5 Reasons you need to Detox (and keeping your Keto Clean)

5 REASONS YOU NEED TO DETOX (AND KEEPING YOUR KETO CLEAN)

Have you been detox curious but not sure where to start? Or have you been told your liver and kidneys detox your body that the concept of detox is a hoax?

Biochemically speaking there are 2 phases of detoxification and each requires specific nutrients of focus:
Phase 1 is the activation of toxins making fat soluble compounds water soluble (hydroxylation, reduction, hydrolysis, oxidation). This phase requires: B-vitamins, glutathione, flavinoids, and bitter foods to stimulate bile flow.

Phase 2 is the excretion of toxins safely encapsulating and excreting toxins out of your body (methylation, sulfonation, conjugation). This phase requires: methionine, cysteine, glutathione, magnesium, vitamin C, choline, glutamine, and sulfur containing foods.

Both phases are important but phase 2 is especially a focus as if you just get the activation phase 1 activity without enough sulfur containing amino acids, then your body is prone to more free radical exposure and cellular damage. Yes….amino acids, this means you eat animal protein in my 10-day Real Food Detox, it is NOT a juice cleanse! Also, it is essential to use quality nutritional supplementation to provide strategic nutrients to drive both phases and my Reset, Restore, Renew Detox Packs provide: a phase 1 liver/gallbladder supporting compound along with three capsules for phase 2 toxin removal support, along with an antioxidant pill to protect your healthy cells through the process. Check out my Reset, Restore, Renew Detox packs here!

Especially in the ketogenic lifestyle, detox is essential as when you use fat as fuel, you are upregulating the release of toxins in your bloodstream which can have endocrine disrupting effects throwing off your thyroid, sexual hormone balance, and driving insulin resistance over time! For every 10% of your weight loss, you NEED a nutritionally supported Detox! Learn more about this in episode 84 of the Naturally Nourished podcast.

The Importance of Detox on Keto

With my Virtual Food-as-Medicine Ketosis Program and seeing so much success in clinic with a ketogenic low carb approach, I have found that often following the initial “keto high” of reduced hunger, enhanced fat burn, and mental clarity, many clients hit a stall after their first 10-15 pounds of weight loss. It is important to understand that adipocytes, fat cells, are the primary storage site for fat soluble toxins, so when the body uses fat as fuel in a ketogenic approach, the individual gets an upregulation of the release of toxins in their system. Although the liver and kidneys are able to detoxify the system, when there is a surge of increased toxin release with body fat burn these systems get overburdened and often lack the nutritional support to active, convert, and excrete toxins which often then accumulate in vital organs having endocrine disrupting activity!

It is more important than ever to talk about the influence of toxicity not only on metabolism but on hormonal balance (estrogen dominance, low thyroid, insulin resistance to name a few mechanisms), as well as contributing to taxation on organs driving disease risk. Just as we get an oil change to prevent our engines from clogging up and burning out, it is important to cleanse the body naturally a couple times a year. When seeing a loss of 10% of body weight or more (22# loss from 220 pounds as example), toxins that are sequestered deep in our fat tissue can be released as both endocrine disruptors or directly as excessive estrogen, which when left unchecked can truly wreak metabolic havoc making it harder to lose weight or worse leading towards weight regain and undesired symptoms such as belly fat accumulation, erectile dysfunction, and anxiety.

If you have hit a stall in your keto progress, a 10 Day Real Food Detox might be exactly what your body needs to find its rhythm. While our detox program was originally written for a low glycemic approach (<90g carbs) and includes high antioxidant fruits, starchy vegetables, as well as soaked/sprouted legumes as a source of soluble fiber to aid in sequestering toxins, it can certainly be adjusted to fit your low carb lifestyle. Or if you are at a stall and carb curious, this may be the perfect time to carb up and accelerate the whooshing effects of both phase 1 phase 2 detoxification support while releasing fluid excess from fat cells with glycogen refill.

Keeping your Keto Clean!

With keto becoming more mainstream and buzz-worthy, it is important to remember that all keto diets are NOT created equal! The type of keto we practice with clients is VERY different than doing “keto” at the fast food drive through with no-bun bacon cheeseburgers! Don’t get me wrong, I love animal protein, remember I am a recovering vegan and have recipes like While macronutrients are at the core of a ketogenic approach, food quality is perhaps our biggest focus especially when delving into a diet higher in biological proteins and healthy fats!

Ensure your keto diet is devoid of toxins, additives and preservatives!
Food-like substances (yes even the “keto-friendly” artificial sweeteners) can hinder the detox process. When the body is tricked by a non-food substance, it tends to store toxins and unknown compounds in our fat cells. While this functions for the time being as a protective mechanism, this can result in stagnant weight loss! Focus on clean, real foods found in the Naturally Nourished Cookbook that includes KF coding for keto-friendly recipes!

Focus on fiber from nuts and seeds as well as leafy greens!
Our keto protocol requires 2-3 cups of leafy greens as a base, plus plenty of nuts and seeds to ensure ample fiber. Fiber aids in feeling of fullness or satiety, feeds the good bugs in our guts and ensures motility and elimination of waste from the body. Start with a Keto-Friendly Green Shake like the Minty Cool Shake to get in your greens!

Include ample sulfur containing veggies to support detoxification!
Sulfur rich vegetables such as cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts support Phase II of detox which is the excretion or removal of toxins from the body as well as hormonal balance and excretion of excessive estrogen! Ensure you are getting at least 1/2 cup of sulfur rich veggies daily! Our EggRoll in a Bowl is a great option to support detox!

Keep Quality at the center of your keto approach!
I cannot emphasize enough the need to ensure pasture-raised, grassfed and high quality animal proteins and fats in a keto approach. As these foods will be of higher focus in the diet, it is essential that the animal proteins and fats that we are consuming be raised on their most natural, anti-inflammatory diet and that the utmost care is taken to avoid antibiotics and exogenous hormone influence. Check out all of my favorite foods and products in my Amazon Store here! 

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