Detox and fasting in Ibiza: all you need to know.
As winter approaches, we look at the lifestyle changes that will support us through the colder months on the island.
Fasting and detoxification have been used therapeutically since at least the fifth century BC, when the Greek physician Hippocrates recommended abstinence from food or drink for patients who exhibited certain symptoms of illness. Fasting is mentioned over 70 times in the Bible, most notably when Moses spent 40 days and nights on Mount Sinai with no food or water. Additionally, the ingesting of clay and charcoal for detoxification purposes was common in ancient civilizations such as Egypt and Rome. It is thought that fasting may in fact be the single greatest natural healing therapy missing in today’s Western lifestyle. It is suggested that the neglect of this age-old practice may have contributed to the rise of health issues such as heart disease, allergies, diabetes and cancer. Mays Al-Ali is an Ibiza-based nutritionist and detoxing expert whose online detoxification programmes are hugely popular both on and off the island. She explains why fasting and cleansing are the ideal way to regenerate the body and mind and to prepare for the cooler seasons ahead.
Detoxing is good for everyone.
'I came from a very stressful corporate world and a high-powered career in advertising. I found yoga first and became a yoga teacher then a nutritionist. I’ve been doing deep cleanses now for around 12 years, to heal myself after decades of the London lifestyle. And it’s not just the parties, alcohol and liver abuse; we live in a toxic world and we ingest substances that are toxic without even knowing. It’s the food that we're eating that's full of pesticides, the air that we're breathing that’s full of pollution and the chemicals that we're exposed to through beauty and cleaning products. The average woman puts 150 different chemicals on her body before she leaves the house. We are surrounded. The real pandemic – the one we should be addressing - is the global toxicity crisis.'
The liver takes the burden of an unhealthy lifestyle.
'We should be able to live clean, healthy, natural lives. But in these modern times the liver gets overburdened and the liver is responsible for metabolising all our hormones. I see a lot of women struggling with perimenopause, menopause and high cholesterol issues. All of this is linked to the liver, because if the liver is sluggish, it's not metabolising the hormones and it's not metabolising your cholesterol. This can manifest as skin issues, as bloating, as chronic fatigue. It took over six years to really detox my liver. And the first time I did it, my whole body broke out in hives. I looked like the elephant woman. I was terrified, but it was just a reaction. It's the body’s way of releasing those stored toxins.'
Nutrition is very individual.
'That's why working one-to-one with a nutritionist gets you the results. My clients fill in a 10-page questionnaire. They complete a seven-day food diary. I need to know what they’re eating, what they're drinking, what time they're sleeping, what time they're waking, any gut issues or reactions to foods. I analyse everything, but the main thing is working on the gut, because the gut is linked to our skin, to our mood, to our immune system, to our happiness hormones. It’s linked to everything.'
It’s hard making lifestyle changes.
'I can guarantee you the results, but you might have to give up some of your favourite things for a while. I'm always transparent but I know what the triggers are. If clients have the willpower to really stick to the protocols and to make the time and space to make the effort, they will get the rewards. Making initial changes can be challenging, but once you've implemented them, it takes three months for neuronal plasticity to create new brain cells, to create new habits. So, after a while the new lifestyle changes become habitual and it becomes easy. And then you are living in a way that's conducive to health and energy and metabolism as opposed to the other way around.'
It’s absolutely worth it.
'After a detox patients will feel energised, their skin glows, their hair shines, the whites of their eyes pop. The bloat disappears and they may lose a few kilos if that’s what the body needs. It’s also time to go within, especially if you have a spiritual practice, because when you're fasting you really connect to source. Therapeutic grade supplements are also crucial - herbs like wormwood for parasite cleansing, my own bespoke tinctures, bentonite clay and activated charcoal for binding and I always recommend coffee enemas. These are important because when we are fasting, the body starts to break down fat cells and to use the fat as fuel for the brain. Toxins are stored in fat cells, so when those cells break down those toxins enter the bloodstream. If we don't bind and excrete them, those toxins stay in blood and can cause chronic inflammation and health conditions. Once the body is rid of these, the effects can be profound. It can be like a spiritual awakening. I've had clients who say that detoxing has changed their lives; it really is that profound.'
