Welluvia's 7-Day Spring Detox 2021
As another year rolls around, it’s again time for the annual spring detox. Every year at Welluvia we do a detox protocol for a deep cleanse of our body. The warmer weather is creeping in quickly after the past few months of hibernation, and some of us are noticing our bodies are finding it hard to adjust as things begin to start moving again. Our motivation, energy levels and a general feeling of wellbeing may feel strained so now is the perfect time to detox and rid the body of built-up toxins as we approach the fast-paced months ahead.
For those who did the detox last year, you could see all the benefits that it can bring so I’m hoping that you’ll take the journey again with me this year and for the years to come.
As you may have noticed I haven’t written on Welluvia yet this year, so there’s no better way to come back starting with a cleanse. I’ve been up to a lot of different things the past few months and am excited to get into the detox before approaching the busy summer period.
On that note, I’m also looking forward to discussing some of the treatments and things I’ve tried this year that I haven’t spoken about on here yet. There are some exciting new projects and collaborators in the works for Welluvia that I’m looking forward to sharing in the weeks to come.
But first, let’s detox.
What is the Clean Program?
The Clean Program was developed by Dr Alejandro Junger, a medical director and cardiologist based in LA. The Clean Program is a protocol that seeks to eliminate toxins from the body and provide us with an array of benefits. Today we're going to be looking at a complete body detoxifying cleanse that goes for seven days and is based off the fundamentals of this program.
What is a detox, and why should you do it?
Detoxes are short-term dietary interventions created to eliminate toxins from the body. Many believe that eating healthily, doing an occasional infrared sauna and using organic skincare are the keys to optimum wellbeing. Why is it that even when we're living what we believe is a healthy lifestyle, that we still sometimes feel bad? Without us knowing, the body is continuously being bombarded by toxins, and when we slip into toxin overload, we begin to mentally and physically feel the crash. Our modern world is progressively generating more and more toxins that we come into contact with, and it's taking science a bit of time to notice the link between increased toxicity and an array of ailments and diseases. Many say that the body is completely capable of ridding us from toxic overload, and perhaps this was true about 50 years ago, but we're living in a very different world now. When our toxic stresses increase, our systems are overloaded, and the toxins then end up storing themselves within our skin, cells and fat. A detox works to return our bodies to homeostasis, and optimise our elimination organs so they can work more productively at removing toxicity from the body.
The Welluvia 7-Day Cleanse Detox:
As mentioned above, the Clean Program was created to eliminate foods that are known to cause digestives issues and allergic reactions, with the idea that the body will reset itself back to optimal function. The Welluvia 7-Day Detox consists of the following:
No alcohol
No caffeine
No eggs
No beef or pork
No dairy
No shellfish or raw fish
No gluten
No soy
No nightshades (potatoes, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes)
No strawberries, oranges, grapefruits, grapes or bananas
No corn
No white rice
No added sugar
No peanuts, however other nuts are allowed
No processed oils or processed butter, such as margarine. No vegetable oils such as canola or corn. Olive oil, sesame, pumpkin seed and coconut oil are acceptable.
What Are Some of the Benefits?
Inner Organ Assistance
The environment around us is continuously increasingly contaminated, so we can help assist our organs by detoxing and rebalancing them. A detox can assist in improving the processes of the bodies elimination organs such as the liver and gallbladder, digestive tract, lungs, lymph system, skin and kidneys. When the body goes into a detoxification mode, it can rid accumulated toxic substances, repair the damage they may have done and overall revitalise them. When the body is running on a lower toxicity level, the body's disease-fighting capabilities are strengthened, allowing it to better cope with new toxins as they inevitably enter the body.
Cardiovascular Optimisation
A detox can help with lowering blood pressure as well as reducing blood fat levels. As our liver health improves, our blood cholesterol levels can be reduced.
Improved Digestive Function
As we progress through our detox, our body can reestablish appreciation for healthy and nutritious natural food products. If we are eating healthy more regularly, we can reduce our food cravings, reduce bowel problems such as bloating and constipation, and assist the liver with cleansing itself. When we have digestive related issues, they generally stem from built-up toxins in the body or a poor diet. The detox will also assist with reducing fluid retention and bloating while improving gastro-intestinal health, the lymphatic system and cardiovascular wellbeing.
Increased Energy and Vitality
When the body is loaded with toxic and chemical substances, we begin to feel quickly tired and are more prone to a fluctuating mood. When the body can eliminate these waste materials, parasitic infections and built-up toxic containments, the body can then properly digest food and absorb the nutrients. As the body begins to detox, we will naturally begin to have improved energy and reduce inflammation. It is also said that detox can assist with migraines.
Hormone Regulation
Many processed and toxic foods are loaded with fertilisers, pesticides, herbicides, antibiotics, hormones and insecticides. These all have a detrimental impact on the bodies ability to regulate hormones and can cause unnatural spikes in the production. When we're eating healthy, and the body begins to detox, we can see an improvement with our libido and fertility, and reduce hormonal symptoms such as adrenal fatigue.
Improved Immunity
The level of toxins in our body can directly impact our immune system and our bodies ability to defend itself. A key benefit of detoxing is to strengthen the immune system, so it works optimally. Allergic reactions can be improved when our body doesn't have to invest as much energy in combating toxins within the body. This results in reduced hypersensitive reactions and lowered inflammation-related ailments.
Improved Mood and Cognition
The toxins in our body can react with our brain and nervous systems, which can throw out our mood, lower our energy, affect our ability to focus, cause anxiety and other mood disorders. Detoxing is known as a way to develop natural coping abilities for stress, rather than relying on prevalent toxins such as alcohol, cigarettes or drugs. This can help us improve our mental cognition and memory, and also improve our sleep.
Anti-Aging
Detoxing is known to have anti-aging benefits. When we are suffering from toxic overload, the organs of elimination have a hard time trying to rid the body from the toxins, and they can come out through our skin. This can result in a bad complexion or premature ageing.
What can you expect to feel?
In the first three days:
If you're a cup a day coffee drinker, the removal of caffeine from the body can cause headaches and exhaustion. This is good, however, as this is a sign of the body detoxing. Your best friend during these three days (and pretty much the rest of the detox) will be lots and lots of water, which will keep you hydrated during the detoxification process, and assist with the elimination of toxins.
4-6 days:
Four days in you should begin to feel the body start to adjust to your new diet, and feel the energy begin to emerge again. Day five to six, you will also generally notice an improvement in your skin, and your sleep improves.
Day 7 and post-detox:
By day seven, your body should have adjusted by now, and you will reap the benefits of the detox. When and if you return to caffeine and certain triggering food groups, you may notice how certain things don't agree with your body.
Recipe Ideas
A detox can be challenging for many reasons, but it can feel particularly overwhelming to decide what to eat. I've sat down again with Maša Ofei from The Minimalist Vegan to compile a list of Welluvia-Detox-Friendly recipes that were popular last year along with some new options!
Spice Carrot & Millet Salad
Click here for the recipe.
7-Ingredient Creamy Vegan Cauliflower Bake
Click here for the recipe.
Immune-Boosting Bean Soup
Click here for the recipe.
Pomegranate, Crunchy Walnut & Kale Salad
Remove the malt syrup from this one. Click here for the recipe.
Let us know how you go!
Good luck!
Aleksandar
Header image by Aleksandar Zarić for WelluviaImages of recipes courtesy of The Minimalist Vegan