Food detoxification for energy and vitality
by Sue Kira, Naturopath & Clinical Nutritionist
Client name and identifying information changed
Sam, an older age client in his early 80’s, felt that his energy wasn’t what it used to be. His doctor ran some tests and said he couldn’t find anything wrong with him, so he deemed it was due to aging.
Sam had been very health conscious as he used to do boxing training, lots of weight lifting and running on the beach, but it changed after meeting the new love of his life.
Sam and his wife started to drink wine in the afternoons, something that Sam only used to do at functions like weddings. Soon he started to feel more tired, so he stopped his fitness regime and replaced it will naps with his wife and short evening strolls on the beach.
His diet also changed from a variety of raw and cooked vegetables served very simply with grilled or steamed proteins like fish, meat and chicken, to more gourmet type meals with rich sauces, minimal ‘overcooked’ vegetables and yummy creamy desserts, often followed later with cheese and crackers. Sam felt very loved and cared for but missed how he previously felt in his body.
Relieved that he didn’t have any illnesses, Sam knew that things had to change, so he arranged to see me. He also asked his lovely wife to come to the clinic with him, which was a great idea, so that she could hear what he already knew in his heart (but didn’t know how to say to his wife) that she was killing him with love (food).
I had seen this many times with couples before, but fortunately Sam knew what it felt like to have more energy and vitality, which he thought was what attracted him to his younger, bubbly vital wife in the first place. But then she started to ‘love him’ and ‘love herself’ with food…even though she too had previously been on a much healthier diet.
We discussed the option of implementing a detox diet which was similar to how Sam used to eat (which I saw on his confidential client form showing his ‘before’ and ‘after’ diet). I suggested to do the diet together for mutual support, and base it on 80% plant based diet (with 30% minimum of these raw) and the remainder of the foods to be good fats like coconut oil, olive oil, nuts and seeds and lean protein foods steamed or stir-fried.
As this was a 12-week detox, they were to also asked to go off alcohol and caffeine and remove gluten and other grains as well as dairy products.
Fortunately, Sam’s wife was a very creative cook and prepared very tasty meals to enjoy on their detox. When they returned to see me, they both welcomed the weight loss, more energy and felt so good that they decided to remain on the diet indefinitely and keep drinks and nibbles solely to functions and celebrations.
Sam was also back to his slow runs on the beach and his weights in his personal little gym at home that had been collecting dust for the previous two years.