Chapter 6: Detox as Self-Love
Recipe 6: Morning Smoothie with Sneaky Greens
Detox has become a dirty word, associated with deprivation and punishment, but real detoxification is the most loving thing you can do for your body. Every day, your liver processes thousands of chemicals, your kidneys filter your blood, your lymphatic system clears cellular waste—all without your conscious effort. These organs are your allies, not your enemies, and they perform miracles when you give them what they need: bitter herbs that stimulate bile flow, antioxidants that neutralize free radicals, fiber that binds toxins for elimination. True detox isn't about harsh cleanses or extreme restrictions—it's about gently supporting the elegant systems your body has already designed for healing and renewal. It's about removing the barriers to your natural vitality and letting your innate wisdom shine through.
Food testing - finding your 12, which may well be different than my 12.
Chapter 6: Detox as Self-Love
Recipe 6: Golden Milk Smoothie with Sneaky Greens
"Take care of yourself so you can take care of the world."
The Modern Toxic Reality
Our innate detox systems evolved over millions of years to handle natural toxins—plant alkaloids, bacterial toxins, metabolic waste from normal cellular function.
But they weren't designed to handle the 80,000+ synthetic chemicals introduced into our environment in the last century. The pesticide residues on our food, the volatile organic compounds off-gassing from our furniture, the heavy metals in our water, the hormone-disrupting chemicals in our personal care products.
Your detox organs are like a water treatment plant designed for a clear mountain stream that's suddenly being asked to process industrial runoff. They're still doing their best, but they're overwhelmed.
There are more than 90,000 manufactured chemicals in our environment, and only 200 have been tested according to the EPA. Everything else was grandfathered in before we had proper testing protocols.
People think that the government saying something is "generally regarded as safe" means it actually is safe. Not necessarily, especially if it hasn't been tested. In the realm of pesticides, they are “safe” in that they will not kill you tomorrow. But in the last 10 years, we have learned they do kill a part of us- our microbiomes, little bugs that are not very different from the bugs they are killing on plants. And boy do we need our bugs working correctly. This is why we need a reset: our own government takes 17 years to implement modern research. And we need to not only get the right foods, but the right foods without chemicals sprayed on them.
The 1976 Toxic Substances Control Act sounds like it was designed to get rid of toxins, but it wasn't. It was industry-driven, designed to permit companies to put any chemical in the environment. They can even keep some ingredients secret for "proprietary reasons." There are 18,000 chemicals nobody knows about because it's forbidden to disclose them.
When you see "fragrance" on a label, that can mean over 100 different chemicals—it's a manufacturer's catch-all phrase. Think about how many you're exposed to daily: scented candles, garbage bags, kitty litter, deodorant, cleaning products, personal care items.
Just because it's on the store shelf doesn't mean it's safe to use (or eat!). One of the best things you can do for your health is simplify your routine. Cutting out the extras means saving yourself exposure to thousands of chemicals every day.
The Whim That Changed Everything
I jumped into a detox without really knowing what it was. But I am so glad I did it.
I bought myself a detox program on a whim when I turned 30. Five hundred dollars for a month-long gut cleansing program called Cambiati Wellness—pricey, but it basically changed my life and my relationship to food.
At the time, I didn't think I had any real health problems. I was an engineer with an MBA, a "healthy," motivated, overly-educated American who had everything at my fingertips. I worked out regularly, considered myself in shape. But I didn't know how to eat. I didn't know what was in my food. And I didn't know how it was affecting my body.
When I started really thinking about it, my list of ailments was longer than I'd admitted: bad sleep (waking up consistently through the night), acne, brain fog (which became much more apparent after I finished the program). I had no idea how much was affected by food.
That program—essentially an anti-candida protocol focused on eliminating toxins and eating good vegetables, proteins, and fats—gave me something I didn't know I was missing: a reset. A chance to step back from everything I thought was normal and see what my body felt like without the constant background noise of inflammation.
Why You Need to Rip Off the Band-Aid
Here's what I learned: you can swap one thing out at a time, but you'll be pulled by the triggers of everyday life. The cookies in the office break room. The free donuts at the meeting. The "just this once" mentality that becomes "just this once" three times a week.
A proper detox—hitting it hard, ripping off the band-aid, clearing out everything at once—gives you something invaluable: clarity. When you remove all the addictive substances for a month, you get to experience what your body feels like when it's not constantly fighting inflammation.
And here's the beautiful part: once you've experienced that clarity, your body becomes your teacher. Now when I eat sugar, I immediately get a headache. I consider this a blessing. I cannot overconsume something harmful, even if I want just a bite of it. My body gives me immediate feedback instead of letting me slowly poison myself with daily doses of inflammation.
This is about permanent change, not a temporary blip. If you want lasting transformation, you have to see and feel the results. Otherwise, you have no idea why you're fighting so hard against the current.
Reclaiming the Word "Detox"
Detox has become a cringe word, hasn't it? Somewhere along the way, this beautiful concept has been hijacked and turned it into something punitive—crash diets, expensive supplements, juice cleanses that leave you hungry, dizzy and irritable.
But real detoxification is the most loving thing you can do for your body. It means throwing out the trash, and it can be subtle, starting with a warm lemon water in the morning. Or you can go all in and try something like the one I suggest below: going on just real food for a month: heavy on the veggies, organic meats, and some fruits.
Every moment of every day, your liver is processing thousands of chemicals, your kidneys are filtering your blood, your lymphatic system is clearing cellular waste—all without your conscious effort. These organs aren't your enemies that need to be shocked into submission. They're your most devoted allies, performing miracles around the clock.
True detox isn't about deprivation or punishment. It's about gently supporting the elegant systems your body has already designed for healing and renewal. It's about removing the barriers to your natural vitality and letting your innate wisdom shine through.
The Cambiati Experience: What Actually Works
The program I did was essentially this: eliminate all trigger foods for a month, then slowly reintroduce them one at a time to see how your body reacts. It sounds simple, but it's revolutionary when you actually do it.
Out went:
Anything unnaturally white (flour, sugar, refined grains)
All added sugars (looking for 5g maximum per serving on labels)
Dairy (allergens, mucus builder, plus it contains hormones)
Vegetable oil blends (toxic when heated, causes brain fog)
Grains (to test reactivity—if too hard, stick to organic brown rice, quinoa, rolled oats)
Anything processed with ingredients you don't recognize
Meat with added hormones
Alcohol (if this is tough, bring sparkling water with lime)
Soy products (including edamame and soy sauce—they naturally contain estrogen-like compounds)
In came:
75% of every plate as vegetables (the fresher, the better, organic when possible)
Grass-fed, hormone-free meats (the expensive, happy animals that eat what they're supposed to eat)
Wild-caught fish (avoid anything deep-fried in toxic oils)
Good fats: grass-fed butter, ghee, avocado oil, coconut oil, olive oil
Nuts and seeds (all kinds except peanuts, which are actually legumes)
Limited fruit (20g sugar per day maximum—about a handful of berries)
Herbs and spices (whose nutritional benefits compound when cooked together)
The Transformation Timeline
What happened over that month was nothing short of miraculous:
Week 1: Withdrawal. Headaches. Cravings. Wondering what the hell I'd gotten myself into.
Week 2: Energy starting to stabilize. Sleep improving. Skin getting clearer.
Week 3: Brain fog lifting. Realizing I'd been living in a haze for years without knowing it.
Week 4: Feeling like a completely different person. Stable energy all day. Sleeping through the night. Clear, glowing skin.
The weekly meetings and support made all the difference. Having other people going through the same process, learning why these changes mattered, getting guidance when cravings hit—it wasn't just about willpower. It was about education and community support.
Why This Had to Come First
I cannot explain how grateful I am that I made this change in the years before having my children. It prepared my body for the most beautiful natural childbirth experiences—so much so that one doctor said our family should be on a billboard and that we should write a book about it.
When you clean up your diet before major life events—pregnancy, career changes, aging—you give your body the foundation it needs to handle whatever comes next. You're not just surviving; you're thriving.
Recipe 6: Golden Milk Smoothie with Sneaky Greens
This smoothie embodies everything I learned during my detox: it tastes incredible while delivering powerful healing compounds. It's medicine disguised as dessert.
The Golden Foundation:
1 cup unsweetened coconut milk (full-fat)
1/2 frozen banana (for creaminess and natural sweetness)
1 teaspoon turmeric powder (or 1 tablespoon fresh turmeric root)
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (or 1 teaspoon fresh ginger root)
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of black pepper (enhances turmeric absorption by 2000%)
1 tablespoon coconut oil or almond butter
1 teaspoon raw honey or maple syrup (optional)
The Sneaky Detox Boosters:
1 cup fresh spinach or mild greens
1/4 avocado (for creaminess and healthy fats)
1 tablespoon chia seeds (for fiber and omega-3s)
1/2 lemon, juiced (supports liver function)
1 tablespoon collagen powder (optional, for gut healing)
The Transformation: Blend the coconut milk, banana, and healthy fats first to create a creamy base. Add the turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, and black pepper—these aren't just flavors, they're powerful medicine. Finally, add the greens, avocado, chia seeds, and lemon juice. The banana and spices completely mask any "green" taste.
Blend until completely smooth and creamy. This should taste like a dessert that happens to be incredibly healing.
Detoxing Your Environment: The Hidden Chemical Load
Beyond food, we need to address the toxic load in our homes. Look at that bottle of Windex—right on the label it says it's toxic to humans and domestic animals. You can use baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and white vinegar to clean your home just as effectively.
Personal Care Products
Skincare: Does that lotion have a paragraph of chemicals? Try baking soda as deodorant and coconut oil as moisturizer instead.
"Fragrance" red flag: If anything says fragrance, it can contain over 100 undisclosed chemicals, all of which are toxic to your system.
Candles and Air Quality
Make sure candles have cotton wicks and are made from beeswax or soy. Some have metal in the wick (including lead) that creates soot on your ceiling and heavy metals in your lungs.
Get a good vacuum cleaner with a HEPA filter.
Add plants to your rooms—they're natural air purifiers.
EMF and Sleep Environment I heard about a little boy with headaches. Brain scans were clean, but an EMF meter showed very high readings by his headboard where he had a giant air purifier because of allergies. They moved it 6 feet away and the headaches dramatically improved.
Distance is remarkable. Distance is simple. For better sleep:
Shut off WiFi at night
Unplug everything within 8-9 feet of your bed
Charge your phone in the bathroom—you can still hear the alarm
Use lamps instead of overhead lighting
Water Filtration Get a good water filter. Many contaminants aren't filtered by municipal water systems.
The Total Load Concept We refer to this as "total load"—environmental modification of gene expression. Environment means everything: the way you live, eat, sleep, all stressors, every single thing you're exposed to. This explains why two people can live in the same space with the same chemicals and one gets sick while the other doesn't. It's about resilience and your body's current toxic burden.
Some people are highly susceptible to infections, ticks, molds, bug bites. If someone already has a high toxic load and doesn't have an efficient detoxification system, then adding molds, EMFs, and toxins in water and food can push them over the edge.
The Pesticide Problem Pesticides, especially glyphosate (the main ingredient in Roundup), are being linked directly to lymphoma. This horrible toxin is being sprayed everywhere. Try to eat organic when possible to avoid it. It's critical to detox not just once per year, but every day by:
Drinking pure water
Not adding to your toxic burden with cosmetics, moisturizers, skin creams, shampoos, and household cleaners
Understanding that even if we ban these chemicals, they don't have feet—they don't run away. They're still here.
Sleep: The Ultimate Detox Tool
One of the most dramatic changes during my detox was sleep—and understanding that feeling tired during a detox is actually a good sign. When you remove inflammatory foods and your body starts doing deep cleaning work, you may feel more tired than usual. This is perfect. It means your body is really working on this cleanup process.
Sleep is literally like a washing machine for your brain—your lymphatic system clears metabolic waste during those crucial first few hours each night. But here's what I learned that changed everything: I get almost all of my deep sleep in the first 2-3 hours. If I miss that window by staying up late, I don't make up that deep sleep stage. It's like my body has set aside a specific timetable for deep cleaning, and if I miss it, I'm not getting it back.
This discovery was invaluable. I now hold that 9pm-12am window as sacred.
Setting Up Your Power Down Hour Just like preparing for the most important meeting of your day, you need the hour before sleep to set yourself up for the best session. This is your Power Down Hour—and it's absolutely crucial during a detox when your body needs every bit of restorative sleep it can get.
The Power Down Protocol:
8pm: Electronics Begin Their Shutdown No blue light after 8pm. Turn on blue light filters on devices, or better yet, put them away entirely. If you must watch TV, get blue light glasses. Your brain needs to start producing melatonin, and blue light blocks this crucial hormone.
7pm: Last Call for Food Try to finish eating 2-3 hours before bed. This is tough—I love to snack—but digestion takes enormous energy that your body needs for repair and detox work during sleep. When you're doing a detox, this becomes even more important.
9pm: Sacred Sleep Prep Time Grab a cup of herbal tea (chamomile, passionflower, or lemon balm), read a book, take a bath, or have gentle conversation. This is not the time for stimulating activities, work emails, or intense discussions.
Homes test calm, but think about your office: router, computer, charger. You sit there for hours right before bed and wonder why you can't sleep. If your brain doesn't get proper sleep, it can't detox itself. Sleep is a nutrient. There's no substitute for sleep.
The Reintroduction Phase: Your Body Becomes Your Teacher
After the month of clean eating, I slowly reintroduced foods one at a time, waiting three days between each new food to see how my body reacted.
This is where the magic happens. With a clean system, your body's signals become crystal clear:
Sugar = immediate headache and brain fog
Dairy = skin breakouts and congestion
Processed foods = afternoon energy crash
Gluten = digestive discomfort and joint pain
These aren't punishments—they're your body's intelligent communication system finally being able to speak clearly. When you listen to these signals instead of ignoring them, you develop an intuitive relationship with food that no diet plan can teach you.
The Stress Detox
I also learned to detox stress and relationships. Stress hormones are like corrosive chemicals that were never meant to stay in your body long-term. They were designed to help you escape danger quickly, then return to calm—not to marinate in stress all day.
Who you surround yourself with matters enormously. Are they truly happy to see you? Studies of people who age well consistently show one thing: they have people in their lives who genuinely like them.
Detox the inputs that don't serve you: social media that makes you feel inadequate, news that keeps you in fight-or-flight mode, relationships that drain your energy.
The Lasting Gift
That $500 investment in my health when I turned 30 was the best money I've ever spent. Not just because it changed how I looked or felt in the short term, but because it gave me a template for listening to my body that has served me for years.
I learned that my body is incredibly intelligent when I stop overwhelming it with inflammatory foods. I learned that real hunger feels different from sugar cravings. I learned that food can be medicine or poison, depending on what I choose.
Most importantly, I learned that I don't have to accept feeling suboptimal as normal. Brain fog, afternoon crashes, skin problems, sleep issues—these aren't inevitable parts of aging. They're signals that something needs attention.
Your Sexy for Life Protocol
If you're ready to experience this kind of transformation, here's your starting template:
Immediately Remove:
All vegetable oils (canola, soybean, corn oil)
All added sugars (aim for under 20g per day total)
Processed foods with more than 5 ingredients
Conventional dairy and meat with added hormones
Immediately Add:
75% vegetables on every plate (aim for 5 cups daily)
Good fats: avocado oil, coconut oil, grass-fed butter
Organic produce when possible
Daily movement and monthly nature exposure
Electronics-free hour before bed
Your Body's Feedback System: Pay attention to how different foods make you feel. Energy levels, sleep quality, skin clarity, mood stability, digestive comfort—your body is constantly giving you information about what serves you and what doesn't.
Why Environmental Detox Matters for Your Food Detox
Your body is self-healing if we give it the right conditions. Getting back to as close to nature as possible means thinking about what goes in your body, on your skin, and what you surround yourself with. Chemicals, mold, and EMFs all have huge impacts on your immune system.
Even if you're eating perfectly, if your environment is toxic, your body will struggle to heal. This is why environmental detox goes hand-in-hand with food detox—you're giving your body the best possible chance to reset and function optimally.
The Ripple Effects
When you prioritize this kind of self-care, the effects ripple outward in ways you can't imagine. You have more energy for your family, more patience for challenges, more clarity for decisions. You become someone who radiates vitality instead of just surviving each day.
This isn't about perfection—it's about creating a foundation of health that allows you to show up fully in your life. When you take care of yourself with this level of intention, you're not being selfish. You're ensuring that you have the energy and clarity to care for everyone and everything else that matters to you.
That's the ultimate goal: to feel so good in your own body that you can't help but radiate that vitality outward, inspiring others to care for themselves with the same love and attention you've learned to give yourself.
Sleep isn't just rest—it's when your body does its deepest healing work. During sleep, your brain literally detoxes itself through something called the glymphatic system. If you're not getting quality sleep, even the best diet can't fully compensate.
The Creative Awakening
Here's something I didn't expect when I started this detox journey: it unlocked my creativity in ways I never imagined. Making these life changes allowed me to find my passion in writing. And once I opened that Pandora's box of clarity and vitality, I haven't been able to close it—nor would I want to.
When your brain isn't constantly fighting inflammation, when your energy isn't tied up in processing toxins, when your sleep is restorative rather than restless—suddenly there's space for the things that truly matter. The mental fog that I didn't even realize was there lifted, and with it came this rush of creative energy that had been buried under years of poor food choices and toxic overload.
I started seeing connections everywhere. Between the food on my plate and the thoughts in my head. Between the way I cared for my body and the way I showed up in the world. Between ancient wisdom and modern science. Between my personal healing and my desire to help others find their own path to vitality.
The writing poured out of me—blog posts, recipes, chapters like this one. Ideas that had been swirling in the background of my consciousness suddenly demanded to be expressed. It was as if cleaning up my diet had cleaned up the channel between my heart and my hands, between my intuition and my ability to share it with the world.
This is what I mean when I talk about the ripple effects of real self-care. When you give your body what it needs to function optimally, you don't just feel better physically—you become more of who you're meant to be. You access parts of yourself that were there all along, just waiting for the static to clear.
Your creativity, your passion, your unique contribution to the world—these aren't luxuries that come after you've perfected your health. They're often the first things to emerge when you remove the barriers that have been holding you back.
So if you've been feeling stuck, uninspired, or disconnected from your purpose, consider this: maybe it's not that you lack passion or creativity. Maybe you just need to clear the fog so you can see what's been there waiting for you all along.
That Pandora's box of vitality, once opened, reveals not chaos but clarity. Not confusion but purpose. Not problems but possibilities you never knew existed.