Gwyneth Paltrow x Alejandro Junger: A Different Way of Detoxing
Nov 27, 2019
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Alejandro Junger, a functional medicine practitioner and author of the bestseller Clean, shares his transformative journey into wellness. He introduces his new seven-day detox program, Clean 7, emphasizing the importance of detoxification and dietary changes for optimal health. The conversation touches on intermittent fasting, its benefits for longevity, and the impact of modern synthetic chemicals on our bodies. Junger also highlights the rising popularity of IV vitamin therapy and the need for personalized health strategies in today’s wellness landscape.
Detoxification is essential for health, as it allows the body to focus on healing when energy is not diverted to survival.
Intermittent fasting improves metabolic health by enabling the body to transition from burning carbohydrates to utilizing stored fat for energy.
Deep dives
The Importance of Detoxification
Detoxification plays a crucial role in maintaining health, especially in the face of modern environmental toxins. The process becomes impaired when the body directs its energy toward survival mechanisms instead of detoxifying. Creating conditions that support liver and cellular function through nutritional support can lead to remarkable health benefits. These benefits include improved digestion, better skin clarity, and enhanced overall well-being as the body can focus on healing and repairing itself.
Understanding Functional Medicine
Functional medicine emphasizes addressing the root causes of health issues rather than merely treating symptoms. This approach integrates insights from both modern science and traditional healing systems like Ayurveda. By understanding how various toxins and chemicals affect the body, individuals can make informed decisions about their health and lifestyle. The conversation highlights the importance of customization in treatment, as each person's health journey is unique.
The Role of Intermittent Fasting
Intermittent fasting is presented as a beneficial practice that taps into the body's natural mechanisms for healing and energy utilization. Fasting allows the body to switch from utilizing carbohydrates for energy to burning stored fat, a process linked to improved metabolic health. As digestion requires significant energy, fasting redistributes that energy to other vital processes, enhancing alertness and physical performance. The insights suggest that this age-old practice aligns well with the body's evolutionary adaptations.
Rethinking Nutrition and Lifestyle
A well-rounded diet rich in diversity is essential for optimal health and effective detoxification. Consuming a range of colorful fruits and vegetables can support cellular health and gut microbiome diversity. Additionally, the conversation stresses the need for eliminating processed foods and chemicals that impair the body's natural detoxification processes. Implementing these dietary changes can significantly impact overall wellness, boosting energy levels and promoting better long-term health outcomes.
GP met functional medicine practitioner Alejandro Junger in 2007, and her journey into wellness was forever changed because of it. Junger, who founded the twenty-one-day Clean Program and wrote the bestselling book Clean, has a new seven-day detox protocol and accompanying book, Clean 7. And now he’s sitting down with GP to share what he’s learned about detoxification, intermittent fasting, and maneuvering around the modern inventions that tend to disrupt our body’s digestive processes and overall health. “We’re living in this interesting point in time where people want agency over their health,” says GP. Junger is the one of the healers helping us to make the most of it. (For more on Junger, listen to his goopfellas podcast episode on the roots of inflammation and head to The goop Podcast hub.)