08.13.2010
Uncategorized
I opted not to fast for the first two days. My wife and my office manager Tracy have made it very clear that I am not allowed to fast. When you eat every few hours as I do, I guess I get a little ornery when I have to skip a meal or two or three. I did however, as the program recommends, reduce my typical calorie amount during the week which allows the digestive system much needed rest and allows more energy to be devoted to the detox process. This includes resting the pancreas, liver, gall bladder, and intestines, all of which play important roles in our digestive systems and in our health.
The other important aspect of this program is avoiding foods which can cause inflammation in the intestines such as gluten, dairy and corn. Many people suffer from mild food allergies to these foods in the form of bloating after eating, gas, heart burn and cramping. Although I did not have to alter my diet much during the week, coming off of dairy and gluten proved to be more difficult than I expected. It is simply not easy to avoid gluten as it is in almost everything that we eat. I also learned that I eat a lot more dairy than I realized.
The other difficult part for me was detoxing from caffeine. I experienced a mild headache most of the week which is probably mostly from avoiding that strong cup of fresh ground coffee every morning. I did drink green tea during the week which probably helped me to avoid full blown DTs. I also really wanted to open that ice cold Newcastle that was calling my name on day 4 when I opened the fridge in the garage but I resisted and held off until day 6.
As advertised in the detox manual, my bowels did move more frequently when I started the phase II supplements on day 3, and I experienced a burning sensation in my stomach and some flushing on days 3 though 5. I could tell something was at work in my gut but these symptoms were mild and the burning was more along the lines of what you feel after eating something with jalapeno peppers in it rather than pain. I felt like I had more energy during the week which occurs for a couple reasons. The main one being that digestion of the food we eat is a large part of our daily energy expenditure so eating less equals more energy for other functions. The other is that when you are eating a lower carb diet, your insulin levels and therefore blood sugar leaves stay more stable which usually clears the mind and energizes the body. I did feel weak when trying to work out out during the week. The instructions recommended exercising less than you normally do but I tried to maintain my normal routine which was difficult when trying to follow a lower calorie diet.
Aside from the actual detox itself, I think the main benefit will be for most people will be that the program gives you structure, if only for a week, to completely remove the junk from your diet and focus on eating only pure, organic foods. In other words, how we were meant to eat. I really noticed the number of times during the day that I have the opportunity to put junk into my body and the strict diet made me realize how much of a conscious effort it was to resist eating mindlessly. Although I have not stayed as strict since ending the week, yes I succumbed to the calling from the garage and have resumed my morning coffee ritual, I find myself thinking more before I grab that snack that I would not have thought twice about a few weeks ago. I do find myself more sensitive to caffeine so I tend to drink less now and I managed to lose a few pounds during the week, mostly around my midsection. I don’t typically feel bloated but since completing the program, I feel like I am less bloated if that makes sense. My gut just feels less inflamed and I feel thinner although I did not have dramatic weight loss. I think the feeling you get from eating a pure diet for a week is something that will motivate most of us to make better choices going forward.
It is very easy to go through life without putting much thought into what we are putting into our bodies, eating what is convenient rather than what is healthy, always eating for taste rather than eating for what we need to fuel health and wellness. It is also easy to tell ourselves, one day I will make healthy changes to my diet, just not this week because there is that big football game, or party, or work project. There is never going to be a convenient time to change bad habits. Change comes mostly because we simply make a decision to do so. I encourage you to think about taking one week of your life and focus on your health. We are here to help you with that process when you are ready.
Until next time, Stay Healthy and Live Well… Dr. Mike
08.11.2010
Anti-Aging, Primary Care, Weight Loss
As promised, this week’s blog is a detailed description of our experience with our new detox program. As I discussed in my last blog, we have partnered with a company called Ortho-Molecular® to offer a comprehensive detox program called Core Restore BT®.
There are 2 main phases of detox. Phase I takes place in the liver and involves chemical pathways that alter toxins which are then dumped into the intestines where phase 2 takes place. Phase II detox involves another series of chemical pathways that promote the excretion of these toxins. If this second phase does not take place, these toxins can be reabsorbed back into your system causing the many of the harmful side effects we typically associate with detox programs. Many products sold over the counter and on the internet do not give you enough support for phase 2 detox which is why some people experience dramatic side effects such as headache, abdominal pain and cramping, flu-like symptoms, nausea, chills and sweating.
After experiencing our program I can tell you, Ortho Molecular® got it right with this product. The program is a 7 day protocol which calls for an optional, modified fast over the first 24 – 48 hours while you are taking supplements to build up phase II detox nutrients so that, when you start phase I nutrients on day 3, your system is optimized to excrete toxins rather than reabsorb them. The first two days are not a true fast as you will be drinking a shake twice a day which provides some calories.
The kit comes with a canister of powder for shakes you will drink twice a day as well 2 different supplements you will take throughout the week. Additionally it comes with a complete instruction manual which includes recipes, shopping lists, and lists of recommended foods and foods to avoid during the week such as dairy and gluten products.
Following is a description of our experience:
Tracy: Office manager, The Center for Health and Age Management
My life during Liver Detox Week!
I began the Core Restore BT® Liver Detox with mixed emotions of apprehension and excitement. I started by reading the booklet provided in the kit. As I learned more about what to expect and how beneficial this rest was for my body, my anxiety lessened and my excitement grew!
The booklet offered a lot of information that included step by step instructions. It defined toxins “as any substance that causes harmful effects to our body”. Toxins are all around us, in our environment and our lifestyle. Internal and emotional toxins abound. The part that intrigued me was the effect all of these toxins have on our digestive health. This detox was going to make me feel better, assist my body in maintaining good health and help my liver detox on its own in the future. At this point, I was eager to start! I wanted to be cleansed!
The main focus is to rest your digestive system by incorporating foods that enhance the detoxification process and eliminating dairy, sugar and processed foods. It provided a grocery list and some great, easy recipes. Since I’m not a good cook, this was really helpful to me.
I opted to fast the first two days and followed the plan as outlined. I drank a lot of water and got through the first two days fairly easy. I did have a slight headache, but it wasn’t unbearable and I didn’t feel bad. In fact, I was surprised at how energetic I felt starting on day two. By day three I was ready to add the banana and berries to the morning shake. The shake kept me full and satisfied. I enjoyed my homemade hummus (one of the recipes) with fresh vegetables for lunch. For dinner I made the stuffed peppers (another recipe) and they were delicious. When I ate, I was full really fast and felt like my stomach was shrinking. I was thrilled and feeling great. It felt good to be hungry and feel my body utilizing the nourishment I was providing. I felt like my mental clarity improved and I felt healthy.
It was a satisfying experience for me. I realized that eating fresh foods and eliminating sugar really did affect my body in a positive way. I didn’t crave or have the desire for anything that was “off limits” for the week. I kept thinking it’s only seven days and all of the junk will be available when I am through. By the end of the week, I realized I didn’t want or need the junk anymore. The fruit satisfied my sweet tooth and the good clean foods were fulfilling. I am motivated to continue this healthy journey of eating better every day. I like the way I’m feeling and am looking forward to my workouts instead of dreading them. It was an insightful week. I gained some healthy recipes for everyday eating and lost a few pounds in the process!
Tomorrow I will post my insights and experiences with the program. The Core Restore program is available through our office and we are offering free shipping if you are interested in trying it or stop by the office for a free consultation with Dr. Mike on suggestions for successful detox. I promise you won’t be sorry!
Until then, Stay Healthy and Live Well, Dr. Mike…
