Q&A with Jessi Andricks, Author of Detox 101

I admit I’m not a huge fan of the words “detoxing” or “cleansing” in general. My personal experiences with restrictive detox diets have left me feeling hungry, deprived, exhausted, and just plain grumpy. In fact, I have pretty much sworn off detox diets because I think that for some who already have some disordered eating issues (guilty!) it can make things worse. However, when I heard local yoga teacher and health coach Jessi Andricks (who I kind of have an online girl crush on even through I’ve never met her in person), had authored a book called Detox 101, I knew I’d have to give it a chance. I love love LOVE Jessi’s recipes! And there were lots of really good ones in this book. And her detox plan is really a lot more doable, gentle, and, frankly, more sane, than many of the other detox diets I’ve heard about lately. My favorite part was the self-care tips she includes, many which come from Ayurveda, yoga’s sister science.

Detox 101 is both a great guide and a great resource, whether you use this book to do a full-fledged 21-day detox or just read through it for some great yoga sequences, recipes, and self-care tips (which is what I did!).

I sent Jessi a few questions about her inspiration for the book and, of course, to get more insight on her detoxing philosophy. Check it out!

—Erica

Spoiled Yogi: Detoxing and cleansing are such trendy words lately—but some of the detox “diets” out there seem like they could be dangerous! How is your program different?

Jessi Andricks: They really are! Personally, I love it, because it means more and more people are familiar with it, whether they choose to do one or not. Detox can seem like a super restrictive word, and many believe that our bodies don’t need to, or that a cleanse doesn’t “clean” our bodies any more than they do on their own. To me, a detox or cleanse is simply a way to recharge your body, replenish your personal health (including movement, personal work and stress relief), as well as clear toxins form our body.  This is how Detox 101 is different than other cleanses. There are some scary ones out there, or super restrictive cleanses, and those might make you drop a few pounds quickly, but they don’t teach you how to live healthier – because most of the restrictive practices aren’t made for day to day life. In Detox 101, you learn how your digestive tract works and how it affects your energy levels and overall health. You get shopping lists and recipes, as well as a 21-day meal plan. You get three different types of movement with a 21-day plan, and you get 21 daily meditation practices, mantras, and self-care rituals to help you deepen your detox on a more personal level. The idea is to not only clean up your diet, but refresh your life as well.

Black Bean Buddha Bowl from Detox 101

SY: Who is detoxing good for? Is there anyone who shouldn’t detox?

JA: That all depends on the type of detox. Some are very restrictive, such as the Master Cleanse which consists of only lemon water mixed with specific ingredients for the duration of the cleanse, or completely cut off nutrient categories, like a carb-free or fat-free diet. With Detox 101, the idea is to cleanse and recharge your body, without depriving yourself. It is designed to be safe for generally anyone, because you are eating food and probably getting more nutrient-dense vegetables and fruits than you normally would. If you have any health conditions, history of eating disorders, or are pregnant, you should definitely talk with your doctor about the safety of a cleanse, as you would with any other diet change, but you may find that the kind that focus on eating better and getting well are good for any stage of life.

SY: I don’t have a juicer! Do I really need one in order to detox?

JA: Yes and no! Most of the recipes in the book are juices, rather than smoothies. Juice gives your digestive system a bigger break and you absorb the nutrients in it faster than food or a smoothie, because it doesn’t contain insoluble fiber. But if you have a blender, you can either make a smoothie and strain it with a mesh bag, or add water to blend it more thoroughly. While it still contains fiber, it is broken down, so you still get to absorb nutrients quickly and your digestive tract doesn’t have to work quite as hard.

SY: I’ve read a lot of things that say our bodies naturally move things out on their own without a special detox diet. What’s your response to this?

JA: It’s huge topic and a bit of controversy in the field. Many people don’t believe in detoxing, because they think it is either unsafe or unnecessary. The truth is, our bodies are amazing machines and are incredibly intelligent. Our systems are built to help us absorb the maximum amount from everything we consume and to remove the things that are not beneficial, such as toxins and waste. However, our bodies were created a long time ago and although we have evolved, it is hard to keep up with the amount of toxins that are in our food, air, and water. We absorb toxins through our skin, our breath, and by what we put into our bodies. Our systems work efficiently, but only in ideal circumstances. After time, they get weighed down, sluggish, and overworked. This is when a detox can help. It can be used to remedy your body or as a preventative measure to help keep burn out away.

SY: In your book, you talk about dealing with digestive issues. How did a detox program help you to overcome this?

JA: I think I’ll always have some digestive issues, mainly because I am so aware of how sensitive I am to foods. When I was 20, I started getting terrible stomach aches and pains every day. I would wake up fine, but as soon as I ate anything, I would start to feel sick. I discovered I had a dairy intolerance. Once I made a few changes in my diet, I felt much better. Seven years later, it started up again, despite my limited dairy. I had been in a stressful job, was changing careers, and had just finished training for a half marathon, I knew any and all of those could be the culprit, so I did a cleanse to help support my transition. By eliminating a few food groups for three weeks, I was able to see which ones were affecting me when I added them back in.

About Jessi Andricks
Jessi Andricks, author of Detox 101, is an emerging leader in the field of healthy, holistic living. Through her training in Health Coaching, Yoga, and mind-body fitness, she’s able to blend together the best of all worlds to create innovative online wellness and detox programs, such as her Flourish Series.

Jessi fuses together clean eating basics, empowering fitness, and coaching techniques to help clients can live the happy, healthy lives they deserve. Jessi is a contributor to The Huffington Post, MindBodyGreen.com and has been published in Mantra Yoga+Health Magazine and Yoga Magazine.

Her mission is to help people live the happy, healthy life they deserve. Get in touch with Jessi at jessiandricks.com and look for her book, Detox 101, now available in stores and online.

Q&A with Jessi Andricks, Author of Detox 101

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