Detoxing and CBD: A Match Made In Nature

Is It Time to Detox? (No, This Is Not About Twitter or Politics)

Hey, we all do what we can for our health. More than many generations before, we’re especially careful about what we put in, on and around our bodies.

You hardly even think about it, but there’s already quite a bit of detoxing going on in your everyday life. Your kidneys and liver are hard at work getting rid of what you don’t need. The same goes for the digestive tract. Even the lungs and skin do a fair amount to filter toxins away from your system when you breathe and sweat.

But, even with all that work going on that you barely notice, there’s an argument to be made that it never hurts to help your body out with its natural detox. And, there’s something to be said for the role CBD can play in that process.

We chatted once again with Dr. Peter Swanz, an advisor and friend to Onyx + Rose. As always, anyone looking to begin a detox should always consult with their own primary care physician before starting the process.

First of All, What Isn’t Detoxing?

Sometimes, people confuse detoxing and fasting. Fasting is cutting out all food and drink other than water in an attempt at a detox or reset. That’s one way to do it, but most often, detoxes don’t necessarily require a full-on fast.

Yes, you’ll want to put down the Cheetos and chill out on the chardonnay. The idea is to make it as easy on your body’s natural cleansing systems as possible by eating as clean as possible. Obviously, you should try not to put any common toxins in while your body is trying to get them out. Staying hydrated is a crucial part of moving out the stored toxins, though, so feel free to have all the water (and maybe herbal tea) you feel you need.

Making It a CBD-Tox

If you find it useful in your daily wellness routine, CBD has the potential to be a natural addition to your detox experience. The biggie to us at O+R is how well CBD seems to support the liver. The herb Milk Thistle has been shown to help to protect the liver from damage that may be caused by the processing and filtering of toxic substances in the body. It actually does so in a way that is very similar to the action of cannabinoids in the body. Your liver contains both types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. And in a manner very similar to the action of CBD in the body, studies show that Milk Thistle blocks and down-regulates the action of CB1 while boosting the activity of CB2 receptors. This is very exciting and shows that like milk thistle, CBD may be a great additional support for detoxification in the body.

The Basic Onyx + Rose Detox

Here’s a very simple 10-day detox recommended by Dr. Swanz that you can do at home utilizing a very clean diet, Onyx + Rose CBD, and basic detox tea that can be found in most grocery and health food stores. If it’s your first go at detoxing, you can skip the tea and just follow a clean diet and continue to take your favorite O+R CBD oil for support.

No hard fasting here. Go ahead and consume freely from the foods allowed on the given day.

As the detox process begins, it is possible to experience mild, short-lived adverse reactions. Staying fully hydrated will be super important to minimize that feeling.

In general, you’re “fully hydrated” when you’re taking in a number of ounces roughly equal to half your body weight. You weigh 140 lbs.? Try to get 70 ounces of water a day.

Day 1: Eliminate all refined and processed food products and drinks.

Eliminate all caffeinated beverages other than green tea (sorry). If you regularly drink coffee or caffeine, the green tea will be a lifesaver from potential headaches and caffeine withdrawal.

Cut out any foods with artificial colorings, sweeteners or flavorings.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 3 times per day.

Day 2: Eliminate any flesh-based foods – meat, poultry, fish, pork, etc.

It is possible, but not advised, to continue to consume meat proteins during the detox – they should be organic and grass-fed, or wild-caught, and eaten no more than 2 times per day in 60 grams servings.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 3 times per day.

Day 3:  Eliminate all dairy products.

The same goes for eggs.

Begin using your detox support as directed if you are choosing to use a detox support.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Day 4:  Eliminate all gluten grains.

We’re going to include soy foods here, too.

You may continue to eat – quinoa, rice, millet, and buckwheat.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Day 5: Eliminate the remaining grains.

Eliminate any nuts and seeds.

You may continue to eat – vegetables, fruits, and legumes.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Day 6 – 7: Eliminate legumes (beans, peas, and lentils).

You may continue to eat – cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and brussels sprouts), raw or steamed greens, fresh organic apples and pears, fresh or frozen organic blueberries, organic no-sugar-added apple or pear juice.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Are You Still With Us?

Day 8: Add back fruits, vegetables, and white or brown rice back into the diet.

Do so in reasonable portion sizes. Be very careful not to overdo it when reintroducing foods.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Day 9: Add back quinoa, millet, and buckwheat.

Today should be your final day utilizing the detox support product if you have been taking one.

Try taking 10 mg of CBD oil 4 times per day.

Day 10: Add back legumes and nuts.

Resume your normal CBD wellness regimen.

Congratulations!!! You Have Completed a 10 Day Detox. Now What?

From here, you just systematically reintroduce the other foods that have not yet been incorporated back into your diet. You may discover hidden food sensitivities (in fact, people try detoxing for this very reason). Allow about 5 to 7 days between the re-introduction of each food. Have 1 serving and then watch for the next 36 hours for any signs of sensitivity. You’ll know them if you have them: increased allergies, water retention, digestive disturbances, bloating & gas, loose stools or constipation, headaches, joint pain, difficulty concentrating, etc. If you experience any of these symptoms, more likely than not you should consider reducing your intake of that food on a permanent basis and try the next food on your list. You can also gradually reduce your CBD serving size the same way you gradually increased it during the detox. Diet has a huge impact on overall health, so you may even find that your CBD sweet spot has changed after your detox.

Dr. Swanz’s Pro Tips for Detoxing:

• Drink Organic Green Tea to avoid a caffeine withdrawal headache. Try to limit to 3 to 4 cups per day.

• If your gym has a sauna or steam room, take advantage of that added detox support.

• Be sure you are drinking plenty of filtered water.

• If you tend towards constipation, drinking 1 to 2 cups of smooth move tea is great support for regular elimination.

• If you want to extend the detox past 10 days, spend the extra days continuing with the days 6 and 7 recommendations. Follow days 8, 9, and 10 guidelines on the last 3 days of your detox.

• If you already avoid particular food groups, just ignore those recommendations. Don’t start drinking dairy just so you can eliminate it on day 3.

• Make sure you are getting to bed early enough to allow at least 8 hours of sleep per night.

• Decrease your workout load when detoxing. Focus more on recovery practices, like stretching and balance pursuits. If doing weight or endurance training, cut your effort and time at least in half.

• Always consult with your primary care doctor before starting any detox or fast, particularly if you are on any prescription medications or having any pre-existing conditions.

You Can Do This. Onyx + Rose Can Help.

Keeping up with your usual Onyx + Rose wellness routine should assist in the process, as well as provide you the usual overall support it does in your non-detox life. At Onyx + Rose, we’re always interested in your personal health journey and hope you’ll share your experience of detoxing with us.