Day 7: Asparagus

Roasted Asparagus

• 1 bunch of asparagus
• 1 tbsp coconut oil
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a sheet pan with coconut oil and dredge asparagus through the oil. Salt and pepper and cook for 30-40 minutes.

Completion! There is nothing like a sense of accomplishment to build momentum going into the next phase. After this 7 day investment I would be completely showing myself no respect by straying from the course. Not only that, but I risk feeling like total butt and not to mention dragging it as well. This is a crucial period where I need to listen to my body as I slowly re-introduce foods back into my diet. I have a pretty good idea of what foods cause issues, but there might be some surprises looming. The results will also be a big boost to the momentum, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow morning to get these (I'm sure I'll post them).

Starting tomorrow morning I will continue hormone support and control inflammation through medical foods and eat a diet called an Elimination Diet. This is basically a gluten-free, dairy-free, leans and greens food plan designed to lower inflammation and maximize nutrient density. I'll be taking it a step further and removing all grains, not just wheat. As for the medical food, I will continue using Estrium as I work on my lean body mass through resistance work and interval training. For targeted anti-inflammatory support I am adding a different medical food called UltraInflamX. This one works great as a post-workout meal as it has a good amount of protein too.

Medical food has been mentioned a few times this week, but I don't think it has been thoroughly defined. They are the glue of this detox, as they are with many functional medicine protocols. Medical foods reside in a FDA regulatory category between supplements and pharmaceuticals. They are intended for specific dietary management of a disease or condition and are based on recognized scientific principles. Plainly said, medical foods are the only supplement that carry an FDA claim. Pull any supplement off the shelf and you'll find a disclaimer to the effect of "not evaluated by the FDA" and "not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease". This is not the case with medical foods. They are guaranteed pure, guaranteed safe, guaranteed effective and they have guaranteed potency. All of this and yet no unsightly side effects like their flashy third cousin, the pharmaceutical.

Whether it's blood sugar issues, out of control hormones, irritable bowels, chronic pain and fatigue or inflamed joints, medical foods get the job done! When used right they will accelerate any course of care or prevent issues from arising. It's always easier to prevent a mess than to play clean up afterwards. So keeping checking back in to see how I clean up and move towards preventing further messes.

Day 6: Green Beans

Ginger Green Beans

I couldn't find organic green beans at the store I usually shop at (other than the canned variety that is), so I went back to Green Acres knowing that today they would have green beans on the menu. Again, preparation is key and a back up plan is must when on this detox. Their green beans were simply steamed. This was fine for lunch, but for dinner I wanted to wake up the beans as I reheated them. I warmed the beans in a skillet with 1-2 tbsp of olive oil. Then added a 1/2 tsp of grated ginger. At the very end I added 1 tbsp of sesame oil. I got a little caught up in the Asian flavors and sprinkled on sesame seeds which are, of course, out of bounds on the detox.

Today was by far the toughest in terms of cravings and sticking to the detox. I don't know if it was the weather, the fact that it's the weekend, or that the TV was betraying me with beer and crap food commercials, but I was needing some serious comfort food. A steak and grilled sweet potatoes washed down with a nice Zinfandel would have gone a long way with the green beans! I could all but hear the sweet whispers from the meat department, but before every moment of giving in (which were numerous) I was reminded of something I read about discipline.

"The Myth of Discipline" was written on another blog by Charles Poliquin. In this article he states that there is no discipline, only love. What he means is either you love health, wellness, and washboard abs or you love doughnuts, cheeseburgers, and doritos. Beating yourself up over the fact that you lack discipline can only send you further off track. So ask yourself what do you truly love in life. First, you must love yourself. For if you do then you will thoroughly inspect all things in your life.

It's funny, I read this article several months ago but Poliquin just happened to re-post it on Facebook today. The timing was perfect. This is not to say that my only source of strength was this article. My wife has been a tremendous help this whole week. Supportive spouses are an integral part to a successful detox week. I tell my patients that they should get their loved one involved along with them to maximize compliance. Friends, co-workers, neighbors are also viable options because by now you have come to know that detox is for everyone.

Day 5: Broccoli

Roasted Broccoli

• 2 heads broccoli (cut into florets)
  
• 1 clove garlic (minced)
  
• tamari
• pepper

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place broccoli florets on a baking sheet. Sprinkle on garlic, tamari, and pepper. Bake for 30-40 minutes.

There are plenty of misconceptions when it comes to detoxifcation vs. cleansing. A quick google search of cleanse will pull up a multitude of options for colon, liver, kidney or a combination of all. Detoxification is specific to the kidneys and liver. Detox is simply normalizing the body's ability process and excrete toxins. Cleansing often means herbal concoctions that make lovely green stuff come out of your caboose or fasting on lemon juice and cayenne cocktails.

Many people swear by their cleanse programs, but what is achieved? Were heavy metals removed or other potentially deadly pollutants? Has it been studied through years of clinical research? Does the company guarantee potency and purity of their product? I wager that the answer is a resounding no. Each year more than 4 billion pounds of chemical compounds and pollutants from plastics, pesticides, solvents, heavy metals, and medications are released into the environment. Many of these then find their way into our air, soil, and food and water supplies. With the toxic burden that we encounter day to day, safe and effective removal of toxins needs to be the focus.

Proper nutrition is vital to a healthy detox. Restriction in calories, protein, and those with low quality protein or high sugar lead to ineffective and unsafe detoxification. A program that utilizes well-researched nutrients, vitamins, and herbs to balance and support the body's detoxification pathways is critical. To bring it all home, a functional medicine minded practitioner to support that patient through the process can make all the difference. I am ardent on this topic because I've seen where other programs have fallen short and where the 7 day detox excels. When in doubt, detox and detox right!

Day 4: Brussels Sprouts

Thanks to my neighbors at Green Acres Market, I got a little mid-week help in the greens department. I knew I had a long day ahead of me, the possibility of a mid-week slump in motivation, and poor sprout cooking skills. By talking with the head of the market's deli yesterday I was able to find out her menu for today and stay on course. On top of that, she let me know what she was cooking for the following two days. This further helps my planning so I know there's a backup in case it's needed. Utilizing your local, organic market to assist you a day or two can make all the difference.

A quick update on how I'm doing. The past two days at the office have been completely booked. What's more, is I've been running the front and back due to my secretary being ill. Despite all this I have actually had more energy than in previous weeks. Hunger has yet to be an issue and my cravings have turned to foods not normally associated with cravings: almond butter, lara bar, eggs. I attribute this success so far to the fact that this is a detox and not just your average cleanse. The difference between these will be outlined tomorrow.

Day 3: Peppers

Sauteed Peppers

• Green and red peppers
• Chiles from my garden
• Butter

Nothing special here, just simplicity at its best. If you don't know how to sautee, this isn't the blog where you find out how.

Yesterday's post ended with the question "why". Why go through these 7 days? My answer to this is another question, "why not?". Why not do everything I can to improve my health. For myself, for my wife, for my girls. When it comes to my health, I believe I can't be selfish. I neither want to leave my wife and kids any sooner than I have to nor do I want to burden them hospital visits, unnecessary surgeries, putting me in a home or difficult decisions.

Knowing your family history is crucial, but your genes are not your destiny. Your genes only account for 25% of your health, the rest is up to your environment. So do you bathe your genes in bliss or do you bathe them in blizzards, beer and buffalo wings?

My family tree is gnarled with cancer on one side and cardiovascular issues on both (number 1 and number 2 on the leading causes of death in the US). The leading 4 actual causes of death are tobacco, physical laziness/poor diet, alcohol and microbial agents. All of which relate directly to lifestyle. So the solution became quite clear: eat clean, live clean. Or as my mentor puts it: eat right, sleep right, drink right, think right, move right, talk right, poop right.

Day 2: Zucchini

Zucchini Ribbons

• 3 zucchini
• 2 tbsp organic butter
• 1-2 cloves garlic
• 1-2 tbsp chopped parsley
  
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 1/2 lime, juiced
• sea salt to taste

Cut zucchini into ribbons (a mandoline helps). In large skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Toss in zucchini, salt, pepper, parsley and lime juice and cook for 6-10 minutes.

Today's review is not as sunny as yesterday. Today my energy kept on the straight and narrow but it was my cravings that took the scenic route. Steak, no explanation needed. Oklahoma Joe's BBQ, because a patient asked if barbeque sauce was allowed on her diet plan. Pop tarts!? I can't remember the last time I had a pop tart.

Lack of energy is the main reason I decided it was time to detox again. I tried diet and lifestyle changes with no lasting effect. Repeated attempts at exercise only left me more fatigued than when I started. So it was time to go back to basics: all toxins inhibit mitochondria, and all mitochondria produce energy. This is why I chose UltraClear Renew for half of my medical food protocol.

It doesn't matter who you see today, there's a distinct probability that they are estrogen dominant. Whether it's from environmental toxins or self-produced, we all have way too much estrogen. This is where Estrium comes in. For the guys, it's great for leaning up or that B-cup that's sneaking up on you. For women, it's great for everything!

So those are the goals. Get rid of toxins and improve hormone balance. Goals are great, but what is driving me through the process? Why put myself through these 7 days? I'll go into this tomorrow.

Day 1: Cauliflower

Baked Curry Cauliflower

• 4 cups cauliflower florets
• 3 tbsp coconut oil
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/4 tsp tumeric
• Sea salt to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium-sized bowl toss the cauliflower with the coconut oil. Sprinkle the spice mixture over the cauliflower and toss until well coated. Spread cauliflower even in a baking dish and bake 40-45 minutes, stirring half way through.


True cauliflower is not green in color, but it is green in its chemical nature. After 2 and a half heads of organic cauliflower and 5 servings of medical food I couldn't feel better! My energy has been fantastic with no cravings (minus a mistaken glance towards my wife's birthday cake) and no short-fused outbursts. Cravings and hunger were curbed by keeping the palate interested, as with the dish pictured above. Spacing the medical food evenly throughout the day was also a big help.

The two medical foods I am using are:

• UltraClear Renew- Formulated to improve the body's pH levels and clear heavy metals through supporting detox pathways of the kidney and liver.
• Estrium- Designed to improve estrogen clearance.

Why I'm using these two medical foods will be explained tomorrow.

Of Life's Certainties...

...Toxins are one of them. It doesn't matter who you see today, we are all inundated with toxins. Environmental and metabolic, internal and external, male and female. Whether it's the old water bottle you refuse to throw out, the computer you're using to read this blog or the apple you had with lunch, toxins accumulate within us on a daily basis. So the question is not "are you toxic?" but "how toxic are you?".

One could go crazy thinking about all the factors contributing to their toxicity. The mindset that helps me is whether you make them or intake them, get rid of them. The best way I know how to rid the body of toxins is a detox supported by medical food. This week I'll be keeping a journal as I go through the 7 day detox that I recommend to many of my patients.

The plan is simple:

• Eat unlimited amounts of one green, organic veggie per day and change the veggie each day.
• My veggie choices are: green beans, asparagus, broccoli, brussels sprouts,
  cauliflower, green and red cabbage, kale, lettuce (romaine, red leaf, green leaf, and mustard greens), peppers (red, green, yellow, and hot), spinach, zucchini.
• Take unlimited amounts of medical food. I'll be using UltraClear Renew and Estrium (I'll explain why these products and what they do tomorrow).

My last 7 day detox was back in January and it put me on a great path towards wellness. After being sidetracked by a few of life's stresses, I am ready to get back on track.

If this blog educates you, great. If it inspires you, even better!