Ever wonder why so many people are talking about cleansing and detoxification? The hubbub is warranted, and I believe doing a regular detoxification program is vitally important to your health today. The main reason for this addition to your health regime is the sheer amount of toxic burden your body is exposed to today. The EPA estimates that we are exposed to 80,000 chemicals daily. Your body simply just isn’t equipped to deal with this level of exposure and new chemicals are being introduced each day.
The good news is that our bodies do have a built-in detoxification system that is intricate and effective. We just need to help it along in today’s environment. The reason we have this built-in system is that our bodies naturally produce toxic waste as a by-product of normal metabolism. These chemicals would be harmful and even deadly to us if left in our bodies for even a few days. We have many organs designed to help remove these metabolites including the liver, kidneys, gastrointestinal tract, lymphatic system, lungs, circulatory system and our skin. And our main detox organ is our liver.
The signs and symptoms that may indicate your body is not removing toxins sufficiently include fatigue, poor digestion, constipation, food cravings, weight gain, skin conditions, dark circles/puffiness under eyes, acid reflux, bloating, gas, blood lipid imbalances, poor sleep, recurring headaches, frequent illness & infections, food allergies, fibromyalgia, joint pain, cellulite, hypoglycemia, fluid retention, mental fog, and PMS. Whew! I imagine most people admit to at least a few of these.
There are many good detoxification programs available and I recommend that you consult a qualified holistic health professional before starting one. Some simple daily habits that aid cellular detoxification include eating cruciferous vegetables, exercising regularly, skin brushing, sweating, drinking plenty of water with lemon and taking a few teaspoons of raw apple cider vinegar with your meals.
The more intensified detoxification program I offer to my patients involves using specific herbal and whole food supplements designed to cleanse the liver, kidneys and gastrointestinal tract. The program can vary depending on the needs of the individual, but it generally takes at least three weeks to effectively assist the liver in its process of bio-transformation of toxins and excess hormones. The program usually involves a restricted diet to give the liver, kidneys and digestive tract a break from heavy metabolic processing. I usually recommend using a detoxification program twice a year, especially if you spend a good deal of time in a toxic environment or regularly eat processed foods.
Besides being healthier, feeling better and getting rid of all those nasty symptoms associated with toxicity, detoxification allows people to lose the weight they have been unable to lose and keep it off. I would be remiss if I did not mention that there are many wonderful, holistic therapies that aid in detoxification such as Lymphatic Drainage, Massage Therapy, infrared saunas and the Ion-Cleanse Foot Bath. And of course, Chiropractic helps remove nervous system dysfunction that affects all body systems.
In my opinion, we are currently witnessing an epidemic of diseases and symptoms that are related to our tragically poor diets, our sedentary lifestyle and the overload of harmful chemicals we are exposed to every day. I believe an essential part of your path to health involves a regular liver-cleansing detoxification program.