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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.

:: By Deborahann Smith

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.

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Community Voice

I heavily believe in detoxing the body each year and love the article. You brought something to my attention though and it's about stress causing toxins. Really could point!

Susan
Lemonade Diet Recipe


	susanbell, Feb 5, 2010 10:16:24 PM

Body detoxification has received some pretty bad press recently saying that our body can cleanse the body naturally and we don't need detoxification but the thing is, like what you said, detoxification enhances this system and we need this. The reason is because everything we do nowadays involve some kind of toxins and chemical, from the food we eat to the air we breathe. The onslaught will be very hard on our system and that's why our body works overtime and we are tired all the time. When the amount the body is able to discard is lower than the amount going into our body, the toxins will pile up and over time causing all kind of health issues. SO, we actually need this more than ever.

Hirley
Detox diet


	Hirley, Jan 30, 2010 1:00:35 AM

Thank you for such a great article! Detox is the way to go! A wonderful way to kick start any weight loss program. I will be completing a 21 day purification program on the 21st and I feel amazing! The Wellness Choice Center was instrumental to my success. They are starting a new group detox program on the 22nd of January and I recommend that anyone in the Orange County area check out the website and consider joining the group cleanse. I had all the support in the world!
Check out www.wellnesschoicecenter.com


	April, Jan 12, 2010 6:11:39 PM

Detox is the way to go! A wonderful way to kick start any weight loss program. I will be completing a 21 day purification program on the 21st and I feel amazing! The Wellness Choice Center was instrumental to my success. They are starting a new group detox program on the 22nd of January and I recommend that anyone in the Orange County area check out the website and consider joining the group cleanse. I had all the support in the world!
Check out www.wellnesschoicecenter.com


	April, Jan 12, 2010 6:10:00 PM

Thank You for this article, Sadie Nardini.

"1. Eat plenty of fiber, including brown rice a... detoxifying foods."

For that I usually take Supperfoods like Spirulina and Chlorella. They work like a charm and keep me energized when i detox

Chris
sublingual B12

Edited by: chris on Dec 21, 2009 6:37:19 AM


	chris, Dec 21, 2009 6:35:46 AM

There's a fantastic detox called the Master Cleanse, aka Lemonade Diet. Ten days is the recommended minimum and it would be really good to start after the new year. For those of you with an iphone or ipod, there's the Master Cleanse iphone app (http://bit.ly/7IlOu8) which is really good. Good luck everyone and happy holidays!


	noah, Dec 15, 2009 10:49:15 PM

Wow this is very imformative. I have been feeling very slugish and tired lately. I have also been putting on extra weight. I was looking for some tips on how to start and thank god I landed here. I think I am going to do a liver detox program, to start off with. I noticed in step 2 you say stimulating the liver to eliminate toxins, would this be considered a liver detox? Anyways thanks for the information I also found some good information about liver detoxification at that page. With these 2 combined I think I am ready to get my life and health back on track. It is way over due, thanks again for the information Deborahann! Best of health to you all.


	alkalinebody, Dec 15, 2009 4:42:48 PM

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
----------------------------------
antikeylogger!anti keylogger

Edited by: Rockstarbabu on Dec 15, 2009 2:23:26 AM


	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

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