The Science behind cleansing.

Cleansing is one of the many reasons that Isagenix systems are different from other “diets”. In fact, diet is really the wrong word to use to describe Isagenix. We offer a collection of systems that can be customized to your own health goals and adopted as a lifestyle, meaning these are habits and tools you’ll have for the long haul. Cleansing is one of those habits within an Isagenix lifestyle.

Isagenix has been leading the way to health by advocating the practice of cleansing for more than a decade. Now, recent scientific findings are leading nutritional researchers to believe that this practice of “cleansing”—a combination of intermittent fasting with herbs and vitamins that support detoxification—provides surprising health benefits.

A body of evidence in both animals and humans has been steadily building to support cleansing in combination with herbal supplementation and calorie restriction as a foundation for weight control, appetite regulation, improved insulin sensitivity, brain health, cell and tissue maintenance, and detoxification.

Weight Control

One of the first things that people notice when they embark on Cleanse Days is the weight loss. Studies on intermittent fasting have shown that it is just as an effective approach for weight loss as compared to cutting calories (1). In one study, overweight women who fasted intermittently for six months lost more weight than women who restricted their calories each day (2).

Reset Food Cravings

It would seem that after a day of not eating, one would be more likely to gorge on food when it was re-introduced. Not so. Evidence suggests that when intermittent fasting becomes a habit, less food is commonly eaten during normal calorie days (3). Some theories imply that this could be due to shrinking of the stomach on fast days so that you are less likely to overindulge at meal time. Along the same concept, Isagenix cleansers proclaim that Cleanse Days practically erase any previous food cravings they used to have.

Reset Insulin Sensitivity

Insulin sensitivity—how well insulin does its job of ushering glucose in the blood (after eating food) into the appropriate body tissues where it is used for energy—also looks to be “reset” by fasting. One study showed that healthy men who fasted for 20 hours every other day for 15 days had increased rates of glucose uptake, signifying improved insulin sensitivity and better blood sugar control (4).

Brain Protection

Research on fasting’s effect on brain and mood has so far been done on animals, but the results are still promising. It appears that fasting stimulates the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which increases the resistance of brain neurons to degeneration and preserves learning and memory (5). Fasting has also shown to be beneficial in the brain for stimulating growth of new brain neurons, called neurogenesis (6). When levels of BDNF increase, so do levels of serotonin, otherwise known as the “feel good” neurotransmitter (7). This could help explain why one study among aging men found that after two-day fasts, their moods and perceptions of quality of life were improved (8).

Time for the Body to go to Work–On Itself  

One of the most important defense mechanisms the body has to guard itself against aging is a process called autophagy (8). Autophagy can be thought of as the body doing its own internal “housekeeping” so that all organ systems and processes continue to run smoothly. Old, damaged cell components are repaired or discarded so that cells can continue to function optimally. Autophagy in the body decreases as we age, so the body’s ability to self-help itself is reduced as well. Calorie restriction, including fasting, has been found to promote autophagy to repair the body’s cells (9). It’s as if the consumption of fewer calories allows the body to rest and to go into repair mode. This has been proposed to be the reason why calorie restriction and fasting have an “anti-aging” effect.

Detoxification

Lastly, there is the detoxification that can take place on Cleanse Days. Often misunderstood, improved detoxification (or the increased efficiency of phase 1, 2, and 3 enzyme systems) while on Cleanse Days may be one of the most fascinating parts of the scientific story behind Cleanse Days. Nutritional support in the form of antioxidant vitamins and botanicals is essential in the detoxification process because some toxins are produced as the result of free radical activity. Additionally, nutritional support is needed to counteract the oxidative damage caused by toxins.

Isagenix Cleanse Days do more than just help you lose weight. As science has shown, cleansing benefits aspects of the entire body, helping it to repair, reset, and restore. By including Isagenix Cleanse Days in your lifestyle, you are committing to living healthier and for longer.

References

1. Eshghinia S, Mohammadzadeh F. The effects of modified alternate-day fasting diet on weight loss and CAD risk factors in overweight and obese women. J Diabetes Metab Disord 2013;12:4.
2. Harvie MN, Pegington M, Mattson MP et al. The effects of intermittent or continuous energy restriction on weight loss and metabolic disease risk markers: a randomized trial in young overweight women. Int J Obes (Lond) 2011;35:714-27.
3. Varady KA, Hellerstein MK. Alternate-day fasting and chronic disease prevention: a review of human and animal trials. Am J Clin Nutr 2007;86:7-13.
4. Halberg N, Henriksen M, Soderhamn N et al. Effect of intermittent fasting and refeeding on insulin action in healthy men. J Appl Physiol 2005;99:2128-36.
5. Mattson MP. Energy intake, meal frequency, and health: a neurobiological perspective. Annu Rev Nutr 2005;25:237-60.
6. Mattson MP, Wan R. Beneficial effects of intermittent fasting and caloric restriction on the cardiovascular and cerebrovascular systems. J Nutr Biochem 2005;16:129-37.
7. Martinowich K, Lu B. Interaction between BDNF and serotonin: role in mood disorders. Neuropsychopharmacology 2008;33:73-83.
8. Teng NI, Shahar S, Manaf ZA, Das SK, Taha CS, Ngah WZ. Efficacy of fasting calorie restriction on quality of life among aging men. Physiol Behav 2011;104:1059-64.
9. Bergamini E, Cavallini G, Donati A, Gori Z. The role of autophagy in aging: its essential part in the anti-aging mechanism of caloric restriction. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2007;1114:69-78.

#nutritionalcleansing
 

Gluten: The Good and Bad

 

 

Less than a decade ago, few people had heard of gluten. Now that’s all changed. Thousands across North America are choosing to reduce or completely remove the common protein from their diets to improve their health. “Gluten-free” foods now line grocery store shelves and most people are at least familiar with someone on a gluten-free diet.

But what exactly is gluten and what harm does it really cause for your health? It’s a discussion worth talking about in May, which is National Celiac Awareness Month. Celiac disease is the autoimmune disorder that is mainly to blame for the need to avoid gluten in the diet. The prevalence of celiac disease has skyrocketed in the United States with a four-fold increase in Americans being diagnosed since 1950 (1). Even greater than the rise in the number of those diagnosed with celiac disease is the rise in the number of people diagnosed with gluten sensitivity or intolerance (2).

For those who don’t have these conditions, gluten is a harmless and a nutritious source of protein found in wheat, rye, oats, and barley. But for those with celiac disease, gluten can trigger an immune response in the small intestine causing damage to the absorptive lining. This damage can cause a host of negative symptoms including increased risk for malnutrition due to an inability to absorb essential nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.

According to the University of Chicago’s Celiac Disease Center, more than 300 different symptoms are reportedly caused by celiac disease. Among those symptoms are gastrointestinal (GI) conditions such as persistent diarrhea or constipation, bloating, abdominal pain, vomiting, and weight loss. Additionally, non GI-related symptoms have been reported as well: fatigue, rash, joint pain, and fertility issues.

Because symptoms vary so widely from person to person—with up to 38 percent of affected individuals reporting no physical symptoms at all—celiac disease is difficult to diagnose. In fact, the Celiac Disease Center estimates that 97 percent of those with the disease are unaware they have it. Adding to the mystery, gluten sensitivity is just a cluster of symptoms. Unsure of the cause, or really the response, gluten sensitivity mimics discomforts experienced in celiac disease without the destruction to the intestine.

Generally, the treatment for gluten-related disorders is to exclude all gluten-containing products from the diet. As the public and medical professionals labor to gain ground in diagnosing the often broad clusters of symptoms, it’s difficult to avoid marketing gluten-free as a health tonic to the public.

Should those without celiac disease or any gluten sensitivity avoid gluten? The answer here is probably not. As long as symptoms don’t appear after eating gluten, there is really no reason to cut out the valuable amounts of the protein. However, it’s true that eating gluten-free might have ancillary benefits such as resulting in reduction of empty calorie foods such as bread, crackers, and pizza. Those who avoid these processed varieties also tend to substitute them with more healthy alternatives such as fruits and vegetables.

Those who think they may have symptoms associated with gluten sensitivities should make an appointment with a physician for appropriate testing.

Fortunately, as the prevalence of gluten intolerance and sensitivity has grown, so have the food options available for the people living with the disorder. For example, all Isagenix products are free of gluten with the exception of SlimCakes. Isagenix Greens! also currently contain gluten although the product is in the process of being reformulated and will be gluten-free in the very near future. Because there is always a possibility of cross-contamination, Isagenix also goes the extra mile in assuring that products labeled “gluten free” are tested for gluten by independent laboratories.

References

1. Rubio-Tapia A, et al. Increased prevalence and mortality in undiagnosed celiac disease. Gastroenterology 2009 Jul;137(1):88-93. Epub 2009 Apr 10.
2. Di Sabatino A, Corazza GR. Non-celiac gluten sensitivity: sense or sensibility? Ann Intern Med. 2012 Feb 21;156(4):309-11.