing weight, digestive issues, food cravings, low libido and reduced metal acuity. Many post-holiday resolutions to drop those accumulated five to 15 lbs can be achieved with a detox diet. Toxins are stored inside of our fat cells so as not to damage vital organs and tissues. So if you are not losing weight despite cutting calories, this could be why. Once the toxins can become liberated from the fat cells, the weight naturally comes off. Our bodies also create waste products as a byproduct of metabolism in the form of carbon dioxide, ammonia and free radicals. With a heavy training schedule, like marathon running or Ironman training, the body becomes a toxic waste dump from all of the hours of metabolic work. It is important for any athlete to routinely cleanse, especially if there has been a marked decrease in recent performance.  

 

Our bodies are designed to get rid of toxic byproducts, but we have created an increasingly toxic environment for our bodies to exist in. Toxins are in the air we breathe, the water we swim in, the food we eat and even the beds where we sleep. There are more than 80,000 different chemicals registered for use in our country with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and hundreds of these are present in our bodies.  Besides living inside of a protective bubble or in a state of hyper vigilance, we can choose to do our best to avoid toxin exposure and to routinely clean out our internal closets. Every change of season is a great time to detox and prepare for the new beginning.  

 

2012 is the start of a Dragon year, which is promising a year of excitement and good fortune, so now is the time to prepare for an awesome new you. Most importantly, this is a time to be kind to yourself and love your beautiful body. Take the time to rest and do what feels good to you. Get a massage, take some long walks and allow yourself to breathe for three weeks. 

 

Yours in Health, Dr. Angelina Stevens


Detox Steps 1-2-3

Step 1: Reprogram Your Diet

  • Eat as much whole, organic, fresh unprocessed food as possible.  
  • Remove sugar, wheat, corn and dairy products from your diet. Besides being common food allergens, these foods create histamine or inflammation in most of the population.
  • Avoid alcohol, tobacco and stimulants. Replace coffee with green/white tea to lessen withdrawal headaches.
  • Eat as many colorful fruits and veggies as possible. Brown-rice products, quinoa and lentils should be eaten moderately for energy.  
  • Eat often throughout the day to keep energy levels up and blood sugar stable. The herb gymnema can be used for blood sugar stability and sugar cravings.  
  • Sip protein shakes for energy throughout the day. Our super smoothie: 1 cup frozen fruit, 1 cup spinach/kale, 1 cup almond/rice milk, vegetarian protein powder, and 2 tablespoons chia.
  • If you start to feel bad or irritable, eat something!

Step 2: Eliminate

  • Drink 10-15 glasses of water per day to flush the lymph and kidneys. Ph-balanced spring water is best and you may add lemon, lime or unsweetened cranberry juice.  
  • Move the bowels to aid in proper elimination. Digestive enzymes and fiber can be added through the diet or supplement in order to soften stools and ensure proper elimination.  
  • Skin brush and exfoliate daily to increase lymph flow. Salt and soda baths or apple cider vinegar can also relax and remove acidic buildup and toxins from the muscles.
  • Supplement with detoxifying nutrients such as milk thistle, beet root, olive leaf and phytonutrients (alfalfa, barley grass, kale).  

Step 3: Relax and Reset

  • Regular sleep (eight to nine hours) and exercise can be beneficial. Cardiovascular exercise is recommended at a low to moderate intensity, along with yoga and stretching.
  • Saunas and massage can open the pathway to skin detoxification, cleanse the lymph, and relax the body.
  • Meditation and deep breathing can detox the lungs and mind. Meditation has been proved to increase mental focus and clarity, and to reduce overall stress levels.

 

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Dr. Angelina V. Stevens, D.C., owns holistic chiropractic and acupuncture centers in Durham and Chapel Hill. She is passionate about healing the body naturally without the use of drugs or surgery and by finding the true causes of pain and illness. As a triathlete, Dr. Angelina has completed in world-class events and has represented the U.S. as a triathlete on Team USA 2001. She currently competes as an elite cyclo-cross racer and can be reached at  www.stevenswellness.com or by email at drangelina@stevenswellness.com.