To Detox or To Reset?

"Detoxing"what does it even mean? Don't we have a liver to detox? Why do we need to buy a detox? - These are questions I am getting everyday. And some of them are warranted! I try to avoid the term "detox" because of the negative connotations that are now associated with it.

It's true- your liver and kidneys do a really good job and detoxifying toxins from your body. For this reason, I don't think we humans need to "detox".

However, I do recommend a quarterly RESET.

Here's why:

Point #1 - Nutrients!!!

The majority of Americans consume an excess of calories but their bodies are starving for nutrients. In fact, 90% of Americans are deficient in one or more micronutrients at the RDA level. That's the minimum amount to prevent deficiency diseases like scurvy and rickets. Not the optimal amount to create robust health. Over 98% of Americans are deficient in omega three fats, 80% in vitamin D, 50% in magnesium, and 10% in vitamin C at the level that would cause scurvy. These nutrient deficiencies can compound over the years and may continue to cause issues for decades.

Micronutrients are vitamins and minerals and we need them to carry out chemical reactions in the body. They are co-factors for enzymes that make things happen. Everything from energy production in our cells, to hormone and neurotransmitter synthesis to - you guessed it...liver "biotransformation" (haha, there is zero chance you actually guessed "liver biotransformation" BUT you might have guessed "detoxification"). The liver requires specific micronutrients to breakdown and excrete toxins. This is science, it's not a fad.

Point #2- We weren't designed for this world!

Our bodies were also not designed to be exposed to the level of toxins we face everyday. We were meant to detoxify smoke from camp fires and herbal constituents, but were we designed to be exposed to 6 million pounds of mercury and 2.5 billion pounds of other toxic chemicals every year? Yes I said 2.5 BILLION. 80,000 toxic chemicals have been released into the environment since the dawn of the industrial revolution, and very few have been tested for their long term impact on human health. The average newborn baby has 287 known toxins in his or her umbilical cord blood before they even take their first breath.....need I say more?

Point #3 Fasting and autophagy are backed by science

Fasting is when you consume little to no calories. This is an ancient practice that has been done since humans were...well humans. We have lost this practice because we all have cravings, busy lives, and our brains are wired to have constant access to food, which I am grateful for. But what happens when we stop eating for just a little bit? Our body's turn to "autophagy"- the processes of eating it's own waste and cleaning things up. When we are continually consuming calories our body has to focus on digestion and absorption of food, but when we get rid of these energy consuming processes our bodies can focus on cleaning house. Fasting is not for everyone, it can slow down the metabolic rate and impact thyroid health but a modified fast every once and while can really make an impact on someone's insulin resistance (helping balance blood sugar), help kick cravings, reset your thought patterns around food, and reduce inflammation.

OK, I get the point, but there are so many "detoxes" and "resets" out there how do I know which one to pick?

Some generic programs do not contain the right nutrients at the right levels for your body.

If you see "cyanocobalamin" or "folic acid" in a supplement, put it down. They are choosing the cheapest forms of the vitamins and are not as well absorbed or used by the body.

What about “water fasting”? This can be extremely beneficial to some people, but should only be done under medical supervision when you are able to meditate, relax and destress. Long term water fasting can be too stressful for most people’s bodies to handle. We live in a world of stress overload, which is fine as long as we are able to adapt to it. One way we can adapt to stress is to nourish the body.

The modrn 10-day reset

We use a 2-day modified protein fast, packed with all of the nutrients needed for phase 1 and phase 2 liver biotransformation as well as to carry out all of the other functions in your body. We also gently guide you towards a whole foods diet where we take out potentially problematic foods and then teach you how to strategically reintroduce them. We combine the science of fasting, with a functional medicine protocol that will help you regain healthy eating patterns and rewire your brain to crave good foods again. If you want to experience less bloating, increased energy levels, less brain fog and cravings then shoot our team an email (admin@modrnmed.com) or give us a call at (760) 932-0849 and ask about our modrn 10-day resent.