You guys mayyy have seen me hint at The Intermittent Fasting Detox coming out SO. SOON. If not, make sure you follow me on Instagram @AutumnElle_Nutrition so that you can get all of the behind the scenes deets! I'll also be releasing the details of The Intermittent Fasting Detox (including when it starts/how to get the download) later this week - stay tuned!!!
But the question you may be having... why detox in the first place? Or maybe... what does it even mean to detox?? In essence, you're detoxing everyday. It's literally what your liver does. Yes yes, your skin, lungs, GI tract and kidneys all play a part - but your liver does the heavy lifting.
I go into a lot of the science-y deets in The Intermittent Fasting Detox and in the YouTube video that I'm releasing tomorrow (make sure you're subscribed HERE so that you'll be notified when it goes live!!).
Although your liver is constantly detoxing, it can get bogged down with all of the holiday festivities ~ think alcohol, sugar, treats and sweets. This is when a full detox is not only nice, but necessary.
Today, I want to break down 10 things that happen when you allow your body to rest and let your liver do it's thing. AND in the meantime, make sure to checkout THIS article on how to stay on track(-ish) during the holidays.
1. Your skin becomes more clear.
Acne/breakouts is often attributed to increased inflammation. With a properly performed detox, you can decrease your body's inflammation and therefore decrease symptoms of it - such as acne/breakouts.
2. Your insulin sensitivity goes up.
Insulin is your sugar storing hormone. You want this to be more "sensitive". When your insulin is "resistant", this leads to an increased risk of weight gain, Type 2 Diabetes and various chronic diseases. Detoxing the liver can help to make your insulin more sensitive and less resistant.
3. Reduce your risk of fatty liver disease/Cirrhosis.
An overload of toxins (especially after the holidays) leads to a buildup of toxins in the form of fat on the liver. Left unchecked, this buildup can lead to fatty liver disease and eventually Cirrhosis. When you detox, you allow your liver to address the buildup of toxins and safely remove it.
4. You'll need to increase your antioxidant intake.
A natural by-product of phase 1 liver detox (don't worry, I explain this all in the Intermittent Fasting Detox!) is free-radical production. Free-radicals can very quickly age your cells. That's why it's important to vastly increase your antioxidants during this time. Yes, berries are great, but the best source of antioxidants is your own in-house version called glutathione. You can naturally increase glutathione by boosting your selenium intake (from 2 Brazil nuts per day) and vitamin E and C intake (from various veggies).
5. And your fiber intake.
Once your liver has converted the toxins into a compound that is safe to release, one of the "exit" routes for these compounds is via the colon (aka 💩). But if you don't have enough fiber to pull the toxins out of your GI tract, then those toxins will be reabsorbed by your body and wreak havoc on your cells. Enter meals filled with chia seeds, cruciferous veggies and avocado!!
6. You'll get increased energy levels.
Without the added stress and inflammation of toxins bogging down your body, your cells will be free to make energy to support your lifestyle again.
7. You mayyy have to go the the bathroom more often.
Part of the detoxification process is getting rid of toxins that are built up in your body. The main "exit" pathways include your kidneys, skin, lungs and colon. That means upping your water intake is essential - which will also lead to a few more bathroom trips during this time. All in the name of health and feeling good!!
8. You'll feel cleaner.
Okay, this sounds weird and definitely not science-y, but it's true! I don't know about you, but I personally feel so icky after the holidays. One of the main reasons I like to follow this Detox protocol after the festivities is so that I can feel more clean! Anyone else get me?!
9. Your inflammation levels decrease.
Because your body is getting rid of the toxins that were causing increased inflammation in the body, you're inherently decreasing your overall inflammation levels! This can lead to a decreased "puffy" feeling and decreased risk of chronic diseases such as heart disease and cancer.
10. Your body will thank you.
Overall, getting rid of toxins in the body and giving your GI tract and liver time to recover is never a bad thing. Think of how hard your body is working day-in and day-out in order to make sure you have all of the essentials to live. Think of this Detox as "body appreciation week" and give your bod the TLC it deserves.
The official Intermittent Fasting Detox starts on Monday, January 7th 2019, so make sure to mark your calendar!!! All of the deets on how to get started will be released later this week - stay tuned!!! I can't wait to do this Detox with you! You're going to feel AMAZING.
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Your Nutritionist,
Autumn
Autumn Elle Nutrition