Healthy Life

Posts Tagged ‘detoxing’

Article by Isla Campell

It’s just as synonymous with the New Year as a ringing chorus of ‘Auld Lang Syne’ – the annual New Year detox or strict diet is evident in offices and homes across the country. All over the UK, men and women are swapping their full fat lattes for skinny Americanos, eschewing the cake trolley and joining the gym in their lunch hour.The ‘no pain, no gain’ approach has long been out of favour in the fitness world, as holistic and fun ways to get fit have replaced punishing, sweaty high impact aerobics sessions. It’s no longer fashionable to boast about how much you hurt after a session at the gym and ‘being kind to yourself’ is definitely the way to go. The approach also extends to detox regimes in the 21st century. Harsh lettuce leaf and lemon juice fasts are passé these days and far from being a way to punish yourself for the excesses of the festive period, a detox is now more a way to set yourself up for the year ahead, and give yourself a bit of a head start by energising your body and calming your mind. So what are the options if you want to start the year with a detox?A home detox is easy and can also be relatively cheap to follow. There are a myriad of variations on the theme of a home detox, January’s magazines and newspapers are full of them. If you’ve over spent on Christmas presents and socialising, look out for detox and diet plans in the mainstream newspapers in January, especially the women’s pages. In some cases you don’t even have to buy the papers as they will have versions of the detox online. Magazines often have online versions of their print editions too, with good suggestions as to how to detox at home. Most of them cater for the average budget so they will usually be more about fresh fruit and vegetables rather than alfalfa sprouts or goji berries.There are plenty of websites that offer specific detox ideas, so you can just type the words ‘new year detox’ into a search engine and take your pick! If you have a bit more cash to play with, why not book a spa day or a detox retreat? The upmarket spas and retreat centres are falling over themselves to offer great deals on New Year detox and spa packages, and a stay in a spa, whether in the UK or abroad, can really work wonders for your 2011 resolve. The options for your spa detox are endless – you could try a yoga based stay, an Ayurvedic detox, a vegan or raw food programme, or just book yourself for a day of rejuvenating treatments and healthy food to kick start your year in holistic style. Happy New Year!

Toxins can include perfume, alcohol, cigarette smoke, pesticides, mercury, food additives, oral contraceptives, and cleaning supplies. Toxins are transformed chemically to less harmful compounds that can be excreted via stools or urine.

Is there anyone who should not try a detox diet?

Consult your primary care provider to find out if a detox diet is appropriate for you. A detox diet should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, children, or people with anemia, eating disorders, heart problems, lowered immunity, low blood pressure, ulcers, diabetes, epilepsy, cancer, ulcerative colitis, unless recommended and supervised by your primary care provider.

There are endless detox plans you can follow, so chose carefully. Some will advocate complete fasting or juice-only days, but beware of the health implications and never start such an extreme plan without consulting your doctor or a qualified nutritionist.

Detox Benefits

1. Improves symptoms of heartburn, constipation and gas and treats digestive disorders;
2. Boosts the immune system.

Allergies or sensitivies?

By and large, conventional health care only deals with masking the symptoms of allergies and food sensitivities, rather than attempting to resolve them. The first step that many alternative practitioners recommend is a change of diet that cuts out wheat and dairy foods, two common allergens. To do so is also the first step in “detoxing.” Higher levels of detoxing, as well as additional immune support through nutritional supplementation, have been known to help many allergy sufferers. Allergies are, however, almost by definition, a very individualized condition.

What happens after the detox?

Many of the foods that were eliminated during this diet can be allergenic. A natural health practitioner can help to systematically reintroduce food groups (wheat, dairy, gluten, corn) and note reactions to identify the food groups that may be aggravating health conditions such as sinus congestion, fatigue, skin conditions, arthritis and bloating and constipation. Flare-ups can occur, so supervision is recommended.

Are you overweight or tired all the time? Do you have headaches, other aches and pains, frequent colds and flus, constipation or digestive problems, high blood pressure, PMS, allergies or sensitivities. Do you often drink too much alcohol, drink caffeinated beverages, smoke cigarettes, use over-the-counter or recreational drugs, or eat fast, fried or refined foods?

What is a detox?

Our bodies have a natural in-built detox system (made up of the digestive tract, the urinary system and the liver) that helps to process all the chemicals modern life throws at it. These chemicals are called ‘toxins’ – they are basically poisons that have harmful effects on your body. It’s not just alcohol and tobacco that are loaded with toxins; pesticides and food additives, caffeine and pollution all play their part, too.

Benefits of a detox diet

1. Detox diets are thought to prevent chronic diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease, and cancer.

2. People who try a detox diet often find it can improve toxicity symptoms such as fatigue, joint pain, headache, pain, premenstrual syndrome, unhealthy skin, poor concentration, anxiety and irritability, frequent colds, heartburn, constipation, and gas.

3. Detox diets may be recommended as part of a supervised treatment plan for chronic disease such as autoimmune disease, multiple chemical sensitivity, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, digestive disorders, heart disease, and arthritis.

Detox Hot Tips

1. Clear the detox period in your diary of any pubs, clubs, restaurants and parties. See it as an opportunity to do all those things you never get round to, such as visiting museums and galleries – then you can feel doubly smug at the end when you’re not only healthier, but more cultured, too;

2. Drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration;

3. Take milk thistle to optimise these benefits; it contains silymarin, which protects the liver from damage;

Mind-Body Detox:

Special chiropractic treatments for drug addicts have proven very successful in stabilizing those withdrawing from drugs and other addictive behavior. Mind Body Detox is being recognized by the scientific and medical professionals and their publications worldwide. Chiropractors using activator methods to treat poor health, pain, and even addiction are being sought by addicts wishing to overcome their addiction. The mind body detox process activates movement very gently, no bone popping, which stimulates the brain’s pleasure receptors and affects emotions in a positive way.

There has been a lot of talk about detoxification, detox diets and whether they are necessary, healthy, or appropriate for the body. Doctors are split over the controversial issue. Alternative medical professionals recommend a detoxification at least once a year especially with the increased concern over toxicity in our food, water, air, medicine and environment.  Ayurvedic medicine, Traditional Chinese medicine and herbalism have been using detoxification for thousands of years. However, traditional medical practitioners dispute the reasons for the use of detoxification. They question the scientific basis or benefit behind detoxification because the body is an extraordinary healer with its own system of elimination.

What is Detoxification?

Detoxification is a physiological or medical removal of toxic substances from the body. Detoxification is used medically with drug withdrawal, decontamination of poison ingestion, dialysis, and chelation therapy. During these processes toxins and toxic chemicals are removed from the body. In the same manner, detoxification or detox diets are used to eliminate toxins that are consumed through our food and water, inhaled through the air or confronted within our environments. Detoxes are used to cleanse, rest, and nourish the body from the inside out. Practitioners who recommend detoxes believe that detoxing protects the body against disease and renews optimum health. Toxins are removed and replaced with healthy nutrients that the body desperately requires. Health is restored and energy and vigor are revitalized.

How does Detoxification work?

Detoxification enhances the body’s own elimination system by cleaning the blood and removing impurities from the liver. Although the kidneys, liver, intestines, lungs, lymph, skin and bowels are all part of the body’s elimination system, they can become compromised when overexposed to toxins, chemical and impurities. Now a days there are so many more sources of toxicity than there were 100, 50 and even 10 years ago. With technological advances in food, science and almost every aspect of living, our bodies are being exposed to harmful chemicals, irritants and pollutants throughout daily living. Food is contaminated with unnecessary additives, allergens, flavor enhancers, food coloring, and artificial preservatives. Not to mention that air and water pollution, radiation, nuclear power, drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and medications have harmful effects on the body as well. Compromised by these chemicals and toxins the body is unable to filter impurities properly, which causes an adverse affect on every cell within the body. This can cause specific symptoms to appear such as fatigue, mood swings, digestive problems, constipation, headaches and many more. A detox program rests the organs through fasting, stimulates the liver to drive out toxins, promotes elimination through the kidneys, intestines, and skin, improves blood circulation and refuels the body with nutrients. Detoxification works by addressing every cell in the body.

Types of Detoxification

There are many types of detox plans such as contrast showers, detox footpads, oil pulling, snakestones, body cleansing, water fasting, metabolic therapy, elimination diets, hydrotherapy, and colonics. Detoxes come in the form of liquids, supplements, herbs, diets and exercise. Each detox program differs in action and intent. Some work only with the bowel to remove rotting food remanence, others cleanse the liver or blood, and others aid in skin or kidney function. Women who are pregnant or nursing, children, elderly, or people with cancer, degenerative disease or a compromised immune system should not use detoxes as it could cause harmful side effects such as nutritional deficiencies which can lead to death. Detoxification is generally harmless and safe, however if you exceed the recommended time frame it can lead to nutritional deficiency. There is some risk associated with detox procedures such as colon cleanses which can cause perforation in the lining of the bowel, infection or water intoxication, however risks are low.

When should You Detox?

            Recommended detox programs should be done 1-2 times a year depending upon your level of health. Or if you have symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, sluggish elimination, constipation, irritated skin, allergies, bags under the eyes, distended stomach, menstrual difficulties, mental confusion, aches and pains, headaches, and digestive problems. A short program normally lasts 3-7 days. Some practitioners recommend doing a cleanse or detox at the change of each season due to the overexposure to airborne pollutants, refined and processed foods, radiation, prescription medications, alcohol and drug use. The more toxins within your environment that you are exposed to, the more a detox may be necessary.

What should you expect after a Detox?

            Depending upon which detox you decide to undertake, will determine how difficult it is on you mentally and physically. It may be difficult especially if you are doing an elimination detox where you stop eating or drinking certain foods or food entirely. During a detox, toxins are released from stored fat into the blood so they can be excreted. You may have decreased energy, skin irritation, headaches or mood swings while your body is eliminating these toxins. After a detox is finished, most people experience a boost in energy, improved mood, weight loss, decreased bloating, easier elimination, better muscle recovery, increased immune system and overall better health. Traditional doctors attribute these results to the limited or eliminated food, which requires the body to burn, accumulated and stored fats. However this has not diminished people’s interest or continued use of detox programs. Especially since detoxification has become a popular topic over the past decade and an increasing number of detox products have become available in the market. Ultimately, people will continue to use detox programs as long as they continue to have beneficial results, even if traditional medicine disputes the use of detoxification.

http://www.universalhealthinfo.com/Detox.html