Frequently Asked Questions about VITAL. My signature detox program.

What is the VITAL 10-Day Detox?

My signature 10-Day Detox called VITAL is a comprehensive detoxification program that allows your body 7 days to reset and remove harmful toxins from your body. These toxins can cause weight gain, bloating, dry skin, brain fog, mood disorders, and hormone imbalances. The results from the 7-Day detox have been shown to improve many of these issues in most people.

Is there anyone who should NOT do the detox?

Please consult your healthcare practitioner if you are under 18, pregnant or lactating, have liver or kidney disease, gallbladder conditions, appendicitis, eating disorder, type 1 diabetes, or if any of your medications or conditions are contraindicated with any of the ingredients listed at the bottom of this page.

Does the VITAL detox provide all meals or do I still have to purchase groceries in addition to it?

Each Detox comes with 7 breakfast and 7 afternoon shakes. The food shopping list is contained within the kit, but you would purchase your own lunch and dinners for days 3-7. (Days 1 and 2 are 4 shakes per day and are supplied for you.)

Do you offer support during the Dr. Cabral Detox?

Absolutely! I take on a limited number of private wellness clients where we can delve a lot deeper into all your goals and I can help you achieve them.

Can I do the 10-Day Detox for longer?

The VITAL detox may be done for a longer period as part of a wellness protocol when we work together as a 1-2-1 client.

How often can I do the detox?

Typically, I suggest joining me 4 times per year (seasonally). However, many of my private clients use it more often to help combat the effects of travel, holiday, and occasional slip-ups in their nutrition.

Why may I experience headaches, fatigue, nausea, or skin breakouts?

This can be a sign that your body is detoxing, which is called a Herxheimer reaction. This is due to the fact your body is releasing stored toxins, which your body is trying to process and eliminate as quickly as possible. Headaches, fatigue, and nausea are also common if you have altered your normal routine and are no longer consuming processed foods, caffeine, alcohol, etc. This causes your body to have withdrawal symptoms from these items, especially during the first 2 days. It should be gone by the end of day 3. Please discontinue the Detox, or move onto the Day 3 meal plan should any reactions become severe or last more than the 1st 2 days.

Can I have coffee during my detox?

I do not recommend having coffee/caffeine during the detox in order to see the best results. However, if you are not able to give up coffee I recommend limiting it to no more than 6oz of black coffee or tea in the morning.

Can I modify the detox to eat during the first 2 days?

I do not recommend eating during the first 2 days in order to give your body the time to remove toxins without the stress of digesting food. However, if you are not trying to lose weight you could add spinach or blueberries to your smoothies. If it is essential that you eat during the first 2 days you may follow the guidelines for days 3-7.

What if I miss one of the capsules?

If you miss taking an AYU or FM capsule you can pick it up with the next scheduled capsules – there is no need to take additional ones.

How much water should I drink?

You should be consuming about 80-100oz of water each day throughout the detox. Much of this will be from the shakes themselves (each one is about 20-24 ounces). Additional water is only needed if you feel thirsty.

Are nut milks allowed on the detox?

Yes, if you cannot do straight water with the powder you may use a 50/50 ratio of unsweetened nut milk with water.

I have a food sensitivity, can I still do the Detox?

The Detox is gluten-free, dairy-free, nut-free, egg-free, and soy-free. However, if any of your allergies lie outside of these specifications please check the ingredient list to be sure that the foods that you are sensitive to are not in any of the products.

Do my detox products expire?

The detox products do have an expiration date; each product will have a stamp for the date that it will expire. Since they're made in small batches, the one you're getting is going to be fresh and will not expire most likely for 2 years.

Can I use herbs and spices?

Yes, herbs and spices are okay to use for seasoning your food.

*Note: some herbs including garlic and onion can act as a prebiotic and cause bloating which may slow weight loss and increase gut dysfunction. If this happens on days 3-7 I recommend cutting back on those products.

Should I continue with any prescribed medication during the detox?

During the detox you should stay on all prescription medication prescribed by your healthcare practitioner, please also confirm that none of your medications are contraindicated with any of the ingredients in the detox.

How do I maintain my results after the detox?

My goal is to help you get the best results humanly possible, while at the same time teaching you a healthy lifestyle plan. There is the option to work with me 1-2-1 to achieve a deeper level of health and wellness.

What do I eat after the detox?

Continue with the smoothies for breakfast, but add in some berries and other superfoods. For lunch, you can continue with a vegan or vegetarian lunch or begin to add in Paleo-type proteins if you prefer.

Snacking is optional and it can be another smoothie or a snack such as a handful of nuts, cut-up veggies and guacamole or hummus, a cup of fruit, or fresh vegetable juice. Dinner can be the same style as lunch. Lunch and dinner can also include some gluten-free starch if you are not trying to lose weight. You can also do one to two cheat meals per week as desired based on your goals.

Can I change the timing of my shakes?

If you need to wake up earlier than the example times listed in the instructions, you should drink lemon water upon waking up. Then have your first shake no earlier than 6:00 am and have the remaining shakes 3.5-4 hours apart.

Can I drink anything besides water?

Yes, you may also drink unsweetened and caffeine-free herbal teas; especially ginger tea. Please avoid coconut water or any beverages with sugar (natural or added).

Should I be having daily bowel movements?

Decreased bowel movements during the first 2 days of the detox are normal because you are not consuming whole foods and only drinking liquids. After you introduce meals again on day 3, bowel movements should begin returning to normal. To increase bowel activity add in magnesium citrate powder and/or 3-5 capsules of psyllium husk fibre at night.

Can I exercise during the detox?

If this is your first detox, I do not recommend exercising on fasting days. Exercising on meal days is okay, but don't overdo it and pay close attention to how your body is feeling. The main goal of the detox is to give your body time to rest and rejuvenate.

If you have done the detox before and know that you always have enough energy to exercise when fasting, then go ahead. Make sure to only do light exercise and continue to stay aware of how your body is feeling.

Can I cook my food on the detox?

Yes, you may cook your food. It is best not to cook in oil, but instead, either steam, bake, broil, slow cook, or sauté (pan-fry) in a little water to prevent sticking. You may then add 1-2 TBSP of olive oil as a dressing along with a squeeze of lemon.

I feel bloated after having the shake and supplements, is this normal?

Bloating after consuming the shake and supplements is often a sign of weak digestion. If this occurs, it is best to drink the shake slowly over the course of 60 minutes. I would also invite you to contact me regarding becoming a private client to work on your gut health.

Can I have sparkling water during the detox?

I recommend avoiding all carbonated drinks during the detox. After you complete the detox sparkling water is okay.

If I cannot swallow capsules, can I open them up and mix them into my water?

Yes, you can mix the powder from the capsules into the shakes or even mix them up with a little raw honey or 1 tsp of apple sauce. Please keep in mind that the powder may taste bitter due to the vitamins and herbs.

I don't want to lose weight, can I still do the detox?

Absolutely! If you are not trying to lose weight, I do recommend adding 1 cup of blueberries to your smoothies on days 3-7. There is a section on the food shopping list of fruits and carbs that you can eat if weight loss is not your main goal.

If I'm feeling really hungry still after day 3, can I add more food?

To help with hunger I recommend adding green leafy vegetables and blueberries to your smoothies. Less weight may be lost, but you will still experience great detox results.

Do I need to do all the days of the detox or can I do less and still get results?

If you cannot commit to a full detox, you can still receive great benefits from doing only 5 days. Simply complete the 1st 5 days and then use the daily shake powder for your morning smoothies after that.

Is the detox gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, egg-free, caffeine-free, nut-free, vegan/vegetarian?

Yes, the detox was created to be free of all major allergens including gluten, dairy, soy, egg, and nuts. The detox is also caffeine free and is made with pea/rice protein so it is also vegan/vegetarian. It has also been 3rd party tested for purity and contains no heavy metals.

Can I complete the detox while pregnant or nursing?

No, I do not recommend completing the detox while pregnant or nursing because that may expose your child to toxins your body will be releasing.

Can I do an infrared sauna, or coffee enema, or colonic while completing the detox?

If you would like to use an infrared sauna, coffee enema, or colonic while completing the detox, it is best to do so during days 3-7, after you have completed the fasting portion so that your body is stronger and able to work with the increased detoxification treatments.

Can I use vinegar on the detox?

I do not recommend vinegar on the detox because it is acidic and it can feed yeast or bacterial overgrowth. Instead, try using lemon or lime for acidity/flavour instead.