How To Prepare For A Functional Medicine Detox
Congratulations on committing to taking this step towards improving your health! I have personally found this particular detox program to be one of the best discoveries I have made and it has been a staple in my wellness routine over the past couple of years.
The Dr. Cabral Detox has held the power to help me maintain my weight, even through the Menopausal years. It has allowed me to reset my body every few months by lowering my overall toxic load. Each time I do it, I know I will experience increased energy, lowered inflammation, improved digestion, better sleep, clearer thinking, and weight loss of a few unwanted pounds. I have witnessed a countless number of people also experience life-changing health improvements by focusing on detoxing and incorporating a low-inflammatory eating style.
I have found toxin accumulation to often be a missing piece to people’s health symptoms and weight loss resistance. While there may be more detective work to do in order to discover one’s toxicities and deficiencies, the Dr. Cabral Detox is the best first place to begin.
Now I want to share some helpful tips on how you can be best prepared for your Detox.
The first big step is just committing to do it in the first place!
There is never such a thing as perfect time with our busy lives and we all can find excuses not to do it. My advice is JUST DO IT. I do suggest making sure the first two days are at a time when you don’t have much going on and can take some downtime. Of course you also want to schedule this around any travel.
Prepare Your Body
Make sure your bowels are moving. You do not want to be constipated or having infrequent bowel movements while detoxing. Toxins need a way on out of the body and this is really important so they don’t reabsorb. Having 1-3 bowel movements per day is ideal. If you struggle with this, try drinking warm water with lemon and sea salt each morning. This is like a “natural Gatorade” and can stimulate movement in the digestive tract. I also recommend using a supplement with Magnesium citrate to keep things moving along.
Support your liver bile ducts. Drinking warm lemon water with sea salt, dandelion or milk thistle tea are great ways to support opening up your liver bile ducts for detoxification. Most people are unaware how important the liver bile ducts are for liver and gut health. A supplement that also be very helpful with this is called TUDCA.
Wean from caffeine. If you are a coffee drinker like I am, I’m sure you are wondering how you will survive without it while detoxing. You may be surprised to hear that it is actually not recommended to completely cut it out if it’s something you are used to. Cold turkey stopping caffeinated coffee will likely cause withdrawal symptoms which we do not want. What I do suggest is starting a few days before you begin your Detox, begin weaning to one cup/day. Then once you begin your program, it’s ok to stick with one cup daily, unless it happens to be a goal of yours to cut it out for ultimate detoxing. Drinking it black is best.
Keep your lymphatic system moving. Our lymphatic system plays a role in helping to remove toxins and dispose of them through perspiration, bowel movements, urine and our breath. Dry brushing, rebounding and exercise are great ways to keep things moving along. Don’t underestimate the power of even just walking for daily movement!
SWEAT! Our skin is a MAJOR drainage pathway and is one of the ways our body releases toxins. Try to focus on sweating each day through exercise! Taking warm epsom salt baths is also another way to pull toxins out through the skin. If you have access to an infrared sauna, that is the most powerful way to get a healthy sweat!
Take a BINDER. A Binder is a supplement that can help boost any Detox program. This is not required and first-time detoxers may not be ready to add in this extra element. For more seasoned detoxers and people who want to go all-in, adding a toxin Binder will increase the amount of toxins you are able to get rid of. They act like a magnet to bind to toxins so they can be excreted through the stool. Binders are also helpful in lessening any potential detox symptoms.
Prepare Your Kitchen
Grocery Shopping. You do not want to be going to the store during the first couple of days of the Detox. Make sure you open your kit a few days before you begin so you can review the list of approved foods. If you plan to fully follow the first two shake fasting days, it’s a good idea to have some ingredients stocked so you are ready to easily begin your eating days.
Modification Supplies. If the shake fasting days become too difficult, I have modifications to help you through this phase. I recommend adding these to your shopping list to have on hand: unsweetened almond milk, frozen organic blueberries, organic spinach.
Cinnamon. I always recommend using cinnamon to add some flavor to the shakes, especially on the first two days when we only get one scoop of powder per shake.
Lemon/limes. Have some fresh ones on hand or a pure organic juice. You will want to use this for salad dressings and to make a “natural Gatorade” with sea salt if you are feeling head-achy or low on energy.
Herbal Tea. Drinking tea at any time during the Detox is welcome. Especially on the first couple of shake fasting days, it can help to have some flavor to keep us distracted from thinking about food! Any decaffeinated tea is fine, I particularly enjoy Ginger or Chamomile tea. Ginger actually helps with digestion and can be a helpful addition on the eating days.
Recipes Guides. I have some Detox-approved recipe guides available under the Files tab in my private Group Detox coaching page. In the group I will also share other recipe ideas as we go along. Sharing of recipes and photos of meals are encouraged to give others some inspiration! *Note - following recipes is not required and it’s completely fine to keep things simple.
Clean Out. Go through your pantry and refrigerator to see what you can purge. It’s best not to keep things in eyesight that may be tempting.
Prepare Your Support Network
Family. If you have a partner or spouse detoxing with you, that is always great support! If you are doing this solo, good for you. Make sure you communicate to your family WHY you have chosen to do this. Let them know you will be focusing on cooking healthy meals at home, and you can offer to make plenty for the entire household to enjoy with you. They may be surprised how much they like it!
Friends. Invite them to join you! It can make it easier to go through something new together. If your friends are not on board, let yourself be the example and when they see how great you look and feel afterwards, they may be soon following your lead. You may find yourself having to explain to friends that it is not a good time to go out for meals and meet for happy hour. Stay strong and commit to yourself that you can miss some social outings temporarily.
*EATING OUT - While it’s best to eat at home and be in control how your food is cooked, it is not impossible to eat out once you reach the eating days on Day 3. Choose a restaurant that has healthy protein options and vegetables. Ask for olive oil and lemon for dressing, or even a fresh salsa would be ok. I’m not encouraging people to initiate eating out while on the Detox, but life happens and it will not ruin all your efforts. If someone is doing a longer 14 or 21-day Detox, I would rather you eat out a couple times while doing the program, instead of choosing not to do it at all!
Mindset Preparation
Know Your WHY. Being clear on why you want to complete a Functional Medicine Detox will help you be successful. Do you want to lose weight? Do you want to increase your energy and lower inflammation? Are you wanting to jumpstart a healthier way of eating? Is this your first step to taking control of your health? Whatever your main reason is, keep reminding yourself and write it down if you need to.
Remember YOU are Important. Deciding to do this Detox is an act of self-care. You are choosing to make YOU a priority and you deserve that!
I hope these tips were helpful in getting you prepared both mentally and physically for your upcoming Detox. If you haven’t yet purchased your kits or gained access to my private coaching page, you will find them here on the FAQ page.
Detox FAQ’s
Whether you’ve already decided to do the Detox or you’re looking for more information before you commit, I’ve put together some of the most common questions here.
I’ve supported so many people through this protocol in my private Facebook coaching group. When you purchase your kits, just let me know so I can give you access to join it. It is meant to be interactive so questions/comments are encouraged! Every Quarter I run live Group Detoxes, but you don’t need to wait for one to begin to do your own Detox.
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It is a science-backed protocol that allows the body to gently eliminate toxins and rebalance the body at a cellular level. This system helps to remove toxins that cause unwanted symptoms such as bloating, inflammation, low energy, weight gain, brain fog, hormone imbalances, mood dysregulation, skin issues and poor sleep.
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Results vary from person to person depending on their starting “toxic load” and current diet and lifestyle.
Benefits most people experience are:
reduced inflammation
weight loss
deeper sleep
increased energy
better digestion
better cognitive function
less anxiety
clearer skin
better mood
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You can choose to do this Detox protocol for 7, 14 or 21 days. Longer detoxes are recommended for people with significant weight to lose and/or if they are dealing with other inflammatory health issues. This Detox is most always suggested as a precursor to other targeted detox protocols a person may be planning to do afterwards.
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I always share preparation tips a week out in my private Facebook coaching group to help people know what to expect and how to set themselves up for success!
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This is a great way to get a jumpstart on weight loss and creating healthier eating habits. Regardless of weight loss goals, anyone can benefit. The amount of weight loss differs depending on your starting toxic load and the length of detox you do. If someone doesn’t lose all the weight they desire, we can discuss possible next steps to reach their goals. In general though, losing between 5 to 20 pounds has been commonly seen.
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If you find you are losing too much weight, you can incorporate some of the food modifications that I share in my coaching group. On the food list that comes in the Detox Kit box, you will see a list of starred foods that are approved for anyone whose goal is not weight loss.
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The Detox kit comes with a nutritional shake powder that is used on the first two fasting days, and for your breakfast and mid-day snack for the rest of the week. You will need to go to the grocery store to get ingredients off the approved Detox guide list to take care of lunches and dinners on days 3-7.
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Yes! I have some great detox-approved Recipe Guides that I will share in the coaching group.
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If you are a regular coffee drinker I do not recommend going cold turkey off it, as you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Do limit it to one small cup a day and try to have it black. If you are looking to decrease your coffee consumption and do the Detox without it, start weaning yourself off the week before.
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YES! The approved food list consists of low inflammatory foods that do not contain gluten, dairy, eggs, nuts or soy.
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If you miss something just continue on and do not stress. You do not need to double up, just carry on with the program.
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Please do not stop prescribed medications and consult with your healthcare practitioner to ensure your medications are not contraindicated with any ingredients. It is your responsibility to address any concerns with your prescribing medical professional.
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Most people can safely do this Detox, but it is not recommended for anyone under 18 year old, or anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, please consult with your health practitioner if you have any of the following:
liver or kidney disease
a gallbladder condition
history of appendicitis
an eating disorder
type 1 Diabetes
thyroid issues
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Yes! Feel free to drink any flavor of decaffeinated tea you prefer. This is an especially great idea on the first two fasting days.
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Yes, but I do suggest only doing something light on the first day and taking at least Day 2 off. The beginning of the Detox serves to give our bodies a rest from digestion so it can work on clearing toxins. Exercise can cause extra stress on the body which can increase inflammation and hinder our goals. Listen to how you feel and know it’s ok to take a break! This is your opportunity to rest, relax and take the pressure off yourself to get to the gym.
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The capsules can be opened up and mixed into your shakes! The supplements are what makes this an actual “detox”, so it’s important to get them in any way you can.
Why Should You Do a Functional Medicine Detox?
Why Should You Do a Functional Medicine Detox?
When I was dealing with weight loss resistance and increasing bouts of low energy, I tried all the diets, hard-core workouts and going to the doctor. It was constant frustration not seeing the scale budge and being told everything was “normal” on my bloodwork. Then one day I learned about Functional Medicine detoxing and since I have been doing them every few months for the past two years, I have been able to reach my ideal body weight and maintain it like never before. My energy is also recharged upon completing each Detox.
The Detox I do is nothing like a juice cleanse, it’s a liver-focused detoxification process that allows the body to safely eliminate toxins. When looking at products and ingredients, it’s important that both Phase 1 and 2 of liver detoxification are addressed.
Do you know there are over 80,000 consumer chemicals registered with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and most have never received vigorous toxicity testing? Our bodies were not built to deal with this overburden of daily toxic exposure. This is why we cannot expect our livers to function optimally, and it is one of the most overlooked pieces of the puzzle regarding our health.
Toxins can accumulate in the body and they often get stored in fat cells to keep us safe. So when someone is having trouble losing weight and can’t figure out why they are getting no where with eating less and exercising more, often it’s because their toxic burden is keeping them from reaching their goals. This accumulation of toxins effects our health in many other ways as well, including causing hormone imbalances, inflammation, sleep issues, blood sugar dysregulation, digestive issues, brain fog and skin issues.
A Functional Medicine Detox is the best first place to begin on any weight loss and health journey. By reducing our toxic load, our bodies can begin to function better! I also recommend to my clients that they continue with detoxing as part of a healthy lifestyle for optimal aging and increasing health span.
What benefits you may get from a Functional Medicine Detox:
weight loss
clearer thinking and focus
balanced hormones
reduced inflammation
better sleep
improved digestion
increased energy
skin improvements
If you would like to be on my mailing list to be notified when I announce upcoming Free Group Detoxes, please fill out this form. I also suggest following me on social media for updates. Please realize it’s not necessary to wait for my Group program, but it does offer an extra layer of support if you have never done one before!