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10 Ways to Detoxify Your Body

Three naturopathic physicians share insight on why and when to detox, what type of detox program is right for you, and 10 ways to start.

 



Page 1

Feeling sluggish or out of sync? Having skin problems, aches and pains, or digestive problems? Straying from your healthier habits lately? It might be time for a detox.

Practiced for centuries by many cultures around the world — including ayurvedic and Chinese medicine systems — detoxification is about resting, cleaning and nourishing the body from the inside out. By removing and eliminating toxins, then feeding your body with healthy nutrients, detoxifying can help protect you from disease and renew your ability to maintain optimum health.

"The body has its own natural healing system," says Peter Bennett, N.D., medical director of Helios Clinic in Victoria, B.C., and co-author with Stephen Barrie, N.D. and Sara Faye, of 7-Day Detox Miracle (Prima Health). "Detoxification enhances this system," he explains.

How Does Detoxification Work?
Basically, detoxification means cleaning the blood. It does this mainly by removing impurities from the blood in the liver, where toxins are processed for elimination. The body also eliminates toxins through the kidneys, intestines, lungs, lymph and skin. However, when this system is compromised, impurities aren't properly filtered and every cell in the body is adversely affected.

A detox program can help the body's natural cleaning process by:
1) Resting the organs through fasting;
2) Stimulating the liver to drive toxins from the body;
3) Promoting elimination through the intestines, kidneys and skin;
4) Improving circulation of the blood; and
5) Refueling the body with healthy nutrients.

"Detoxification works because it addresses the needs of individual cells, the smallest units of human life," says Bennett.

How Do You Know if You Need to Detoxify?
Bennett suggests that everyone should detox at least once a year. A short detoxifying program is generally safe; in fact, scientific studies show that a detox is beneficial for health. However, Bennett cautions against detoxifying for nursing mothers, children, and patients with chronic degenerative diseases, cancer or tuberculosis. Consult your health care practitioner if you have questions about whether detoxing is right for you.

Today, with more toxins in the environment than ever, "it's critical to detox," says Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D., the author of Detoxification (Healthy Healing Publications). Page recommends detoxing for symptoms such as unexplained fatigue, sluggish elimination, irritated skin, allergies or low-grade infections; bags under the eyes; a distended stomach even if the rest of your body is thin; menstrual difficulties; or mental confusion.

Where Do You Begin?
First, lighten up your toxin load. Eliminate alcohol, coffee, cigarettes, refined sugars and saturated fats, all of which act as toxins in the body and are obstacles to your healing process. Also, minimize use of chemical-based household cleaners and personal health care products (cleansers, shampoos, deodorants and toothpastes), and substitute natural alternatives.

Another deterrent to good health is stress, which triggers your body to release stress hormones into your system. While these hormones can provide the "adrenaline rush" to win a race or meet a deadline, in large amounts they create toxins and slow down detoxification enzymes in the liver. So it's a good idea to detox stressful life situations along with detoxifying your body. Yoga and meditation are simple and effective ways to relieve stress by resetting your physical and mental reactions to the inevitable stress life will bring.


Community Voice

 
Great article! Make sure to only use all natural ingredients, and steer clear of stimulants and products that claim to remove toxins but are full of toxins themselves! http://www.kaengraeng.com Kaeng Raeng is an all natural vegan gluten free detox suitable for those with Celiac Disease.
kaengraeng,
Nov 6, 2009 10:01:59 AM

 
you should also know that reading product reviews is supposed to be the best possible means of ensuring that you get the best detox products to help you remove toxins from you colon. www.1wallmart.com
dietfood,
Oct 18, 2009 2:42:28 PM

 
Would very much like to add that during a detox, it's also useful to use detoxifying external products, like a Juniper Body Rub (we have one with all organic ingredients), designed to help increase circulation under the skin and hence, get that stagnant lymph moving a little faster.
Cheers,
Jen
Juniper Energizing Body Rub
alchemilla,
Oct 5, 2009 6:49:29 PM

 
It is really useful article,Thank you
Maybe you can look this one;
http://www.forhealthylife.org
For Healthy Life
Aephran,
Sep 9, 2009 1:19:33 PM

 
I market a product for people who want to reduce the toxic load on their body just like I did. Do you know anyone who might like to know about a product like that? Let me know email me today organicgoody@live.com
organicgoody,
Aug 30, 2009 2:02:07 PM

 

Really good article and I couldn't agree more on you tips on ways to detox your body.

Shane
Detoxifying Your Body

Edited by: heresplanb on Aug 15, 2009 9:41:18 PM

heresplanb,
Aug 15, 2009 9:40:22 PM

 
I understand the importance of ridding my body of toxins and that we live in a world over-ridden with them. As a cancer survivor, I have become proactive in detoxification and have practiced yoga, eaten more healthy and used some successful methods and supplements to aid my journey.

Marianne
http://www.bodydetoxbasics.com
mbb4502,
Aug 8, 2009 10:08:26 AM

 
hello friend ,
firstly who is worry about their health and not able to understand that what they do
for lose their wait.so i'll gave you a suggestion that this not a big problem for you.
first i'll share you my experience that i lose 10 kg wait with in 3 years.
now you think that how?
so i lose it by yoga.
yoga is best way for shape your body and it is also beneficial for our disease
which is not handled by anyone.
i fell very good because i share my experience with you
----------------------------------
weight loss program--weight loss program
Rockstarbabu,
Aug 7, 2009 1:31:11 AM

 
how long are you supposed to detoxify your body?
elzanicegirl,
Aug 1, 2009 8:48:14 AM

 
reading your blog I was wondering if all 10 ways of detoxifying the body are equally effective and if not in what order do they fall most effective to least effective?
mark,
May 19, 2009 8:06:11 PM

 
This is a really good article and I especially like that you discuss relaxation techniques. Ive been doing mediation for quite some time and through practicing it have not only increased my focus and energy level but have also become much more spiritual. Practicing meditation changed my life by helping me realize that I was working in a field that did not make me happy. I left the practice of law and now publish the My Mediation Garden site where I have included information on meditation techniques, benefits of meditation, meditation videos, and guided meditation for free download in an easy to understand manner. My mission is to make meditation accessible to the busy and overworked professional in the US to learn how to apply meditation in their daily lives.

All the best,

Sonia Gallagher
http://www.mymeditationgarden.com
Sonia Gallagher,
Apr 17, 2009 8:30:42 AM

 
There are some side effects. As you detox you might feel mild flu-like symptoms for a few days as your body discharges the toxins. Also it's important to remember that not everyone is a candidate for fasting or juicing. People with hypoglycemia, for instance, would do really poorly on a juice or water cleanse. So if you're fasting and feeling really horrible, lightheaded, sweaty, nauseous, dizzy, faint, etc., you need to eat something! Be sure to consult a nutritionist before embarking on one of the more rigorous programs...

bodaweightloss
Stephanie,
Jan 16, 2009 10:14:30 AM

 
Really great tips, thanks! One thing though--I am happy to see that you included herbs for the liver, but while dandelion and milk thistle are very safe for long term use, burdock, being much more stimulating, is something to be used for less than three weeks or a month or it is too hard on the liver.

jh
bodaweightloss
jenboda,
Dec 3, 2008 4:08:12 PM

 
are there any known side effects to de-toxing?
susan t,
Oct 7, 2007 8:51:13 AM


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