Page 1 Feeling sluggish or
out of sync? Having skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems?
Straying from your healthier habits lately? It might be time for a detox.
Practiced for centuries by many cultures around the world — including ayurvedic
and Chinese medicine systems — detoxification is about resting, cleaning and
nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins,
then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you
from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.
"The body has its own natural healing system," says Peter Bennett,
N.D., medical director of Helios Clinic in
Barrie, N.D. and Sara Faye, of 7-Day Detox Miracle
(Prima Health). "Detoxification enhances this system," he explains.
How Does
Detoxification Work?
Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by
removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for
elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines,
lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities
aren't properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.
A detox
program can help the body's natural cleaning process by:
1) Resting the organs through fasting;
2) Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;
3) Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin;
4) Improving circulation of the blood; and
5) Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.
"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells,
the smallest units of human life," says Bennett.
How Do You Know
if You Need to Detoxify?
Bennett suggests that everyone should detox at least
once a year. A short detoxifying program is generally safe; in fact, scientific
studies show that a detox is beneficial for health.
However, Bennett cautions against detoxifying for nursing mothers, children,
and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis.
Consult your health care practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right for you.
Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, "it's critical to detox," says Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., the author of
Detoxification (Healthy Healing Publications). Page recommends detoxing for symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, sluggish
elimination, irritated skin, allergies or
low-grade infections; bags under the eyes; a distended stomach even if the rest
of your body is thin; menstrual difficulties; or mental confusion.
Where Do You
Begin?
First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes,
refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and
are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products
(cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.
Another deterrent to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress
hormones into your system. While these hormones can provide the
"adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline, in large amounts
they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. So it's a
good idea to detox stressful life situations along
with detoxifying your body. Yoga and meditation
are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and
mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring.
Which Detox Program is Best for You?
There are many detoxification programs, depending on your individual needs.
Many programs follow a 7-day schedule because, as Bennett explains, "it
takes the body some time to clean the blood." His program involves fasting
on liquids for two days, followed by a carefully-planned five-day diet to allow
the digestive system to rest. He also advises supplements, herbs, exercise, and
practices such as dry-skin brushing and hydrotherapy to enhance circulation.
Page recommends a 3-7 day juice fast (drinking only fresh fruit and vegetable
juices and water) as an effective way to release toxins.
Other popular detoxing programs include:
Cleansing supplement packages, which generally contain fiber,
vitamins, herbs and minerals. There are several safe products on the market,
with easy-to-follow instructions.
A routine of drinking only water one day each week — an ancient
practice of many cultures.
10
Ways to Help Your Body Detoxify
After a detoxification program, you can cleanse your
body daily through diet, supplements and lifestyle practices.
1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice and organically-grown fresh fruits
and vegetables. Beets, radishes, artichokes, cabbage, broccoli, spirulina, chlorella, and seaweed are excellent detoxifying
foods.
2. Cleanse and protect the liver by taking herbs such as dandelion root,
burdock and milk thistle, and drinking green tea.
3. Take vitamin C, which helps the body produce glutathione, a liver compound
that drives away toxins.
4. Drink at least 2 quarts of water daily.
5. Breathe deeply to allow oxygen to circulate
more completely through your system.
6. Transform stress by emphasizing positive emotions.
7. Practice hydrotherapy by taking a very hot shower for five minutes, allowing
the water to run on your back. Follow with cold water for 30 seconds. Do this
three times, and then get into bed for 30 minutes.
8. Sweat in a sauna so your body can eliminate wastes through perspiration.
9. Dry-brush your skin or try detoxifying patches or detox foot spas / foot baths to remove toxins
through your pores. Special brushes are available at natural products stores.
10. What is the most important way to detoxify? "Exercise," says Bennett. "Yoga or jump-roping are
good. One hour every day." Also try qigong, a martial-arts based exercise system
that includes exercises specifically for detoxifying or cleansing, as well as
many other exercises with specific health benefits.
