Detox

Why should you Detox? The reason we detox is to heal the body. This can be done through the natural process of cleansing with food, thus cleaning the body from the inside out. The body has its own way of detoxing every day, which works to eliminate toxins that we eat or breathe every day. A detox aims to help this process. By reducing the food normally eaten and choosing foods that will help in cleaning the body, a detox diet will give the digestive organs a rest and allow the body to heal itself. There are many different approaches but we will be doing a fairly gentle method. The benefits are many. It can improve your digestion, circulation, skin, hair, nails and slow down the aging process. As well, you feel good! More focused, better able to handle stress and leaving you with lots of energy.

What are Toxins?

Toxins are harmful substances that that pollute out bodies, putting a strain on our organs and their normal, healthy functioning. A buildup of toxins put a strain on the body and can affect things like digestion
and circulation. Toxins come from everywhere. It is basically impossible to avoid them but we can try to cut down. For those of us who live in a big city like Athens and breath the not-so-clean air every day, eat food that is not organic, drink unfiltered water, go to cafe’s and bars where people are smoking, a periodic cleansing is important.

 

What do I need?

• It depends on what program you decide to do. For all programs you should have a strong bristled bathed brush to dry brush your skin.
• For the 2 day,7 day or 2 week programs you should have a juicer. You can find pretty good ones for about 40 euros.
• Organic fruits and vegetables. They are very expensive in Greece but there are a few organic laiki’s in Athens that have good prices. If you do not buy organic, make sure you peel the fruits and veg before you eat it. The most important to buy organic are called “the dirty dozen” as they have the most pesticides. If you only eat these organic, you can cut your pesticide consumption by over 80%! That’s a lot. They are celery, peaches, strawberries, apples, nectarines, spinach, peppers, grapes, lettuce, potatoes, cherries and pears.

How do I start?

Decide what program is right for you and prepare the necessary things. Try to choose a time when you do not have a lot of responsibilities or obligations and can focus on taking good care of yourself. Prepare yourself, your house and your kitchen by cleaning up and getting rid of old things and putting food you will not be eating out of sight. Stock up on everything you need for a few days, so you do not have to keep running to the supermarket.

 

2 days before you begin

• cut down or stop eating meat, dairy, coffee or black tea, sugar, wheat and junk food
  

This allows you to ease into the program in a more gentle way.

 

Side-effects

• tiredness
• headache
• feeling cold
• nausea
• constipation
• bad breath or furry tongue
• feeling irritable
• diarrhoea

You may feel all or none of these symptoms. Don’t be discouraged, this is your body getting rid of the toxins inside, which is a positive sign. Take care of yourself! Have baths, go to a sauna, go for a swim, get a massage, have a nap, do some yoga or go for a walk. This is a healing time. Write down how you are feeling and be very loving with yourself. There are many websites and books if you would like further info before you begin. If you have any doubts, ask your Doctor or don’t do it! Life is all about choices.

Do not detox if..

you have just been ill, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, you are taking prescription drugs or under a lot of stress and pressure. Wait until you have time to devote to yourself.