Written By: Jacqueline Wildish - Nutritional Therapist
(B.A. Wits. Dip. BCNH London. MBANT. MSAANT)
The dreaded word… DETOX. Thoughts of hunger, fasting, strong-will, discomfort and deprivation come to mind. Not something you want to face after a season of festivities. The good news is, you don't need to punish yourself to become healthy, and can detoxify in a way that will support and be kind to your body, and have a longer-term benefit. If you need a health overhaul or are suffering with any of the symptoms mentioned below, a well-managed detoxification is one of the best New Years treats you will give to your body.
Detoxification is a way of ridding the body of unwanted toxins. Toxins can come from outside and inside the body, and can start to accumulate from the day we are born. Environmental toxins include: heavy metals (e.g. mercury, lead, cadmium, arsenic), cosmetics, detergents, alcohol, caffeine, poor nutrition, medications, pesticides, detergents, pollution and smoking. Toxins and internal debris that clog up metabolic processes within the body include gallstones, too much cholesterol, unwanted hormones, bad bacteria and yeast or parasites in the digestive tract. In addition, your body is capable of producing its own toxins, which is does, daily.
The current approach to detoxification is to support the organs directly involved in detoxification – the liver, the digestive tract and the kidneys, through correct nutrition, supplementation and the use of appropriate herbs. Yes, you can eat while you detox – it’s about choosing health-giving foods and avoiding those foods that add to toxicity. Starving yourself is taxing to organs such as pancreas, thyroid and adrenals, can cause low blood sugar, amongst other symptoms, and can place further strain on the body.
Dr. Khush Mark (consultant in Nutrition and Metabolic Typing with degrees in Pharmacology, Toxicology and Pathology, Oncology, Human Nutrition and Practical Homeopathy) distinguishes between detoxification and cleansing, and says that the two go hand-in-hand. She links detoxification to cleaning a car using an automated system to wash the outside, and cleansing, to taking your car for a valet where the inside and outside becomes clean and shiny.
Cleansing is a more targeted form of detoxification and includes practices such as liver or gall bladder cleanse, parasite cleanse, cell or kidney cleanses, Candida cleanse and heavy metal detoxification.
Cleansing and detoxification may just turn your health around and slow down or even prevent the formation of some illnesses including: irritable bowel syndrome, obesity, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue syndrome, obesity, acne, infertility, eczema, fibromyalgia, depression, hair loss and more.
If you have any of these symptoms, or suffer from the following, you will benefit from a detoxification:
- Headaches or migraines
- Watery, itchy eyes
- Swollen red or sticky eyes
- Dark circles under the eyes
- Itchy ears, earache, ear infections, drainage from the ears or ringing in the ears
- Excess mucous, stuffy nose or sinus problems
- Acne, skin rash or hives
- Sweat a lot with strong body odour
- Joint or muscle aches or pains
- Sluggish metabolism and find it hard to lose weight
- Underweight and find it hard to gain weight
- Frequent or urgent urination
- Nausea or vomiting
- Bitter taste in mouth or furry tongue
- Have a strong reaction to alcohol
- Abdominal bloating
- Coffee leaves you feeling jittery or unwell
Nutrition and lifestyle guidelines to detoxify include: identifying foods to which you are intolerant and avoiding them, as well as breaking or making the following habits:
5 Habits to Break:
- Wheat
- Dairy Products
- Caffiene
- Alcohol
- Bad fats
| 5 Habits to Make:
- Drink eight glasses of water
- Eat the Big Five super foods (1 tbsp ground seeds; a serving of super greens mix; broccoli, cabbage, Brussel sprouts,
- cabbage, cauliflower or kale; garlic clove, small onion, shallot or 4 spring onions; and a superfood juice or smoothie
- Eat plenty of antioxidants (fresh fruit & vegetables)
- Take detoxifying suppliments
- Do daily exercise
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Detoxification can help improve your energy and vitality, balance brain chemistry, boost concentration and improve memory, help you drop weight, sleep well, balance hormones, improve skin and many other benefits. However, once each of your cells has been cleansed and well nourished, it is your responsibility to keep your body well by eating good foods and practicing a healthy lifestyle – all year long, not just in January.
Bibliography
Holford P and McDonald J. 2007. The Holford 9-Day Liver Detox. Great Britain: Piatkus Books
Khush M. Detox, Retox and Botox. 2004. Available from http://www.khushmark.com/newsletters.asp?id=27 [Last accessed 12 December 2008]
Khush M. Here’s Looking at You? 2003. Available from http://kushmark.com/newsletters.asp?id=14 [ Last accessed 12 December 2008] Enjoyed this article?
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