Right on! Week 2! Have a listen to the Week 2 call recording and start enjoying settling into the rhythm of being on your cleanse. The first week is often the hardest, and now is when many people start enjoying a nice, steady, clear energy.

A bit on hydration:

While fitness and hydration are important throughout life in general, during this detoxification program you will want to pay special attention to how your body is retaining and eliminating water. Your body is composed of 55–78% water, depending on your size, and nutritional studies show that you should be taking in 1–3 liters of water daily (6–7 glasses) to avoid dehydration. As your body releases toxins, increased water intake will help flush your system and maintain cellular health. You may notice that the color of your urine changes or has a different odor. It may vary with the stages of your elimination diet and detoxification program. If you are taking vitamins, your urine may appear dark yellow.

During this program, the pH balance in the body may shift. Diets high in animal protein and low in antioxidants can lead to pH that is more acidic. Stress and lifestyle also play a major role. An acidic pH creates strain on the body through increased cortisol release and breakdown of bone. In fact, studies show that diets high in animal protein can lead to greater bone loss and calcium excretion. The ideal pH of the cells of your body is 6.4–6.8, which is just slightly acidic.

Believe it or not, the types of fat you consume on a regular basis also have a lot to do with hydration. The outer layer of all the cells in the body consists of different types of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids. Saturated fats tend to be more rigid while unsaturated fats are more flexible. A healthy cell membrane will have a combination of both types to provide structure and permeability, however if someone consumes mostly saturated fats, their membranes will become too rigid, resulting in a decreased flow of nutrients and fluids in and out of the cell. On the flip side, excess unsaturated fats allow too much flow.

The takeaway is to remember to consume a healthy balance of saturated (i.e., coconut oil, butter, palm oil) and unsaturated (i.e., olive oil, hemp oil, flaxseed oil) fats to maintain cellular health and flow. With healthy amounts of both kinds fats in our cells, we can more effectively communicate, transport, and transmit substances, including toxins, within and out of the body. 

To being fit and flowing with health!

Part of detoxification involves assessing our social networks to identify and more closely examine those relationships which may not be serving us. While all relationships have their ups and downs, you may find yourself in one or more relationships that are a continuing source of pain, negativity, and toxicity. Destructive relationships have been linked to increased stress, inflammation, impaired immune function, and unhealthy gene expression. Also, studies have shown that depression can actually spread between individuals much like the common cold. Close acquaintance with someone who is depressed increases the likelihood of developing depression yourself.

Having a wide social network is beneficial. A study of older men showed that those who had a wider network of friends, family, religious activities, and social activities had lower levels of IL-6 and CRP (inflammation markers found on blood panels). Socially isolated individuals tend to have higher cortisol levels than those who get out and about more.