You think "cleanse" and you think multiple trips to the bathroom. Not so!
I want to share my "cleanse" journey with you in the event you are considering such an adventure for yourself this year.
Three things you may not know about me:
1. I am a big fan of Biotics supplements.
2. I've never done any sort of diet/cleanse in my life. I'm 52.
3. I lived in a very polluted part of the world for several years and this has weighed heavily on my psyche ever since.
That said, I bought this kit a few months ago with the intention of starting on January 1 because January 1 is a symbolic rebirth, right? "What better time to start?" was my thinking.
I didn't really know what to expect from this "cleanse" as I hadn't talked with anyone who had done it.
The purpose of the cleanse is to "foster gut health which will help fuel an effective detoxification process." The powder is certified organic pea protein, nutrients, antioxidants, fiber, fruit and vegetable extracts and herbs that support the metabolic detox process. The supplements include bromelain, antioxidants to minimize oxidative stress that can happen when you clear your body of toxin buildup, and 3 supplements that fortify the detox pathways and support the liver and biliary systems.
I have lived in both western and eastern Europe, and was actually living n Germany when the Chernobyl accident happened, breathed polluted air contaminated with dioxin, brown coal and DDT in both Slovakia and Turkey, surely drank contaminated water and ate plenty of pesticide and herbicide-laden vegetables in my lifetime, so I'm quite sure that my liver would probably benefit from a little tidying up.
THE PLAN:
Two shakes and 2 packs of supplements per day and otherwise normal diet. The macronutrients: protein, complex carbohydrates (veggies), and healthy fats.
No alcohol, dairy, grain, sugar. 15 days. Boom!
Questions I have been asked (I have curious friends and I love that!)
Q1. How did the affect your digestion? Did you spend a lot of time in the bathroom?
A: Not at all, completely and totally normal - no extra trips. It's not designed to be a "clean out." If anything, my digestion improved and has held steady!
Q2: Were you hungry because you weren't eating 3 meals a day?
A: Never. There are 5 grams of fiber and 12 grams of protein per shake. In addition to my 1 cup of coffee with 1 scoop of collagen peptides (10 grams of protein) + 1 tsp of MCT oil, I wasn't hungry until lunch. You are allowed snacks such as fruit and nuts which I eat as snacks anyway.
Q3: Why did you do it? You already eat healthy.
A: My liver has seen it's fair share of hard times. I have no idea what it looks like or how much fat surrounds it, but I can only imagine what it's had to process so far these 52 trips around the sun. The liver has 500 jobs and it seems fair to cut it some slack now and again.
Q4: You don't need to lose weight. Is this a weight loss program?
A: I did lose 3 pounds, but didn't set out to lose weight. My understanding is that you WILL lose weight if this way of eating is very different from your current diet. If you are holding a lot of toxins, this cleanse will definitely involve weight loss because of the combination of healthy diet and your liver functioning better.
Q5: What benefits did you experience?
A: I am sleeping better!
I have been a light sleeper since my oldest daughter, Eleanor was born, and it hasn't improved especially since I was diagnosed with sleep apnea several years ago and now wear a cpap so I don't die in my sleep due to lack of oxygen in my brain.
It's an unpleasant fact of life and I honestly dread attaching this horrible contraption to my head every night, but since I started the cleanse, I've been getting really good sleep. Is it due to the diet? No alcohol? I don't know, but I'm taking it! I haven't slept 8 hours IN A ROW in I can't remember how many years.
Q6: Were there any negative side effects of this detox?
A: Negative, no. Unpleasant, yes. From nights 6 - 11, I sweat a LOT at night. It was gross. It was like I had a fever, but wasn't sick. My entire body was drenched with sweat. Apparently, when you liver is working really hard at night (when it does it's detox thing), the temperature can get up to 107 degrees. No wonder! Other than that, no. No headaches, body aches, etc. I was pleasantly surprised as I was sort of gearing up for a rough detox experience.
Q7: What did you like about it or what worked for you?
A: It was easy for me because I'm used to eating like this. We are gluten and mostly dairy free anyway, and I love vegetables and cooking. I liked not eating meals twice a day. It saved me time and energy. I struggle getting myself out the door in the a.m. and as much as I am a "breakfast person", this was honestly, a relief. Because I currently have 2 jobs, I'm running out of school two afternoon a week and having a shake instead of leftovers has made it easier.
Q8: What did you not like about it?
A: Towards the end, I did miss "real food" and was a little tired of the shakes. It got a little boring. I like trying new foods and recipes and am definitely not someone who likes to eat the same foods over and over again, let alone twice. I do have some routines such as my coffee in the a.m., but I don't think I could make this shake thing a "routine."
Q9: Would you recommend this to me? Why should I do it?
A: This is good for anyone at any time. You don't need to start on new year's day. It doesn't have to coincide with any event, etc. Do it for your self because you matter. This is the only body you have, and if you don't love it, who else will? You take care of your car, right? You maintain it, change the oil, rotate the tires, etc. Why not maintain your body? Everyone can benefit from giving their liver a little break, some TLC and support. I would certainly consider doing this cleanse on an annual basis. I recommend epsom salt baths, dry brushing, and clay bath skin detox as well. I think it really promoted the detox effect and cleared up my skin.
Q10: How much does it cost? How would I get it?
A: It costs $184 + tax and I am happy to order and deliver it to you within 24 hours of your order. The BioticsNW office is conveniently located .5 mile from my school, so I can swing by on my way home.
Overall, I'm really happy and satisfied with the outcome. I didn't have any earth shattering, life-changing effects, but I do have peace of mind that I did my liver a favor for 15 days and it's probably really thankful for this gift. It didn't feel like a chore or a sacrifice, or a lot of work. I feel great for a number of reasons: 1. I did it. Fifteen days is a long time to stick to a strict eating regimen if you aren't used it. 2. I feel better emotionally and physically. It's about will power, stamina, goals, and fortitude. I proved to myself that this is worth doing, not "cheating" and doing my body a favor by following the protocol.
If you have specific questions or would like to discuss this with me personally, please contact me via my webpage, text, email, facebook, instagram, or YELP.