Getting Healthy from the Inside Out

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