Naturopathic Advice
Do's & Don't of Detoxification
Detoxification is one of the hottest topics in health today.
Come January, after the over-indulgence of the holidays,
interest in detoxification increases exponentially.
But what is detoxification, what are the benefits, and how is
it done?
Detoxification is the process by which the body rids itself of
unwanted and potentially harmful substances or toxins.
The toxins can come from a wide variety of sources including
water, poor food choices, contaminated foods, foods that we are
allergic or sensitive to, smoke, alcohol, caffeine, drugs (both
prescription and recreational), the environment, and a host of other
sources. Our liver
is the primary site of detoxification, as there are specific enzymes
and pathways in the liver that are responsible for rendering harmful
substances water soluble and for excreting these substances.
Also, everything passes through the liver—all we consume and
inherently produce is processed by the liver, including food,
hormones, caffeine, and drugs.
Often times these toxins and their bread down products build
up in the liver and the body.
Cleanses rev up our liver’s detoxifying processes and
eliminate any toxins from the body.
This then allows our liver to work more efficiently because
the toxic “sludge: that accumulates has been removed.
Cleanses also enhance the detoxification processes of other
organs, such as the lungs, gut, kidneys and skin.
Detoxifications can be beneficial for a number of reasons.
They can help prevent disease from occurring in people who
are exposed to a lot of toxins.
They can help treat issues related with such things as weight
gain, low energy, PMS, skin issues, weak immune systems, digestive
concerns and pain. They
can also treat diseases such as chronic degenerative diseases,
multiple chemical sensitivities, autoimmune diseases, arthritis,
fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, and digestive concerns.
There are a wide variety of protocols and plans to do a detox or
cleanse. A plethora of
products, both good and bad, exist in health food stores that claim
to help with detoxification.
Protocols can range from completely fasting for a few days,
to having shakes, to being able to eat full complete meals with
adjustments to the foods you are consuming.
Often, supportive vitamins, nutrients, herbs, homeopathic
remedies and/or hydrotherapy are added to a protocol to enhance the
overall detoxification effect.
It is strongly recommended to speak with a licensed health care
practitioner such as a naturopath before undertaking any
detoxification protocol.
Detoxification can have profound effects and not every
detoxification protocol is healthy for every person.
For example, fasting may be the best choice for some, and for
others it can be extremely dangerous.
A detoxification program should also be tailored to meet your
individual goals and needs.
However, there are some very simple things that we can do on an
ongoing basis that are both safe and effective in cleansing the
body.
Drink plenty of water—drinking water has numerous benefits, but it
also helps the body flush out toxins by increasing urination
Drink warm lemon water in the morning—this helps to stimulate
digestive juices to help digest and absorb the nutrients from our
food, and it is also a direct liver cleanser
Deep breathing exercises—not only does deep breathing activate the
relaxation response, reduce stress and anxiety, promote well-being,
increase the ability to concentrate, and reduce blood pressure, it
also directly contributes to detoxification by helping to eliminate
toxins from the lungs, and it increases blood flow which helps to
move and remove toxins from the body
Aerobic exercise
if you are able—aside
from the numerous benefits of exercise, 30 minutes per day five
times a week of aerobic exercise will help to promote detoxification
through sweating and the mobilization of toxins
Adequate rest—any detoxification protocol, from the
simplest to the most strenuous taxes the body.
Give your body a chance to respond to detoxification, to heal
itself and work more efficiently through sleep and rest.
The opinions and advice expressed in this articles are those of the
authors. These do not necessarily represent the views of
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clarification)
