Article based on the Cahier Détox by Anne-Claire Meret.

Anne-Claire Meret is a coach, naturopath and EFT (Emotional freedom technique) practitioner in Paris. She also consults remotely (on Skype).

She is passionate about different natural medicines and healing places around the world and shares her discoveries on her website: www.anneclairemeret.com

Secretary General of ICNM, World Congress of Naturopathy, Anne-Claire Meret is also the author of several other books on naturopathy: La Détox pour les nuls (ed. First, 2017), La naturopathie c'est la vie (ed. First, 2017) and co-author of the books La naturopathie pour les nuls, Recettes gourmandes détox (ed. First, 2016), Raclette et brocolis, Le miracle du fastne (ed. First, 2017), Yoga Cookbook (ed. Ulmer, 2017).

"Stop the evil before it exists, calm the disorder before it breaks out. "
Lao-tzu

Better lifestyle, a lighter diet, awareness of taking care of yourself,... Let's not wait for January 1 to get back into balance!

The benefits of a detox are multiple:

• Forget the unpleasant sensations of bloating, gas and other discomforts. A cure induces a rest of the digestive system and its sanitation, from the stomach to the colon.
• We will also benefit from an evacuation of waste that overloads the body. All of the accumulated overflow
  will exit through the various doors of the body. This will stimulate the skin, liver, kidneys and lungs.
• The energy that is not used to digest is available to the rest of the body, which can then repair our imbalances throughout our body. You feel available again to accomplish
  new projects, like taking even better care of yourself.

Why should I go for it?

The detox, by stimulating the organs responsible for the evacuation of waste, aims to purify the body of toxins.

In general, as we point out in the article " eat more to eat less" , our diet has changed a lot in the last 50 years. Today, the majority of products are of industrial origin, processed and contain elements that are complex to digest: pesticides, texture agents, preservatives, coloring agents... And, for most of us, we eat too much! In quantity, but also in quality: too much sugarof salt, of fat...

Our skin is also subject to a number of different aggressions. Non-organic cosmetics often contain toxic components, just like the air we breathe and the household products we use. Some are even known as "endocrine disruptors" and can cause hormonal disruption, others are carcinogenic.

Also, the sedentary lifestyle, stress and lack of sleep lead us to draw on our energy reserves on a daily basis. Too busy, therefore, the body's essential cleansing organs are not able to get rid of the waste... We become exhausted and the body's filtration systems are saturated.

So what happens when the machine crashes?

We digest badly, we bloat, we assimilate nutrients less well and we lack energy. Our immune system weakens, we get opportunistic or seasonal diseases more easily and we develop allergies.

Blurred complexion, dark circles around the eyes, saturated skin,... it's the open door to premature aging!
We are less resistant, our sleep is less good and we start to lack enthusiasm.

But don't panic! There's always time to hit the "Reset" button and get back on track.

We would like to draw your attention to the fact that a detox is not beneficial for everyone, however. Thus, the cure is strongly discouraged, not to say forbidden, to pregnant women, women who are breastfeeding or those who have a baby planned within 6 months. Indeed, the recirculation of toxins may pass into the placenta, so avoid it. On the other hand, it's perfect if you have a design project in the coming year, your body will be ready.

It will alsonot be recommended if you are feeling a lack of vitality, or have been ill for some time.

How do I know if I'm lacking vitality? After your shower and in a temperate bathroom, run a stream of cold water over your legs to the waist. If your body warms up quickly, everything is fine. If you are cold and not warming up, you need to rest and revitalize before considering detox.

Finally, if you are undergoing heavy treatment or taking a lot of medication, ask your pharmacist, your naturopath and/or your doctor for advice.

Vital Diet vs. Mono-diet vs. Fasting

You have three options:

1. The choice of a light and vital food: we mean healthy, organic, seasonal and with gentle cooking so as not to lose the vitamins of food.

This option is for those who want to do something good for themselves but have little time to spare and little energy. Start with serenity and gently step out of your comfort zone with a 3-day bubble to lighten up!

2. The choice of monodiet: juice, broth, fruit, vegetables, grains...One choice! And we stick to it for a period of time. The monodiet is faster than the light diet and vital to lighten the work of the digestive system and allow the body to approach the detox.

Ideal for people who feel ready to live a few days of detox to gain in lightness and to take up small challenges over the days to gain in well-being!

3. The choice of fasting (1): one abstains from all solid and liquid food, except for water and sometimes infusions. Fasting can be done for short periods of time, such as a day or even a single meal during the day, or for long periods of time, up to several weeks. In this case, you will be accompanied by a medical team in a fasting center.

You are very fit and you want to go further, to take care of yourself in depth and adopt new healthy and sustainable habits.

What side effects?

Fatigue, diarrhea, hunger and nausea, headaches, pimples, raspy tongue,. By recirculating the body's fluids and directing waste products to the outlets, we may encounter what are known in naturopathic jargon as "curative crises". These are demonstrations that prove that the movement is restored. So the cleaning is on its way!

Anne-Claire Meret's tips for a good detox

- Don't smoke or drink alcohol
- Zap coffee, chocolate and refined sugars, processed foods, foods with gluten, dairy, meat, fish and eggs.
All of these exciting substances acidify the body and contribute to its imbalance. The more we consume, the less fit we are, because we deplete our nervous reserves, so we need it! During the detox, we will also avoid tea, another "excitant", to which we will prefer herbal infusions.
- Adopt gentle cooking
From 45 °C, cooking takes the life out of food: the higher the temperature, the less vitamins and enzymes remain! Raw foods also generate less waste in the body, but the fiber in vegetables can sometimes be a little hard on the intestines. Do you know that you have trouble digesting certain raw vegetables? Focus on juicing with an extractor (without fiber) and eat vegetables lightly cooked.

After the detox, keep in mind to add a raw element in each plate (a raw food or a juice), which will bring directly usable enzymes and you will thus avoid the exhaustion of your digestive system.
- Chew
Chewing is the very first phase of digestion, allowing a first mechanical digestion of food and, with saliva, a first chemical degradation. As we chew quietly, our brains take note of the amount of vitamins, fats, carbohydrates, proteins, starches and sugars they come across. It then sends the first signs of satiety when it is full, we eat less!
- Avoid temptations
Get some rest and know how to surround yourself with people who support your "detox bubble". Go to bed early and shun temptations.
- Let hunger pass
Very often, the feeling of hunger is just a reflex conditioned by our habits
of life. The real hunger, and we know little about it, corresponds to the physiological hunger. The difficulty lies in regaining that hunger instinct, which can only be experienced if the stomach is truly empty, after a meal made of real nutritious food.
- Relax
You are detoxifying your body, take the opportunity to clear your head! Step away from your phone, email and connected habits. Work a little less (or better), sleep more and get some fresh air! The functions of our body are linked, if the energy is entirely mobilized by the cortical brain, the physiological brain does not have enough. The rest of the body does not receive the right information to ensure its functions, it becomes exhausted.

When is the best time to start a detox bubble?
The best time to do a detox is first and foremost when you feel the need to take care of yourself.
The idea is to make yourself feel good, not to add culinary constraints or schedule changes!
When you have time for yourself, to rest and cook, to set new challenges and lighten up.

Getting in and out of detox
You don't get in and out of detox with just any diet. There are a few rules to follow in order for the treatment to go well.

Before Detox
Adapt your diet gradually, so you don't have to make a drastic change overnight. During the 3 days preceding your detox, leave out meat and dairy products (cheese, cream, butter, dairy products...). Prefer a diet of fruits and vegetables, and reduce portions if
you are used to eating a lot.

After the detox
Preferably adopt a light and vegetarian diet (without eggs and cheese but sometimes with products of the hive), but always varied. When you return, you may want a burger or a pizza... Say no! The resumption of eating should be done gently: eggs, white meat, small fish, goat cheese...

Source:

Anne-Claire Merret, La Détox pour les nuls (ed. First, 2017), 144p. To accompany you in your cure with tests, recipe ideas, tips and tricks, etc.

(1) It is essential to prepare before starting a fast and gradually return to normal eating afterwards, if you want to avoid some intestinal discomfort... Also, ask a naturopath or visit a fasting center. Then you can do your fasts serenely at home.