Detoxification When we hear the word detox a variety of ideas come to mind such as juice fasting and dietary restriction. But it should really be seen as a period in which you allow your body the time and space to get rid of extra toxins that have accumulated over time. Astonishingly, there are over 80,000 chemicals in your household and personal care products and there are almost 30,000,000 chemicals in the environment. Our bodies have been created so that we have the innate ability to detox from the inside out but with the millions of chemicals and toxins now circulating in our food, air, water, skincare, medicines and vaccines, our bodies are overburdened and struggle to clear them naturally. Think of a detox as a holistic and natural way to support our bodies in doing the job it was already made to do. In the same way that you take a holiday from your work routine, your body also needs a break to recharge, especially in light of the chronic exposure to these toxins and chemicals. A DETOX gives your body the time, space and right conditions to deal with those toxic factors that may keep you sick and tired. Think of a detox as a holistic and natural “pick-me-up” to kick your natural cleansing ability into “overdrive.” During a DETOX you lower the load on your digestive system and allow your intestines (headquarters of your immune system) to flush out the toxins, refresh and regain efficiency and increase your innate self-healing powers while taking out the “cellular rubbish.” In essence, a DETOX is really just creating the perfect conditions to support your body in doing the job it was already made to do! POPS Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of hormone-disrupting chemicals that have a huge impact on metabolic compensation during dieting. These compounds have accumulated in your fat cells, and when fat is burned, they are released into your bloodstream in significant concentrations. They primarily impact the thyroid gland by decreasing its ability to make thyroid hormone, disrupting thyroid hormones once they are made and speeding up the excretion of thyroid hormones. They therefore damage thyroid function and drastically suppress metabolic function. These are man-made chemicals that you eat, put on your skin, drink in your water, and inhale in the air; some examples are pesticides like DDT; compounds leached from plastics, such as bisphenol A, or BPA; and other industrial chemicals, like phthalates, and by-products of their breakdown, such as dioxins. Until recently it was not understood how POPs were involved in weight loss resistance. POPS are fat soluble, and thus become of 1 7
Transcript
Detoxification When we hear the word detox a variety of ideas come to mind such as juice fasting and dietary restriction. But it should really be seen as a period in which you allow your body the time and space to get rid of extra toxins that have accumulated over time. Astonishingly, there are over 80,000 chemicals in your household and personal care products and there are almost 30,000,000 chemicals in the environment. Our bodies have been created so that we have the innate ability to detox from the inside out but with the millions of chemicals and toxins now circulating in our food, air, water, skincare, medicines and vaccines, our bodies are overburdened and struggle to clear them naturally. Think of a detox as a holistic and natural way to support our bodies in doing the job it was already made to do.
In the same way that you take a holiday from your work routine, your body also needs a break to recharge, especially in light of the chronic exposure to these toxins and chemicals. A DETOX gives your body the time, space and right conditions to deal with those toxic factors that may keep you sick and tired. Think of a detox as a holistic and natural “pick-me-up” to kick your natural cleansing ability into “overdrive.”
During a DETOX you lower the load on your digestive system and allow your intestines (headquarters of your immune system) to flush out the toxins, refresh and regain efficiency and increase your innate self-healing powers while taking out the “cellular rubbish.” In essence, a DETOX is really just creating the perfect conditions to support your body in doing the job it was already made to do! POPS Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are a group of hormone-disrupting chemicals that have a huge impact on metabolic compensation during dieting. These compounds have accumulated in your fat cells, and when fat is burned, they are released into your bloodstream in significant concentrations. They primarily impact the thyroid gland by decreasing its ability to make thyroid hormone, disrupting thyroid hormones once they are made and speeding up the excretion of thyroid hormones. They therefore damage thyroid function and drastically suppress metabolic function. These are man-made chemicals that you eat, put on your skin, drink in your water, and inhale in the air; some examples are pesticides like DDT; compounds leached from plastics, such as bisphenol A, or BPA; and other industrial chemicals, like phthalates, and by-products of their breakdown, such as dioxins. Until recently it was not understood how POPs were involved in weight loss resistance. POPS are fat soluble, and thus become
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concentrated in fat. This means they’re stored in the fat of animals that you eat and then in your fat after you consume the animal fat. On the one hand you could see this as a protective mechanism, if the POPs are in your fat cells, they can’t do as much damage as when they are in your blood. When you consume these POPS you store them away in fat, where they very slowly biodegrade. The bottom line is that when you lose fat, you will release more POPs and there is no way around this but because losing fat is the primary goal you need to understand how important detoxing is especially whilst losing fat.
To minimise the effect of POPs you need to stop accumulating them in your fat stores and the number one way to avoid POPs is to avoid eating high-fat animal products. while it is true that POPs are in the soil and water and are sprayed on plants, plants do not hold on to POPs like animals do, since the pollutants are mainly fat soluble and plants contain little fat. The highest concentrations occur in the animals who eat the plants, who then collect the POPs in their fat cells. This means eating low-fat animal products or making sure they are organic to minimise your exposure to POPs.
We’ve spoken about high fibre in the nutrition section and this is crucial to detoxing because the fibre binds to the POPs and helps them to be released out of the body. The anti-oxidants from fruit and vegetables are protective against POPs. Without adequate fibre ushering them out, they can easily be reabsorbed by the body. This is why eating non-starchy vegetables and lean protein sources is a priority on this plan.
A Little About the Detox Organs
The Colon Also known as the large intestine, the colon is divided in to four parts and this is where digestion happens. The walls of the intestines absorb nutrients from the food that you eat and most of the water you drink is absorbed here too. The colon is the rubbish bin of the detox organs because after the good stuff has been taken from the food all that remains is waste which passes through the colon and out into the toilet.
Herbs that help please the colon are psyllium husk, senna leaves, cascara sagrada and cape aloe.
Keeping your diet high in fibrous vegetables and fruits, and drinking plenty of water goes along way in keeping your colon functioning well, letting it do its job.
The Liver The liver is the only organ in the body that can completely regenerate. It has the important job of aiding the body to detox by producing bile that helps take waste through the intestine, eliminating drugs and toxins from the blood. It does this using a two phase enzymatic process to neutralise unwanted chemical compounds.
Herbs that help the liver to cleanse are garlic and milk thistle.
The Kidneys The average person has 4.5 to 7 litres of blood circulating throughout the body and the kidneys filter that blood as many as 400 times a day. More than 1 million tiny filters in the kidneys filter waste from the blood in the form of urine, which in turn cleans the bladder. The kidneys also help maintain the balance between water and minerals and when that mineral balance gets out of sorts that is when kidney stones result.
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Watermelon supports the kidneys, it contains 90% water and drinking plenty of water encourages urine flow that aids the removal of toxins. The high potassium content in watermelon helps to break down kidney stones and contributes to lowering blood pressure, an important aspect of kidney health. Lemons are also good at breaking down kidney stones and coriander and parsley are good herbal cleansers too.
The Lymphatic System The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that help rid the body of toxins and waste, kind of like the drains in your house. It is a system of thin tubes (lymph vessels) and lymph nodes that run throughout the body and is a vital part of the immune system. The lymphatic system is similar to the circulatory system, although instead of carrying blood it transports a colourless liquid called “lymph” that contains a high number of white blood cells for fight ing infections, viruses and bacteria. They also destroy damaged or ambrosial cells. The lymph glands are located under your arms, groin, neck, abdomen, pelvis and chest.
Unlike the circulatory system, in which blood is pumped around your body by your heart, the lymphatic system does not flow because it does not have a pumping mechanism like the heart. A clog in your lymphatic system can lead to the accumulation of toxins and therefore, to activate this system you need to MOVE. There are multiple methods to effectively activate the lymph system, any form of exercise, such as walking, climbing stairs, rebounding, swimming, running, dancing or playing tennis, will stimulate it. As will deep breathing exercises because of the pressure deep breathing creates in the chest and abdominal cavities along with the contractions of the diaphragm and abdominal muscles. The Skin Often forgotten or not even considered during a detox but the skin happens to be the largest organ of the body. On average it occupies over 15 square feet to cover your muscle and bones and makes up about 16% of your body weight. You skin is constantly in contact with the elements, including pollution and toxins and is one of the major organs involved in eliminating wastes and impurities from your body, mainly through perspiration.
The skin is also the fastest growing organ, shedding dead skin cells on a daily basis and creating a new layer of skin every 28 days. It is your first line of immune defence (it produces and stores vitamin D), protects your internal organs and it also absorbs much of what it comes into contact with due to the fact that it is rich in receptors. Skin detox is an important way for skin to release harmful toxins, eliminate damaging free radicals and stimulate renewal and rejuvenation.
Skin should be cleansed on a daily basis and you must avoid harmful cosmetic products that contain chemicals such as parabens, phthalates, petroleum, heavy metals, titanium dioxide and talcum powder. Three great ways to detox the skin are hot baths, saunas and dry brushing.
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Dry Brushing Techniques Dry body brushing will boost circulation and stimulate the lymphatic system to release toxins. It is the number one way to exfoliate the skin and is best done first thing in the morning before you take a shower. Purchase a natural bristle brush with a long handle so that you can reach all areas of your body. You should dry brush for about 5 minutes using gentle circular movements towards your heart. Stand in the shower but do not wet the skin. Start with the soles of your feet and work your way up your legs, then your hands and arms. Reach over and brush your back from the buttocks up the back and around the stomach. Avoid stroking away from your heart as this can cause varicose veins and ruptured blood vessels. Once you have brushed your entire body, shower as normal and then apply a natural oil such as rose hip, olive or coconut oil.
Relaxing Bath Detox Recipe
Heavy Metals There are almost two dozen environmental metals that are considered “heavy metals”, such as mercury, lead, aluminium, and arsenic and these can cause acute or chronic toxicity. This can result in damaged or reduced mental and central nervous function and damage to vital organs. Long-term exposure may lead to neurological degenerative processes that mimic Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and even cancer. Chelates are one of the best ways to detox heavy metals from the body because the organic compound grabs the heavy metal and carries it to the liver for processing before getting rid of it out of the body in urine or faeces.
Grapefruit and strawberries are both effective at chelating heavy metals as is coriander, chlorella and activated charcoal.
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Relaxing Bath Detox 1 cup of Epson salts
1 cup of baking powder 10 drops of lavender essential oil 10 drops of lemon essential oil
Fluoride Fluoride is a toxic molecule that wreaks havoc on the body. The thyroid is particularly affected by fluoride exposure because it depletes its store of iodine which the thyroid needs to produce the hormone thyroxine. Drinking water free from fluoride and using a fluoride free toothpaste can help the unwanted build up. Turmeric, humic acid and fulvic acid are all excellent substances to remove fluoride from the body. Detoxing Your Home Another important way to protect your body is to detox your home and make it a safe refuge. This includes a clean water supply. No shoes in the house because they bring in dirt, pesticides and lead. Keep the air clean, leaving windows open whenever possible for ventilation. Green plants that naturally detoxify and fragrance the air, essential oils, fresh flowers, and bowls of herbs. AVOID scented air fresheners that contain harmful chemicals. Switch from using standard cleaning products like bleach and use vinegar, baking soda and hydrogen peroxide. The essential oils tea tree and lemon are excellent household cleaners. Replace your skin care products such as deodorant, toothpaste, cosmetics, hair products, nail polish and perfumes with less toxic and chemical free options. Cosmetics are often loaded with toxins and dozens of carcinogenic chemicals. In the kitchen avoid nonstick pots, pans, bakeware and utensils because teflon contains perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) which have been linked to cancer and developmental problems in children.
Top 10 Air Purifying Plants
Essential Oils for Detoxing Grapefruit, lavender, lemon, peppermint, rosemary and tea tree. These essential oils are best diffused using an ultrasonic diffuser or diluted in a carrier oil and massaged on the skin. Ensure you follow the recommended quantities for dilution.
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• Aloe Vera
• Peace Lily
• Spider Plant
• English Ivy
• Boston Fern
• Heart Leaf Philodendron
• Eucalyptus
• African Violets
• Chinese Evergreen
• Chrysanthemum
Supplements for Detox Calcium-D-Glucarate Calcium-D-Glucarate is a natural chemical produced in small amounts by the body and found in various fruits and vegetables. With regards to the menopause it benefits women with oestrogen dominance because it helps the body deal with excess oestrogen and aids the removal of other harmful toxins.
Fruits & Vegetables - The Clean Fifteen and The Dirty Dozen A new study, released in the British Journal of Nutrition and conducted by Newcastle University and a team of
international experts, has shown that both organic milk and organic meat contain around 50% more beneficial omega-3 fatty acids than conventionally produced products. Organic milk and diary products also contain slightly higher concentrations of iron, Vitamin E and some carotenoids. Organically produced fruit and vegetables have up to 68% more anti-oxidants than their non-organic counterparts, they also have lower concentrations of pesticides and the toxic heavy metal cadmium.
Here is the EWG’s (the Environmental Working Group) guide to which foods contain the most amount of pesticides and those that are safer to eat non-organic. You can cut it out and stick it on your fridge to identify the “clean” and the not so “clean” fruits and vegetables.
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Detox Do’s & Don’ts
DO DON’T
Stay HYDRATED, drink plenty of clean water and herbal teas. ✓
Get plenty of NUTRITION, fresh organic juice, vegetables, fruits and fermented foods (like sauerkraut, kimchi, kombucha, and kefir).
✓
Get plenty of REST, your body cannot detoxify adequately if you are exhausted.
✓
DO EXERCISE (in moderation), daily light exercise is essential, such as walking and stretching.
✓
DO SWEAT, the skin is your biggest organ and it’s vital to sweat out toxins several times each week.
✓
DO NOT eat BREAD or DAIRY products. ✘
DO NOT eat SUGAR, SWEETS or PROCESSED FOODS, foods containing chemicals, preservatives and additives. Stay away from sweets and crisps, especially.
✘
DO NOT STRESS, besides making you feel frazzled and worn down, stress can interfere with proper nutrient absorption. Without certain nutrients, your body will not detox properly. "Don't worry... be happy."
✘
DO NOT STARVE, if you starve yourself, you’ll likely eventually binge and overeat or abandon the cleanse entirely.
✘
DO NOT cave to CRAVINGS, make sure to have healthy snacks (fruits and veggies) with you at all times so there aren’t any temptations around for you to give in to like fatty, salty, sugary foods.
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DO NOT drink ALCOHOL, alcohol burdens the liver and it’s counterproductive to burden a body part that you will be detoxing.
