“Already”, you say! – Dry July again!
Yes this is the time of year that thousands of Aussies prepare themselves to give up alcohol for a month to raise money to support people living with cancer. Brett Macdonald, the Dry July CEO and Co-Founder, comments, “Current research shows more and more Australians are becoming aware of their own health and looking to make positive changes to their habits”. This is why Dry July is important. It encourages people to sign up to help victims of cancer. It also encourages people to review their own drinking habits and the value of a balanced, healthy lifestyle. Find out more at www.dryjuly.com
Does the thought of a month without alcohol is scare you? You’re not the only one! It is important to be realistic. Yes, it will be tough! Go ahead. Sign up. Set realistic expectations and accept there will be difficult times.
Think about why you want to participate?
Put a personal value on your commitment. It is always easier when your goals have meaning. You may want to become healthier, fitter and lose weight. You may just want to ‘Dry July’ to support people affected with cancer. It is ultimately a detoxification program that you could use to kick-start a longer term commitment to a healthy, sustainable lifestyle.
Consider the health benefits.
Alcohol is, amongst other things, a toxin. Too much alcohol is linked to numerous chronic diseases and health problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease and cancer. It can also cause electrolyte imbalance leaving you feeling tired and moody. Alcohol depletes vitamins that are essential for all metabolic processes, including energy production, hormone balance and the proliferation of red cells. It causes sleep disturbances and kills essential bacteria in gut causing digestive disturbances. Alcohol has strong addictive properties that can affect all aspects of your life.
What is a detox?
A detox is all about cleaning your body – refraining from substances that impede health, such as alcohol, tobacco, junk food and soft drinks. It involves renourishing your system with concentrated nutrients including fresh juices, protein shakes and low-carb meals. Detox programs are far more effective when carbohydrate intake is reduced to a minimum. When sludge is eliminated and replaced with healthy nutrients, you will build a new, healthier frame. You will feel fresh and new, while being better equipped to deal with illness and injury. But how do you get started?
Getting Started.
The first step is working out where to begin. What do you want to achieve? Lose weight, increase energy, clearer skin, brighter eyes, beat an illness? List the foods and drinks that you want to eliminate from your diet – substances such as nicotine, alcohol, sugar, caffeine, junk food, refined oils, etc.
A little more difficult to cut out of your day-to-day life is stress. However, you should try your best, as stress can severely derail your attempts to detox. When stressed, your brain releases toxins that can interfere with natural detoxification enzymes. Combat stress with regular exercise, mindful movement and meditation.
Once you have listed the substances you choose to cut out of your life, the next step is a little more complicated – choosing the foods, vitamins and nutrients that will be replacing them. Focusing on whole food nutrition with plenty of vegetables, grass fed meats and good fats is a start. Also, include some of the following:-
Fibre is an essential part of any detox diet, so make sure to include it in yours. Great sources of fibre include beetroot, avocado, cabbage, sweet potato, chia seeds and salad vegetables just to name a few. Your liver, the organ which cleanses the blood and detoxifies chemicals, can do with a helping hand every now and then, so what better time than during your detox? Dandelion root and milk thistles are two herbs that help cleanse the liver, as does green tea.
Eat foods rich in Vitamin C such as capsicum and sulphur-rich vegetables such as broccoli, bok choy, cauliflower, brussel sprouts and cabbage. These can aid your body in its production of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant that helps to eradicate toxins from your system. Finally, drink plenty of water each day to ensure that your entire system is thoroughly hydrated to rinse away toxins on a constant basis.
