At this time of year we hear a lot about diets and losing weight. One of the “hottest” trends going on right now is detoxing or cleansing. I was reading an article in The Globe and Mail earlier (you can check it out here) and I have to say I agree with most of its points.
The article speaks about how detoxing has become the latest fad and that while in some instances it can be healthy, it can also take us to extremes that aren’t good for us. So here is my take:
I am a huge advocate for healthy eating, in fact I think one of the most important things we can do for ourselves is get back to eating foods in their whole form so that our body can be nourished and therefore thrive. But I think this should be a part of our every day lives, not something we do in January each year or before the summer for example.
So if you are considering a cleanse take the time to really research it. Many cleanses are funded and designed by diet companies, which means their focus is more on dropping weight temporarily than making consistent long term changes to your health. If there is anything that I would recommend it would be to not choose 1 specific detox or cleanse but rather choose to eliminate (or at least decrease) foods that we know don’t benefit our overall wellbeing like sugar or highly processed foods and replace them with a healthier alternative. As with everything when we go to any extreme the likelihood of us sticking to it is really limited and then we end up doing more damage because we go from one extreme to the other.
Try to remember that this applies to both restrictors and emotional binge eaters as they are different sides of the same coin – neither treat their body respectfully, kindly or healthily when it comes to food.
So instead of going on a cleanse, take a few hours out of your day off to really look in your cupboards and ask yourself what needs to be removed and what needs to be added. Maybe commit to doing one of each – for example adding more vegetables or whole grains to your diet while removing sugary cereals.
In case you didn’t click on the article before, here is the link to the article in the Globe and Mail, maybe you will find it as interesting as I did.
Wishing you a happy and healthy 2015
