𝐏𝐡𝐚𝐬𝐞 𝟏

In today’s toxin-laden world where hundreds if not thousands of new chemicals are being created every year, I think most people by now have come to understand that detoxing has become a crucial step toward achieving optimal health. However, many people, my former self included, jump into detox programs without fully understanding the need for proper preparation, which is essential for the process to be both effective and safe. When not properly planned jumping in head first can lead to intense symptoms like fatigue, headaches/migraines, and nausea, flu like symptoms, etc. commonly referred to as a “healing crisis” or Herxheimer reactions. The truth is, despite our desperation to heal, for a detox to be effective and sustainable, you need to start with a pre-tox phase.

Pre-toxing is the process of gradually preparing your body for a detox by slowly eliminating toxic foods, incorporating supportive practices, and introducing binders. This crucial step helps your body transition smoothly, minimizing unpleasant detox symptoms and maximizing the effectiveness of your detox.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐨𝐚𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞–𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠?

Pre-toxing is a gentle, preparatory phase that lays the foundation for a successful detox. It involves three primary components:

1. Gradual Elimination of Harmful Foods
2. Introduction of Binders and Supportive Supplements
3. Lifestyle Adjustments to Support Detox Pathways

This phase can last anywhere from one to four weeks or more depending on your starting point and the level of detoxification you plan to undertake.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟏: 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬

The first step in pre-toxing is to slowly remove foods and substances that place a burden on your body, especially your organs of elimination. Trying to eliminate everything at once can be overwhelming, both physically and mentally. Instead, take it step by step:

1. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐅𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐬
   In the first week, focus on cutting out heavily processed items such as fast food, packaged snacks, and refined sugars. These foods are packed with chemicals, preservatives, and added sugars that burden your liver and digestive system. As your body adjusts to this change, you may experience some initial discomfort or symptoms due to the sudden shift. If possible, avoid relying on medication to manage these symptoms, as introducing medications during a detox phase can sometimes do more harm than good. However, if the symptoms become too intense, use medication sparingly and only as necessary as the goal is to eliminate toxins, not to continue piling them on. The following food items you will continue to eliminate one week at a time.
2. 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐬
   Sugar is highly inflammatory and feeds harmful bacteria and yeast in your gut. Artificial sweeteners can disrupt gut health as well. Replace these with natural alternatives like raw honey or dark grade A maple syrup for the time being until you begin your detox protocol.
3. 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐢𝐫𝐲
   Refined grains, in particular hybridized wheat and dairy are linked to inflammation and digestive discomfort. It’s not the gluten in grains that poses a problem, but the chemicals and pesticides frequently sprayed on them. Reducing or eliminating these foods can help decrease the overall inflammatory burden on your body.
4. 𝐂𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐡𝐨𝐥
   Both caffeine and alcohol place a significant burden on the liver, making it more difficult for your body to detoxify efficiently. Caffeine, in particular, is often consumed in large quantities through coffee, which can be a hidden source of heavy metals like lead and cadmium, especially in processed varieties. These metals accumulate in the body over time, adding to your toxic load.
   
   Moreover, caffeine can linger in your system for up to 10 hours after consumption, disrupting your sleep quality. Poor sleep hampers your body’s natural detoxification processes, as many of these occur during deep sleep cycles. If you’re struggling to reduce caffeine intake, consider switching to a more sustainable alternative like organic ceremonial-grade matcha. Matcha provides a gentle, sustained energy boost with less impact on your liver and sleep patterns. Be sure to choose matcha from a clean, reputable source to avoid contaminants.
   
   If you choose to stick with coffee, it’s crucial to ensure it comes from a reputable supplier. Look for single-origin coffee that has been tested for heavy metals and other toxins. Gradually reducing your caffeine and alcohol intake not only minimizes withdrawal symptoms but also sets the stage for a more effective and balanced detox.
5. 𝐌𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐲 𝐀𝐧𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐬 (𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥)
   In the land of today’s current fad diets such as carnivore and paleo, reducing or eliminating animal products can be challenging, especially since our society tends to rely heavily on animal protein while often neglecting plant-based sources. Achieving optimal health requires a balance of clean protein from sources like high-quality meat, alongside plenty of vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and legumes. Most of our daily intake should realistically come from a variety of vegetables. However, during a detox protocol, it’s important to limit or even avoid animal products, particularly if deep healing is the main goal. Meat slows down the digestive process, by requiring more energy and time for digestion, it then leaves less capacity for the body to focus on repairing and detoxifying itself. Prioritizing easily digestible, nutrient-dense plant foods can help your body redirect its resources toward healing.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟐: 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬

The first week of what’s referred to as your STOPS or  you’ve started eliminating harmful foods, it’s time to introduce binders. Binders are substances that “bind” to toxins in your body, helping to safely escort them out through your digestive system. During the pre-tox phase, binders play a critical role in reducing the toxin load gradually, minimizing detox symptoms. If you wish to read more about binders you can do so here: https://shainasnourishnetwork.com/the-overlooked-key-to-my-healing-journey/ 

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟑: 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐄𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐮𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬

To support your body during this phase as well as throughout the detox process, it’s vital to ensure you’re getting the right balance of minerals and nutrients. Detoxification can deplete your body’s reserves of key electrolytes, leaving you feeling drained and unbalanced. Incorporating an adrenal cocktail into your daily routine is a simple and effective way to replenish these essential nutrients.

• Adrenal Cocktail recipe: https://shainasnourishnetwork.com/adrenal-cocktail/ 

𝐀𝐝𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐋𝐨𝐰–𝐒𝐮𝐠𝐚𝐫 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐬

In some detox protocols, the natural sugars in orange juice or coconut water may not be suitable. To adapt, you can create a mineral-rich drink using water instead:

• In a mason jar (roughly 4 cups of water), combine:
  • 1/4 tsp of high-quality salt such as Celtic or Baja Gold
  • 1/4 tsp of cream of tartar (Use a reputable source like Frontier Co-Op for example)
  • 1/4 tsp of aluminum-free baking soda

For more intensive protocols, consider adding an extra 2-3 capsules of a full magnesium complex to further support your body’s needs. Drink one mason jar of this mineral blend daily minimum depending on your needs, listen to your body! For example if you begin getting headaches, go drink an adrenal cocktail and see if the minerals/nutrients was what your body needed. 

For your remaining daily water intake (about 2-3 additional mason jars), add Celtic/Baja Gold salt to ensure your body consistently receives the trace minerals it needs. Baja Gold salt is rich in over 90 trace minerals and provides a natural way to stay hydrated and maintain electrolyte balance throughout the day.

𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐩 𝟒: 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱 𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰𝐧 𝐚𝐬 𝐅𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

Detoxification isn’t just about removing toxins; it’s about ensuring your body’s natural detox pathways are functioning optimally. During the pre-tox phase, focus on these lifestyle adjustments:

1. 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲 𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝
   Water is essential for flushing out toxins. Aim for at least half your body weight in ounces of water daily utilizing the adrenal cocktail options above.
2. 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫
   The liver is your body’s primary detox organ. Incorporate liver-supporting foods like garlic, ginger, onion, brassicas, dandelion greens, beets, and turmeric. You can also drink herbal teas such as milk thistle, dandelion root or burdock root.
3. 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐫 𝐁𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐥 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬
   Constipation can lead to toxin reabsorption. Make sure you’re getting enough fiber from fruits, vegetables, and seeds to keep things moving so to speak. Do not begin an intensive protocol until you are going at least daily. 
4. 𝐒𝐰𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐈𝐭 𝐎𝐮𝐭
   Sweating is another way your body eliminates toxins. Incorporate light exercise, sauna sessions or detox baths to promote sweating. You should be sweating daily!
5. 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐒𝐥𝐞𝐞𝐩
   During sleep, your body carries out essential repair and detoxification processes, with different organs being prioritized at specific times throughout the night. According to the body’s natural circadian rhythm, it’s crucial to align your sleep schedule with these cycles. For optimal healing and detoxification, aim to be asleep by 10 P.M., as key organs such as the liver, gallbladder, and kidneys undergo their most intensive work between 10 P.M. and 2 A.M. This is also when your body cycles through deep and restorative sleep, which is vital for tissue repair, hormone regulation, and toxin elimination. Strive for 7-9 hours of quality sleep each night to fully support these processes and wake up feeling refreshed and balanced.

𝐁𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐏𝐫𝐞–𝐓𝐨𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠

By taking the time to pre-tox, you set yourself up for a more effective and enjoyable detox experience. Here are some benefits you’ll notice:

• 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱 𝐒𝐲𝐦𝐩𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐬
  Pre-toxing helps your body adjust gradually, minimizing headaches, fatigue, and other unpleasant herx reactions.
• 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐱 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲
  With fewer toxins already in circulation, your detox can work more effectively, targeting deeper levels of stored toxins.
• 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐋𝐢𝐟𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐲𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬
  The gradual elimination of harmful foods and the incorporation of healthy habits makes it easier to maintain these changes long-term.
• 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐥–𝐁𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠
  Many people feel lighter, more energized, and mentally clearer even before starting the full detox and often experience improved mood and deeper sleep.

I hope this brief guide gives you encouragement and helps support you as you embark on your detox journey. Pre-toxing is an essential, yet often overlooked, step that sets the stage for a smoother and more effective detox process. By gradually eliminating toxins, incorporating binders, and supporting your body’s natural detox pathways, you’re building a strong foundation for long-term health. Remember, healing is a marathon, not a sprint— and the body likes slow and easy, take it one step at a time, and your body will thank you.

Cheers to your health and healing!