Today’s unnaturally fast-paced society all too often makes healthy choices feel next to impossible. Preparing balanced meals, sleeping eight hours per night, exercising and practicing self-care can seem downright daunting, and the idea of a quick-fix detox program might sound appealing for a reset.
Unfortunately, thinking of a detox as any other restrictive fad diet that you do for a short time and then stop will almost surely place you right back into the viscous cycle of life stressors and unhealthy patterns. While certain components of a detox plan can be temporary, it’s important to also consider a detox as a unique opportunity to redefine your relationship with food, movement, stress management and more, and start from scratch.
At Solaris Health, we think of a detox as a reset for the mind, body and spirit. It is a chance to de-stress, get back to the basics, turn inward and put yourself first. Supporting your body’s natural detoxification processes involves not only targeted foods and supplements, but also encompasses rest, stress management, self-love and acceptance, and the space to practice and adopt tools that you’ll incorporate into your life once the detox ends. It’s not always easy, but with the proper tools and support, it is achievable.
Undergoing a cleanse or detox diet has become hugely trendy these days, but also shrouded in misinformation. The truth is that your body already holds the innate wisdom and raw materials to properly and effectively detoxify, it simply needs you to lay the groundwork.
What Does Detoxification Mean?
First and foremost, let’s take a moment to understand what detox is, exactly. Detoxification is a natural set of reactions run by your liver and also involving the colon, kidneys, skin and lungs that help the body process and prepare to expel chemical compounds and heavy metals that are harmful. These toxins can come from many sources in our modern-day world, for example pesticides, plastics, personal hygiene products, cleaning supplies and more. An accumulation of toxins over time burden the liver and can lead to a host of health problems such as weight gain and chronic diseases, according to studies.
Similar to all aspects of health and wellness, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to detoxification. That is why we at Solaris Health pride ourselves in taking a functional medicine approach, meaning we look at everyone’s biochemical individuality, genetics, lifestyle, stress, sleep, diet and other personalized factors that impact detoxification.
Detoxification the Solaris Health Way
We specialize in chronic stress for supporting detoxification and optimal health, and stress can come in many forms. Many people are surprised to learn that exposure to toxins is a major form of physical stress placed on the body, as the liver is forced to work overtime and struggles under an increased toxic load. This type of stress can manifest as your body being slow or unable to heal and repair, and inflammation can run rampant. An inability to effectively detox can have ripple effects on other body systems such as the thyroid, gut, adrenals, brain, hormones and more.
For this reason, our detox program at Solaris Health encompasses a whole-body and individualized approach that not only includes nutrition and gentle movement, but also hones in on supplementation, sleep and stress management. We strive to find supportive practices such as journaling, therapeutic baths, sleep hygiene practices and skin brushing to compliment detoxification and promote self-care.
In addition, we put particular emphasis on phase two detoxification, which is the phase that attaches to and neutralizes toxins and other molecules in preparation for them to leave your body.
Mind-Body Detox
Another foundational element of detoxification is that it’s not only a releasing of the physical toxins that burden the liver, but the emotional and spiritual toxins that can also profoundly slow down its chemical reactions. Along with medications, alcohol, toxic foods and other tangible sources of toxins, our emotional and spiritual wellbeing is just as important a piece of the detox puzzle.
Solaris Health’s approach to detoxification is where science and lifestyle meet. We work hand in hand with you to find doable and highly effective detoxification approaches and solutions and get to the root problems that might be underlying why you aren’t feeling your absolute best. The solution might not be overnight, but a gentle detox program is the beautiful start of a process that encompasses education, tools and practice to last a lifetime.
