Not Your Mother’s Detox Diet

Written by Dr. Suzanne Tang

July 14th, 2024

What happens when you google “detox diet”? A plethora of sites will pop up touting boxes of liver-cleansing green juices, vegan meals, and/or nutritional books for DIY detoxes delivered straight to your porch. Deciding on the right detox diet for you can be confusing and overwhelming, to say the least. You’ll probably also run into the nay-sayer articles pooh-poohing the need and benefits of detoxification. Yet there have been studies showing positive impacts on the autoimmune protocol detox diet particularly on inflammatory bowel diseases, such as ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. Research findings show that an autoimmune protocol (AIP) diet reduces inflammation and affects gene expression associated with improving DNA repair, cellular health, fatty acid and protein synthesis, and mucosal healing while also regulating the immune response. 

Furthermore, multiple organs, such as the liver, kidneys, skin, lymphatic system, and colon play significant roles in the detoxification pathways. The liver has two phases of detoxification that require specific macronutrients, such as amino acids from protein and micronutrients and antioxidants to detoxify properly. A detoxification program that provides these nutrients and foods to optimize your organ functions will support you in detoxing safely, sustainably, and easily - versus a quick fast or juice cleanse. Jumping right into a quick cleanse may also cause unwanted side effects of headaches, dizziness, mood swings, poor sleep, cravings, and fatigue due to low blood sugar, nutrients and electrolytes, and possibly caffeine withdrawal. In addition, much of the weight lost during a cleanse is regained when previous eating habits are resumed. 

I absolutely recognize the benefits of intermittent fasting to aid weight loss, minimize inflammation, increase human growth hormone, regulate insulin and hunger hormone, ghrelin, and reduce triglycerides. I even wrote about it in a 2023 blog post about diets, which also includes details on the AIP diet. I also recommend intermittent fasting to many patients for hormone balance and metabolism support but quick-fix cleanses don’t get to the root causes, such as gut dysbiosis, environmental toxicity, hormonal imbalance, infections, leaky gut, poor diet, and/or stress that may be driving chronic inflammation, weight gain, and autoimmune disease.

Identifying the root causes through a proper assessment and laboratory testing is essential along with a comprehensive detoxification program that includes the following: 

• autoimmune protocol diet rich in vegetables, protein, and healthy fats

• transitional elimination of inflammatory and processed foods and reintroduction of foods

• nutrient and herbal supplementation for detoxification support, such as milk thistle, N-acetyl cysteine, B-vitamins, and antioxidants including selenium and Vitamins A, C, and E 

• nutritional counseling

• gut repair and motility support to help break down and eliminate toxins

• stress reduction and mental and emotional detoxification 

• regular movement

• detox pathways support, such as infrared sauna, lymphatic drainage, and colon hydrotherapy 

• environmental and household product re-haul to reduce chemical exposure 

So why detox? 

We live in a toxic environment and are regularly bombarded by thousands of chemicals in our food, water, household and beauty products, and air. Exposure to toxins such as chemicals, heavy metals (e.g. lead, mercury, cadmium), mold, and pathogens such as parasites, viruses, bacteria, and fungi have become impossible to avoid and even more difficult to remove once they have embedded themselves in our tissues.  Last year alone, more than 7 billion pounds of chemical pollutants were released into the environment.  Unfortunately, many of us have substituted healthy meals with a poor, processed diet that lacks nutritional value to fuel the body’s detoxifying capacity.  All of these factors contribute to an accumulation of toxins.

Want more information on the impact of forever chemicals on our health? Check out this blog post about PFAs and environmental wellness!

Many symptoms and conditions associated with a high toxic burden can benefit from a comprehensive detoxification program, such as:

• fatigue

• brain fog

• headaches or migraines

• difficult sleeping

• depression and/or anxiety

• psoriasis, eczema, or acne  

• joint or muscle pain

• stomach issues such as gastric reflux, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, nausea, irritable bowel syndrome or inflammatory bowel disease 

• fibromyalgia and/or chronic fatigue syndrome

• autoimmune conditions, such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, and multiple sclerosis

• chemical sensitivity syndrome

• mold toxicity

• weight gain or difficulty losing weight 

• hormonal imbalances 

• frequent exposure to chemicals including caffeine, alcohol, pharmaceuticals, and drugs

What are the benefits of an Autoimmune Protocol (AIP) Detox Diet?

• Restores Gut Integrity

• Boosts Beneficial Gut Bacteria

• Identifies Foods that Trigger Symptoms

• Rich in Nutrient-Dense, Healthy Foods

• Can Help Reduce Inflammation and Pain 

• Improves Energy and Clarity 

• Aids in Weight Loss 

• May Decrease Symptoms of Autoimmune Conditions

How to get started on an Autoimmune Protocol Detox Diet?

Due to frequent requests for detoxification support from patients, I am offering “Recovering from Summer Fun Detox”, a comprehensive online AIP detox program to patients and their friends and family starting September 9th through November 9th. Click on the image below or scan the QR code on the flyer to register! 

Upcoming Event

Dr. Tang is offering her next seminar on hormone and gut health on Friday, August 9th. Take advantage of this free event! Register now by clicking HERE!

I discussed the why for doing a detox diet but more important is the why behind your wellness journey and the reasons that motivate you to take greater care of yourself. Reflect on this and remind yourself of your why when you need encouragement, clarity, and motivation to keep forging ahead towards transforming your health and living your life fully.

Yours in Wellness, 

Dr. Suzanne Tang, ND, LAc 
Inspire Natural Wellness