Dr. David Pollack
I find many patients are interested in cleanses as the new year begins, in an effort to repair the damage of the holidays and all the less-than-ideal food choices they come with. Some want to lose the few pounds they gained, while others are concerned about the fatigue, aches and brain fog that might occur.
Certainly, there are many great cleansing products and programs available. Many, however, find that as soon as their cleanse is over, they return to their former condition, being tired and bloated. Others find a cleanse makes them feel ill; the so-called “Herxheimer reaction,” the symptoms of bloating, nausea, irritability and others that may come with deep cleansing. If you are cleansing to lose weight or detoxifying the body, then lifestyle changes may be an appropriate first choice.
Cleanses work best when the body is working optimally. Weight loss is a function of how well the body is operating, or your metabolism. You may increase your metabolism by improving the function of your body’s organs. Cleansing without optimally functioning organs often results in less-than-desired outcomes, like side effects and minimal weight loss. Without optimal function, whatever improvements resulted from the cleansing process quickly disappear as symptoms and pounds come rushing back.
The results of cleansing are often tied to the abilities of the digestive tract, the liver, the kidneys and the lymphatic systems. Cleansing and detoxifying them alone does not necessarily restore their function. If these organs and systems are not functioning well, they will not perform their detoxifying duties efficiently and may even become aggravated causing “detox” symptoms as a result of the increased workload a cleanse involves. Cleansing is a very intense process. It is beyond the normal level of functioning of the body.
Every day, new patients come to my office asking about cleanses. Often, they have underlying digestive issues, hormone imbalances or chronic inflammation. These health issues will impede and may even damage the body during a cleanse without first being addressed. After achieving health by improving organ function, some of these patients may move onto one of the variety of cleansing programs we have available to deep clean their now well-functioning systems. I often advocate improving the basic functions of the body as part of a bigger lifestyle change to create long-term health benefits and sustained weight loss. In other words, improving the physical, chemical and emotional functioning of the body will make for better health and proper weight. Some may no longer require any formal cleansing at this point. Combination therapies coupled with appropriate custom food and supplementation programs may repair the body’s natural function and restore balance, health and normal weight.
It is always recommended to perform these advanced techniques under the guidance of an experienced holistic wellness practitioner.
Source: Dr. David Pollack. Location: Pollack Wellness Institute (formerly Creating Wellness Center) is located at 66 Commack Rd., Commack. For more information, call 631-462-0801 or visit CreatingWellnessLI.com.
