From a very young age, I have loved to eat.

I enjoy all kinds of foods: Indian, Thai, Italian, Chinese, Persian, Mexican, French, Mediterranean— you name it.

I’ve spent countless hours discussing restaurants with friends and loved ones. During my travels, the first thing on my mind is the food! I always look forward to exploring the different tastes, smells and textures that are common to a region.

When I decided to approach my life more holistically, detoxing was the last thing on my mind. Because, let’s face it, I love to eat. And there was no way I’d willingly give up my comforts such as my morning coffee, or a glass of wine. These were my vices to get me going. I honestly believed I couldn’t live without them.

That is, until I tried my first detox.

I was blown away. My attachment to my “addictions” was what surprised me most.

In the traditional sense, an addict is defined as someone who is physically hooked to substances such as drugs or alcohol.

Yet, I couldn’t deny the way I felt bound to certain foods. I realized it was time for me to face my own addictions.

I remember saying out loud to myself, “I am an addict.”

• When and how did that come to be?
• Why was I handcuffed to the substances disguised in food?
• What was I seeking from them that I could not receive from within?

These questions loomed over my head.

With much encouragement from my naturopath, I approached detox with an open mind and a desire to learn more about myself and my relationship with food.

It took me forever to get into that mindset, but after I finally set the intention, I didn’t look back.

Detox is now a regular part of my life. I detox twice a year, in the spring and the fall.

It has become a ritual and oh, how I love rituals! Prepping for my detox feels like a nesting process. I de-clutter my kitchen, replenish my pantry, gather new recipes, inform family and friends of my upcoming dietary limitations, clear my social calendar and go!

From then on, I am on a mission. I look forward to the structure, the predictability and to the routine that detox brings with it.

How do you choose which detox is right for you?

I was determined to have a personalized plan set up by my naturopath, who understood my unique body make up. But, for a newbie to detox, even a simple cleanse diet works wonders.

The best way to start is to remove common culprits such as dairy, gluten, caffeine, soy, sugar, alcohol, meat, and corn from your diet for 3 weeks. I have not yet done a juice cleanse—the idea of fasting with liquids is daunting to me—but it is on my to-do list. First, I have to master the art of cutting out caffeine and red wine – so far, so good..

I have to admit, cravings do sneak back into my diet BUT (and this is a big BUT), I approach food with an awareness that I did not have before. Being mindful of what I am eating has been transformative and healing. I am now connected to my body and am very sensitive to any physical manifestations that may arise as a result of an imbalance in my body. That in itself has been a real gift.

When is it ever a good time to do a detox?

I have come up with 1,001 excuses for why it’s not a good time to start a detox; I am travelling; a celebration is coming up; I don’t have all the items I need; I am not mentally prepared; I am too busy; I have a big work project; and the list goes on.

And in the end, every reason is just an excuse. What I have learned is that there never is that ideal time for a detox. Sure, in a perfect world, I would get all my ducks in a row before I began, but that’s not the way life works. In fact, when I reflect on previous detoxes, the ones that have been most helpful to me were the times I was in the midst of an emotional upheaval or when I was in a chaotic rhythm. The detox forced me to slow down, to be present and to take back control.

As I write this blog, I am on day 2 of my 21-day detox. This time, I just dove in and didn’t think twice about it. I woke up one morning and said to myself, “This is the day.”

I shopped last night, I cleared my kitchen, rescheduled my date nights and made room in my life for it. The rest I will figure it out as I go. Because let’s face it, other than having a few items in my pantry, fresh produce and an intention, I really didn’t need much to start my detox journey.

Detoxing cleanses my body and nourishes my soul. Apart from the physical benefits that often comes along with detox such as weight loss (that red wine really does a number on my body), clearer skin (hello glow!), and increased energy, I was surprised to find what it did for me emotionally.

My brain fog lifts within days, and with it comes profound mental clarity and emotional stability.

Revelation

Toward the end of my detox, I am always amazed by my inner strength. I walk away with a renewed sense of self. Simply put, I am joyful, radiant, and eager to share the abundance of love.

Now, it’s your turn.

Are you curious about how a detox can change your body, mind and soul? What’s holding you back?

If you’d like support and encouragement as you embark on your first detox, click here to email me! I love sharing this amazing gift with others.