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Take a few weeks to detox…
Wouldn’t you like to feel awake, clear,
rejuvenated, and fully alive every day? Did you
know that many of our health problems come from hidden
toxins? Although we tend to think of chemical waste
dumps or smoke stacks when we think of toxins, the
concept of toxins is broader. It includes not only toxic
foods, chemicals, and heavy metals like lead or mercury
but toxic emotions, relationships, beliefs, and
attitudes. Toxins can be thought of as anything that
disturbs our physical, biochemical, mental, emotional,
or spiritual balance. While many of us are overburdened
with a variety of toxins, the good news is that we can
identify and eliminate many of these toxins.
If you feel tired, sluggish, achy, have
trouble concentrating or, feel like you are living life
in a cloud of fog, you will likely benefit from a
program of detoxification. On the other hand, if you
have no symptoms, but have certain genetic quirks that
prevent you from getting rid of environmental or
internally generated toxins, you may have a higher
chance of developing cancer, Parkinson’s, or
Alzheimer’s.
Some symptoms of toxicity include:
fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, sinus congestion and
postnasal drip, headaches, bloating and gas, heartburn,
sleep problems, trouble concentrating or brain fog, food
cravings, fluid retention, weight gain, skin rashes,
puffy eyes or dark circles under the eyes, premenstrual
syndrome, bad breath or body odor.
Healthy detoxification involves reducing
your exposure to toxins, eating the right balance of
detoxifying foods, engaging in regular exercise,
sweating, deep relaxation, and the judicious use of
detoxifying vitamins, minerals, and herbs.
There are five simple steps for healthy
detoxification. Follow these steps for three weeks and
discover the amazing source of energy and vitality just
waiting to emerge.
Step One –
Get rid of toxins.
Unload the body and mind of common
“toxins” to give a new start for health by getting rid
of anti-nutrients or “toxic” foods in your diet for
three weeks. After three weeks you can decide which of
these things to reintroduce into your life. Eliminate
these “anti-nutrients”: hydrogenated or trans fats,
processed foods, white flour, sugar, caffeine, alcohol,
and charbroiled meats.
Getting rid of other toxins is easier
than you think. Clean your water with a portable water
filter or reverse osmosis filter, clean your air by
getting a HEPA or ULPA filter for your bedroom, and
clean your food by choosing organic produce and animal
products raised without hormones, antibiotics, or
pesticides.
Also beware of heavy metals as they can
have both short and long term consequences, even at low
levels. Avoid fish containing high levels of mercury
such as tuna, swordfish, and sea bass. Eat more wild
salmon and sardines. Get rid of aluminum found in
antacids, deodorants, and baking powder. Stop using
unnecessary over-the-counter medications such as Tylenol
and Advil which can put an extra load on your liver.
Step Two -
Fix your gut.
Healthy digestion and absorption are
crucial for good health and proper detoxification. Here
are some easy ways to implement suggestions that can
help correct long standing digestive disorders.
For three weeks try a diet eliminating
the most common food allergens – gluten, dairy, and
eggs. Eat a simple diet instead – brown rice, steamed
vegetables, fish, or beans (legumes) to give your gut a
rest. Then put healthy bacteria back into your system
with probiotics or acidophilus. Look for brands with
5-10 billion live organisms per dose. Most importantly,
move your bowels regularly. For sluggish bowels, take
150 mg of Magnesium citrate capsules or tablets, 2-3
times daily, and once a day mix two tablespoons of
ground flaxseeds (kept in fridge) with applesauce or
sprinkle it on a salad or rice.
Step Three –
Move that blood and lymph.
Increasing circulation and lymph fluid
throughout the body is an important step to refresh,
oxygenate, and energize your cells. Take a brisk
thirty-minute walk five times a week (or another aerobic
exercise). Try taking a yoga class which really gets the
circulation going through the organs and helps detox
your system. Get massage or bodywork on a regular
basis. Find a sauna and try to build up to 15-30
minutes 2 to 3 times a week (make sure to drink plenty
of water). Get rid of old dead skin with a dry skin
brush.
Step Four –
Boost your detox system.
Your body has its own built-in
detoxification mechanisms; however, we generally don’t
do enough to support them. Here are some easy
suggestions to give your system a boost. Love your liver
by eating foods in the cruciferous family (broccoli,
collards, kale, etc.), garlic, lemon peel, rose and
dandelion greens. Take a good quality multi-vitamin and
mineral supplement daily. Try the herb milk thistle
which helps heal and protect the liver. Increase urine
flow by drinking at least 8-10 glasses of filtered water
a day. Detox your skin with regular sweating and dry
skin brushing. Detox your lungs with yoga classes and
deep breathing of fresh air.
Step Five –
Detox your mind heart and spirit.
Not all toxins are found in the
environment. Many of our beliefs, attitudes, and
responses to stress can greatly impact our health. Some
simple adjustments in behavior can have a profound
impact on our state of mind and health.
Try some of these suggestions: Pay
attention to unconscious behavior (such as unconscious
eating). Clean up your bedroom and living space and try
to feng shui your home. Try keeping a journal to help
work through constipated feelings. Practice relaxation
with yoga, tai chi, qi gong or other relaxation
techniques. Take a holiday from pop culture and the
melodramatic media for three weeks. Try a computer and
TV holiday for three weeks. Finally get at least eight
hours of rest a night for three weeks and see how you
feel.
After three weeks, your home, body, and
mind should feel less cluttered and more energetic, and
you’ll have a lot more enjoyment out of life.
Excerpts taken from an article
published in Healing Lifestyles & Spas Magazine,
September/October 2003
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