Why Detoxes Don't Work, And What Actually Does.
September is here, and with it comes the familiar chorus: "Detox your body!" "Reset your metabolism!" "Cleanse away summer damage!"
Your Instagram feed is flooded with debloating supplements. Your favorite influencer is hawking colostrum and GLP-1 supplements. Everyone's committing to 7 workouts a week now that the kids are back to school.
But here's the truth they don't want you to hear: Your body doesn't need detoxing.
And those programs promising miraculous results? They're setting you up for a cycle that keeps you stuck, not free.
The detox industry banks $50 billion annually selling this lie.
Your Body's Already Got This
Right now, without any special tea or supplement, your body is running a sophisticated detox operation:
Liver: Processing toxins through two-phase enzyme pathways
Kidneys: Filtering 200 liters of blood daily
Lungs: Eliminating metabolic waste with every exhale
Skin: Releasing toxins through 2-6 million sweat glands
Gut: Moving waste through 30 feet of intestines
No $47 supplement can improve this system. But restriction can definitely mess it up.
Why Detoxes Backfire Every Time
1. The Restrict-Binge Spiral
Detoxes label foods "clean" or "toxic." Day 7 ends, you dive into everything forbidden, feel guilty, then hunt for the next cleanse.
This isn't weakness. It's biology fighting back against restriction.
2. They Ignore Your Actual Life
Generic elimination diets don't account for:
3pm meetings when you need actual food
Family dinners that matter more than "protocols"
Your metabolism (spoiler: it's not like Instagram's)
Cultural foods that feed more than your body
3. They Never Fix the Real Issues
Bloated? Exhausted? Brain fog? These aren't "toxin buildup." They're usually:
Eating too fast between Zoom calls
Blood sugar rollercoasters from skipping meals
Dehydration from forgetting water exists
Stress hormones from doing too much
Inflammation from poor quality ingredients
Poor sleep from late-night scrolling
Juice won't fix any of that.
4. They Slow Your Metabolism
Severe calorie restriction triggers survival mode. Your body:
Slows thyroid function
Breaks down muscle for fuel
Ramps up hunger hormones
Stores more fat when you eat normally again
Congratulations, you've trained your body to need less food. That's the opposite of what you want.
What Actually Works
Support the detox system you already have with these targeted upgrades:
Hydration Without the Obsession
Your kidneys need water, not a gallon-a-day challenge.
Simple start: Glass upon waking, bottle at your desk, sip when thirsty. Aim for half your ideal body weight in ounces. (130 lb goal weight = 65 oz daily)
Make it happen: Set phone reminders. Add lemon or flavor it with quality electrolytes. Use a marked bottle. Whatever gets it done.
Strategic Food Swaps
Instead of eliminating, upgrade:
For liver support:
Add cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cauliflower) → activate detox enzymes
Include sulfur-rich foods (garlic, onions, eggs) → boost glutathione, your body's master antioxidant
Prioritize quality protein → provides amino acids to neutralize and eliminate toxins
For blood sugar stability:
Overnight oats → Chia pudding with protein powder
Fruit smoothies → Green smoothies with avocado
Rice cakes → Flax crackers with almond butter
For inflammation:
Vegetable oils → Olive or avocado oil
Conventional dairy → Grass-fed or A2 if tolerated
Farmed fish → Wild-caught or sustainably farmed fish
Movement That Actually Happens
Forget seven gym sessions weekly. Your lymphatic system just needs consistency and daily movement that is do-able.
Reality-based options:
Two 15-minute walks beat one skipped workout
Dancing while cooking counts
Taking stairs adds up
A Youtube 30-mins workout works
Block it like a meeting. Do what you'll actually do.
Sleep: The Ultimate Detox
Your brain literally flushes out waste during deep sleep through the lymphatic system. No supplement matches this.
One change tonight: Phone down 30 minutes earlier. That's it. Build from there.
Stress: The Detox Disruptor
Chronic stress floods your system with cortisol, depleting nutrients your liver needs for actual detoxification.
Five-minute fixes:
Breathe deeply in the AM & PM or whenever you are stressed (inhale for 4, hold for 7, exhale for 8, repeat 2x)
Text a friend who makes you laugh
Walk around the block
Say no to one thing
The September Reset That Lasts
Real transformation isn't about elimination. It's about addition:
Add vegetables to meals you already eat
Add movement that fits your day
Add sleep by subtracting scrolling
Add energy by stabilizing blood sugar
No emergency bathroom trips. No hangry afternoons. No rebound weight gain.
Need Coaching Support?
Tired of programs that work against your life instead of with it? Eat Shed Glow™ builds sustainable habits around your reality – not someone else's.
No more October guilt. No more November rebounds. Just results that stick.
Book Your Free 15-Min Consult with Coco, The Healthy Weight Loss Coach, and discover what your body actually needs. No cleanses required.
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