Top 3 Health Benefits of a Food-Based Cleanse
“Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.” -Hippocrates
Hippocrates first spoke these words thousands of years ago, and today they are just as important to us today as they were in ancient Greece. Food has great power to heal us!
A food-based cleanse, or detox, is my favorite way to stay healthy. While other cleansing programs can focus on supplements, powders, pills, and excessive restriction, a food-based cleanse focuses on eating healthy foods that supply the body with the nutrients it needs to stay healthy. By giving my body a break and focusing on a nutrient-rich diet including fruits, veggies, and healthy fats and proteins, I can push the reset button on my health and cleanse my body of toxins, impurities, and extra weight.
Doing a food-based cleanse for a period of time has so many health benefits, and as a doctor, here are the top 3 benefits I highlight to my patients:
1. Erase Inflammation
Inflammation is the culprit behind many chronic diseases today, including cardiovascular illness, diabetes, even cancer and mental health conditions like depression. A major cause of inflammation is the food we eat. A food-based cleanse is rich in anti-inflammatory compounds naturally found in fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins like olive oils and avocado. Following a food-based cleanse program for a period of time clears silent inflammation out of your body and promotes vibrant health. You might even notice that you sleep better, your mood improves, and your skin feels amazing!
2. Detoxify Your Body
The liver is a major organ for detoxifying our bodies: it filters our blood and pulls toxic chemicals out of the bloodstream. If the liver gets overloaded, then extra toxins will be stored in the body, often in fat cells. Doing a food-based cleanse that focuses on nutrient-dense foods helps the liver do its job of getting toxins out of the body. The body can then focus on breaking down fat cells that also store toxins, so that those toxins can also be eliminated from the body.
3. Support a Healthy Weight
Did you know that in addition to getting stored in our fat cells, toxins can also get stored in our mitochondria? Mitochondria are the “workhorses” of our metabolism, and the better they work, the faster our metabolism will be. When they get plugged up with toxins, eventually our metabolism will slow down. By focusing on a healthy, nutrient-dense diet for a little while, our body can release the toxins that have been hiding out in our mitochondria. The net effect is a faster metabolism!
Of course, the best benefit of a food-based cleanse is a healthier body and better quality of life. People often notice that they sleep well, have lots of energy, and generally feel great when they do a food-based cleanse!